Procurement Officer

As a Procurement Officer, you'll thrive on supporting and delivering key procurement projects, making a difference to the lives of our residents, and resulting in positive outcomes for the city. It's not just about processes, regulation, and cost-cutting. It's about building trusted relationships with a wide range of colleagues across the council and with our external contractors, ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality goods, works and services for our customers. You'll work within the construction and housing category, providing procurement advice, solutions and support to important construction related projects within the council and the wider city region. These are important projects that make a genuine difference., As a Procurement Officer, your main responsibility will be to drive and support construction related procurement activity throughout the council. The goal is to develop and deliver robust procurement activity and contracts while also being mindful of the need of reducing costs and improving efficiency. The role is integral to our Construction & Housing Category Team which supports the delivery of strategic priorities and complex projects, procurements, and contracts for various directorates and service areas across the council. This includes working closely with colleagues in Housing Leeds, Leeds Building Services, Communities and Environment & City Development throughout the procurement journey from inception and agreement o strategy to award of contract. A significant part of your work will be with Housing Leeds. The service manages approximately 54,000 council homes in Leeds, investing in and maintaining them through a mix of external contracts, the council's direct labour force, and two Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts. The construction and housing category team is currently working hand in hand with service managers in Housing to deliver several complex projects, procurements and contracts as required as part of the Council's capital and revenue programmes of work. These including embarking on priority schemes that contribute to the decarbonisation of the housing portfolio, making significant contributions towards the council's ambitious target of being a net zero carbon city by 2030, building new homes and extra care facilities as part of the Council Housing Growth programme and much more. You will work in close partnership with service managers with across the Communities, Housing and Environment, City Development and Strategy and Resources directorates and our external contractors to support complex procurements, advising clients and ensuring compliance. You'll engage with key stakeholders including elected members, our tenants, and leaseholders. You'll have close links with the council's Procurement and Commercial Services department (PACS), particularly in relation to professional development and wider strategic aims. There may be the opportunity to deliver procurement activity for other services for the council, dependant on the organisation's need. This is a great opportunity for you to move into a procurement role which can offer a variety of work in a vibrant and forward-thinking environment., Job purpose Provide specialist advice, support and guidance on procurement issues and the most appropriate procurement routes.,

• Support complex procurements advising clients and ensuring compliance with procedures, process, current contractual arrangements and a range of statutory and regulatory undertakings.
• Ensure that all procurement activities are compliant with corporate procurement policies and relevant legislation and regulations, including providing advice and guidance on the implementation of, and compliance with, the council's Contract Procedure Rules, relevant legislation, and statutory undertakings including safety and safeguarding requirements.
• Oversee the procurement and delivery of contracts, ensuring they are within budget and timescales Identify and manage risks associated with procurement activities.
• Ensure the timely and cost-effective procurement of requirements to drive efficient procurement.
• Delivery of the procurement process for construction activity ensuring alignment with project timescales and objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships to ensure delivery provides quality and reliability.
• Adhere to and ensure compliance with local, national procurement regulations and policies.
• Achieve the best value for money through strategic sourcing and negotiation.
• Work closely with officers with council departments and other stakeholders to align procurement activities with project timelines and requirements.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with procurement activities, including supply chain disruptions and compliance issues.
• Maintain accurate records of procurement activities and provide regular reports to senior management.
• Day to day supervision, including allocation/checking work, advising and training staff
• Supervision and appraisal of staff in line with associated policies and procedures
• Manage staff, and contribute to development through appraisal, supervision and training
• Assist the procurement category manager and Senior Procurement Projects Officer in supporting and providing advice and guidance on procurement matters both pre and post procurement. This should include procurement options appraisal, procurement plan, specification, pricing models, and innovative partnership arrangements.
• Provide advice across the authority to senior officers and other stakeholders including members, on related commercial activity.
• Support the development, management and monitoring of procurements to reduce spend and achieve efficiencies, including regional and inter-council.
• Manage procurements of moderate complexity, risk and value, and support complex 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.
• Support effective joint working within the council. Provide guidance and support to colleagues, clients and immediate line reports, creating an organisational culture of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.
• Support new ways of working and partnership working with key clients 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.
• 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.
• Support effective consultation and communications with colleagues, clients, councillors, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with council policy.
• Support open, responsive and accountable government, ensuring good governance compliance with financial and procurement procedures.
• Contribute to identifying, mitigating and addressing risks associated with procurement activities, including supply chain disruptions and operational and compliance issues
• Coordinate and manage the tender process to Invitation to Tender stage including contributing to the development and preparation of tender documents for signoff, setting of evaluation criteria and methodology, publishing of relevant documentation and coordinating input from legal, technical and financial specialisms. At all stages of the procurement process respond to and communicate with bidders on behalf of the council
• Contribute to, and where appropriate manage, the procurement process to Contract Award including evaluation of tenders and drafting and issuing of relevant documentation, including advice around contract extensions, variations and termination of contracts.
• Report on spend and proactively advise departments regarding off-contract, non-contract and quasi contract spend, achieving a reduction in such spend.
• Maintain a record of the savings achieved through the introduction of more efficient and economic procurement arrangements.
• Contribute 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.
• Support the delivery of training relevant to procurement to a range of internal practitioners; help develop the skills and abilities of client-based staff to enable them to undertake procurement projects of varying size and complexity.
• Provide advice, support and guidance on the implementation and compliance with, the council's Contracts Procedure Rules, relevant legislation, and statutory undertakings.
• Assist in reducing procurement costs, recording and measuring savings and improving efficiency by identifying areas suitable for corporate contracts and e-procurement, developing other appropriate contractual arrangements, through the introduction of more efficient and economic procurement arrangements and working with departments to reduce off-contract, non-contract and quasi-contract spend, achieving a reduction in such spend.
• Provide advice and management regarding contract extensions, variations and termination of contracts.
• 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. Coordinate and manage the tender process throughout the lifecycle from early scoping of the procurement strategy and requirements 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, including communication with bidders through to Contract Award including evaluation of tenders and drafting and issuing of relevant documentation.
• Ensure safety and safeguarding requirements are complied with.
• 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., 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 support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
• 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.
  
  As a Procurement Officer, you will bring to the role:
• Degree, CIPS qualification or skills and experience in identifying, managing, and monitoring procurements.
• An understanding of public sector tendering and contract management processes.
• Drive, energy, resilience, and self-management skills.
• An understanding of public procurement legislation and regulations.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex information both verbally and in writing.
• Experience of managing competing priorities and workloads.
• Ability to successfully line manage and support colleagues., CIPS Level 4 Qualifications (or Equivalent) or relevant experience delivering procurement projects is essential.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
• Able to present information in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational formats.
• Able to employ a range of management styles which focus on achieving results in terms of outcomes for staff and customers.
• Demonstrate self-management skills as well as resilience, integrity, and openness.
• Relevant demonstrable skills or experience at a level equivalent to CIPS Global Standard for Procurement and Supply Operational competency level.
• Understanding of public sector tendering and contract management processes, with an understanding of the procurement issues facing the public sector.
• Knowledge and understanding of commercial organisations and markets.
• Knowledge, understanding and experience of implementing a procurement and project management methodology to drive service improvement.
• Understanding and practical experience of procurement and commercial approach through all stages of the procurement life cycle.
• Experience of effectively managing procurement contracts and supporting complex procurements to achieve objectives.
• Experience of applying different strategies for solving procurement issues.
• Experience of reviewing systems and procedures to improve service delivery.
• Experience of working in a multi-discipline environment and supporting a hybrid team.
• Experience of contributing to the successful management of change programmes which reflect service needs, provide value for money, and maintain quality.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate to form positive relationships.
• Experience of delivering a high level of customer satisfaction with the quality of service.
Essential Behavioural and 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
• Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health and Safety.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
  
  Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
  
  a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement of 25 days plus statutory holidays.
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.