Advert wording

Directorate: Strategy and Resources
Service area: Procurement and Commercial Services
Job title: Senior Procurement Officer
Grade and salary: PO4 - £41,496 - £44,539 (pay award pending)
Permanent or temporary: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week

An excellent permanent opportunity has arisen for a Senior Procurement Officer within one of the largest authorities in the country. This forward thinking and vibrant organisation boast a culture of engagement and growth, as well as being able to offer a diverse range of work and flexibility with hybrid working.

About the Role:

The post holder will provide procurement advice and direction to help manage a category team that supports the delivery of the Council’s Procurement and Commercial Services.

The post holder will be responsible for providing professional advisory and procurement management functions in respect of complex medium to high risk and/or value procurement projects. Responsibilities include advising service leads and ensuring compliance with procedures, process, policies, current contractual arrangements, and a range of statutory and regulatory undertakings supporting a category management approach and advising members and directorates on related commercial activity.

Experience required for the role:

We are seeking a self-motivated, experienced procurement practitioner with a relevant professional qualification (degree, MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience in procurement/category management) and demonstrable skills or experience in identifying, developing, managing and monitoring procurements undertaken on a local, regional and inter-council basis.

You must have an understanding of public procurement law, the procurement regulations, the principles of contracts procedure rules and an understanding of the strategic procurement issues facing the public sector.

Knowledge and understanding of commercial organisations and markets.

Experience of effectively managing medium/high complexity procurement projects to achieve objectives.

This is a great opportunity to move into a management role which can offer a variety of work in a vibrant and forward-thinking environment.

Benefits include:

Flexible / hybrid working arrangements, as well as flexi-time and generous leave entitlement.
Employees benefits packages, including - cycle to work schemes, car leasing schemes and more.
Excellent pension fund.
On-going training and development opportunities.

How to apply:

If this sounds like you then please refer to the Job Description for further details. For an informal chat about this position please call on.

If you are interested in this Senior Procurement Officer opportunity, please apply by CV including a supporting statement of 500 words. Alternatively, should you require further information or wish to discuss your suitability before applying, please do not hesitate to contact Derek Prest for a confidential discussion on 0113 3785849. The closing date is xxxx September 2023.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Leeds City Council Job Profile

Directorate: Strategy and Resources

Service Area: Procurement and Commercial Services

Job Title: Senior Procurement Officer

Grade: PO4

Conditions of service: NJC Conditions apply

Reports to: Procurement Category Manager

Responsible for: Procurement Officer

Special conditions: This post is subject to a higher-level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.

Job purpose: Working as part of the team, you will live and model values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country. Your role will be important in ensuring the council is more enterprising and efficient and ensuring that the authority has in place proper arrangements for the administration and delivery of procurements and procurement projects. The role operates within the context of the council’s Business Plan Objective to increase efficiency.

The post holder will be responsible for providing professional advisory and management functions in respect of complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements and procurement projects, advising clients and ensuring compliance with procedures, process, current contractual arrangements and a range of statutory and regulatory undertakings, supporting a category management approach and advising members and directorates on related commercial activity.

The Senior Procurement Officer will be able to demonstrate relevant skills and experience in the management of procurement projects and will be responsible for the management and monitoring of procurements, including where appropriate complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements and supporting complex procurements within identified categories to reduce spend and achieve efficiencies.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.

Responsibilities: Identifying, developing and monitoring procurements undertaken on a regional and inter-council basis:

Skills Required

1. Contribute to effective joint working within the council. Provide direction and support to colleagues, service leads and immediate line reports, creating an organisational culture of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.

2. Contribute to new ways of working and to partnership working and relationships with key service leads both internal and external to the council, to improve corporate priority outcomes and to ensure that developments and improvements remain focused on delivering outcomes for local people.

3. Promote and support positive solutions to achieve diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement activity and human resource areas.

4. Support effective consultation and communications with colleagues, clients, councillors, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with council policy.

5. Support open, responsive and accountable government, ensuring good governance compliance with financial and procurement procedures.

6. Manage all aspects of risk and be responsible for the safety of staff, service leads and contractors in accordance with all statutory obligations and relevant health and safety policies.

7. Assist in reducing procurement costs and improving efficiency by identifying areas suitable for corporate contracts and e-procurement and developing other appropriate contractual arrangements.

8. Maintain a record of the savings achieved through the introduction of more efficient and economic procurement arrangements.

9. Identify, develop and monitor procurements undertaken on a regional and inter-council basis

10. Support the delivery of training relevant to procurement to a range of internal practitioners; help develop the skills and abilities of service lead based staff to enable them to undertake procurement projects of varying size and complexity.

Knowledge Required

1. Provide advice and guidance on procurement matters across the authority to senior officers and other stakeholders.

2. Assist the Procurement Category Manager in providing advice at a senior level to service departments prior to the commencement of the procurement, including procurement options appraisal, procurement plan, specification, pricing models, innovative partnership arrangements.

3. Provide post-procurement advice and management, including the Contract Management Plan.

4. Provide advice and management regarding contract extensions, variations and termination of contracts.

5. Assist with the development, management and monitoring of the implementation of category management and category plans across identified categories of spend.

7. Provide advice and guidance on the implementation of, and ensure compliance with, the council’s Contract Procedure Rules, relevant legislation, and statutory undertakings.

8. Ensure safety and safeguarding requirements are complied with.

Experience Required

1. Manage procurements, including where appropriate complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements, within a context of budget pressures and funding restrictions, ensuring the delivery and improvement of services which meet the needs of our communities and stakeholders.

2. Manage procurements, including where appropriate complex medium to high risk and/or value procurements, and supporting the delivery of complex procurements contributing to the delivery of the council’s procurement category management function as a whole.

3. Contribute to the identifying and resolving of risks and issues in procurements.

4. Coordinate and manage the tender process to Invitation to Tender stage including the development and preparation of tender documents for signoff, setting of evaluation criteria and methodology, publishing of relevant documentation.

5. Contribute to, and where appropriate manage, the procurement process to Contract Award including evaluation of tenders and drafting and issuing of relevant documentation.

6. At all stages of the procurement process respond to and communicate with bidders on behalf of the council.

7. Report on spend and challenge departments regarding off-contract, non-contract and quasi-contract spend, achieving a reduction in such spend.

8. Contribute to and guide the preparation and authorisation of contract document to ensure that properly drafted contracts are entered into; implement standardised documentation across procurements and categories.

Qualifications: Degree, MCIPS qualification or relevant demonstrable skills.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

1. Degree or relevant demonstrable skills or experience at a level equivalent to CIPS Global Standard for Procurement and Supply Managerial competency level

2. Understanding of public sector tendering and contract management processes, with an understanding of the strategic procurement issues facing the public sector.

3. Knowledge and understanding of commercial organisations and markets.

4. Experience of effectively managing medium/high complexity procurement contracts to achieve objectives.

5. Experience of applying different strategies for solving procurement issues.

6. Experience of reviewing systems and procedures to improve service delivery.

7. Demonstrate drive, energy, resilience, and self-management skills as well as integrity, openness and awareness of others.

8. Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational formats.

9. Experience of working in a multi-discipline environment.

10. Experience of supporting a multi-disciplinary and occasionally geographically dispersed procurement project team.

11. Experience of successful management of change programmes which reflect service needs, provide value for money, and maintain quality.

12. Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate to form positive relationships.

13. Ability to employ a range of management styles which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes for staff and customers.

14. Experience of delivering a high level of customer satisfaction with the quality of service.

15. Knowledge, understanding and experience of procurement and project management methodology to drive service improvement.

16. An understanding and practical experience of procurement and commercial approach through all stages of the procurement life cycle.


Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon

Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.

Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.