Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Strategic Procurement Lead – Capital Programme |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Financial Services |
Service |
Finance |
Business unit |
Commercial Services |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Deputy Head of Commercial Services |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Deputy Head of Commercial Services |
Salary grade |
K |
JE ref |
FIN84 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To utilise specialist skills, knowledge and expertise to provide procurement solutions, advice and guidance to the Council, its Members, Officers and key partners in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, UK Public Contract Regulations, EU Legislation and best practice.
- To work with the Director Pride in Place and the Place Divisional Directors to understand business needs in order to:
- to develop and implement appropriate procurement and commercial strategies for individual capital projects and the wider capital programme;
- effectively prioritise procurement resource to individual projects;
- ensure compliance requirements are effectively communicated and embedded across capital programme delivery;
- develop and implement procurement methodologies and procedures that lead to continuous improvement in procurement practice.
- To attend and provide advice to the Capital and Growth Board and individual project boards.
- To lead, manage and motivate to ensure procurement is effective and efficient and meets the needs of the Council and deliver best value from all Council spend.
- To ensure corporate policies and procedures are integrated into all capital projects.
- To provide leadership, support and guidance to the procurement and contracts officers and capital programme delivery teams.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- There is a proactive, creative, adaptable, effective and compliant approach to capital spend and the methodologies adopted, that reduced risk, maximises budgets and supports Council priorities and objectives.
- The development of relationships, learning, evidence and expertise supports innovation, creativity and improvement in commercial practice across the capital programme.
- Compliance with the regulatory framework for public sector contracting, including the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), Public Contracts Regulations, Transparency Code, Freedom of Information Act, Modern Slavery Act, Social Value Act, Best Value Duty and Local Authority Equality Duty is embedded in capital programme delivery.
- Effective processes and systems are developed, updated and embedded across the capital programme to ensure a consistent and compliant approach to commercial activity.
- Best value and budget maximisation are delivered through the provision of informed, effective and consistent commercial advice and support.
- An efficient, effective and consistent approach across the capital programme to supplier engagement and relationship management drives efficiencies and supports continuous improvement in delivery and the supply chain.
- Potential suppliers, including local suppliers and SMEs are provided with the skills to effectively compete for Council business.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults at all times.
- To act as strategic procurement lead for the capital programme, working creatively to provide specialist advice, guidance and solutions on procurement strategy, policy and practice to:
- ensure the effective delivery of the Council’s capital programme;
- mitigate risk;
- ensure best value;
- meet wider statutory obligations such as social value, equality, modern slavery, sustainability and environmental issues.
- To be responsible for the development and implementation of strategies and plans which promote and embed good procurement practice within delivery of the capital programme.
- To manage, mentor and support the Procurement and Contracts Officers involved in delivering capital projects.
- To prioritise and manage own workload and the allocation of work to Procurement and Contracts Officers to meet both operational requirements and Council strategic objectives, ensuring compliance and best practice through high quality and consistent delivery.
- To be responsible for developing relationships and establishing strong links across the designated area of specialism to enhance project planning and design activities.
- To work with the Capital Programme Manager on the development of the commercial aspects of Project Initiation Documents and Business Cases for capital projects.
- To oversee the delivery of end to end procurement processes, including directly managing those capital projects which are of significant risk to the Council, to ensure successful delivery in accordance with all relevant legislative requirements, policy, guidance and best practice.
- To advise and work with capital programme delivery teams on strategies for effective supplier engagement and market intelligence to maximise procurement outcomes, including building the capacity of local suppliers to compete effectively for Council business.
- To increase awareness, capacity and capability in relation to commercial practice through identifying and engaging with key personnel, developing and delivering effective training programmes and support.
- Responsible for maintaining up to date and comprehensive knowledge of the Council’s Constitution, Public Contracts Regulations and other associated legislation, case law, forms of contract and best practice and incorporate them into working practices.
- Responsible for maintaining standards of professional and ethical practice, ensuring these practices are compliant with professional, commercial and organisational values.
- Any other duties commensurate with the post as may be required from time to time.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
- Ensure compliance with the Council’s Constitution and Public Contracts Regulations in relation to all financial aspects of the role.
- Ensuring effective procurement of the Council’s capital programme to deliver best value across all aspects of programme delivery.
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- Day to day line management of the Procurement and Contracts officers engaged in delivery of the capital programme.
- Manage capital project teams consisting of staff from across the organisation, wholly owned companies and beyond, e.g., partner agencies and key stakeholders including, suppliers, Torbay residents and service users.
- To advise the Deputy Head of Commercial Services on workload allocation across the capital programme to inform capacity and capability across the service to deliver priority Council projects.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working conditions and environment.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
9. Key contacts and relationships
External
- Other local authorities and public bodies, including but not limited to members such as South West Procurement Board and Devon & Cornwall Procurement Partnership, Devon Integrated Care Board, Children’s Services Peninsula Commissioning Group, Torbay schools and academies.
- Council’s key strategic partners and wholly owned companies, including but not limited to Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, SWISCo, TDA group, Torbay Education Ltd.
- Prospective and current contracted suppliers.
- Public Buying Organisations and Framework Management Organisations.
- Local business forums, including Federation of Small Business, Chamber of Commerce and Torbay Business Forum.
- Voluntary and community sector organisations and Torbay Community Development Trust.
Internal
- Senior Leadership Team, staff at all levels across the Council, the Leader, Finance Portfolio Holder, Cabinet, Group Leads and all other Members, through formal and informal governance routes.
- Capital and Growth Board, individual programme and project boards.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- This post is based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- The post is eligible for permanent home working or hybrid working.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
- You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Strategic Procurement Lead – Capital Programme |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Financial Services |
Service |
Finance |
Business unit |
Commercial Services |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Proven ability to work autonomously and without direction to meet the requirements of the role and Council priorities.
- Proven ability to make decisions in line with the requirements of the role without the need to defer to more senior officers.
- Confident and competent when under internal or external scrutiny, with a proven ability to make decisions and recommendations, often to more senior officers, that may be contentious and/or have significant implications for others and provide rationale.
- Excellent influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills and the ability to use these skills when dealing with situations where there may be resistance to ensure compliance, improved performance and / or positive outcomes for all parties.
- Mature problem solving skills to facilitate:
- Identification of creative and innovative commercial solutions to meet Council needs and priorities.
- Identification of causes of contractual issues and the provision of informed and imaginative solutions to address them.
- Proven ability to respond positively and effectively to organisational and legislative change.
- Proven commercial skills including delivering or providing advice on:
- Commercial evaluation, make or buy decisions;
- Pre-market engagement and market analysis;
- Identification of appropriate routes to market and procurement procedures;
- Tender documentation drafting, including contract preparation;
- Tender analysis and evaluation;
- Managing and facilitating tender moderation sessions;
- Drafting Regulation 84 reports and award approval requests;
- Drafting outcome notification letters and supplier feedback;
- Contract mobilisation;
- Performance monitoring;
- Supplier relationship management;
- Contract negotiation;
- Change control;
- Mediation and dispute resolution;
- Risk analysis, mitigation and management.
- Proven ability to work on and prioritise multiple projects across a diverse range of subject matters, dealing with conflicting and ever changing priorities, in relation to own workload and that of direct reports.
- Ability to demonstrate the motivational, negotiation, challenge and influencing skills required to secure:
- Improved service delivery and best value;
- Buy-in and best outcomes through collaborative and partnership working.
- Ability to demonstrate the extensive communication skills necessary to be able to present complex and contentious information clearly, in a range of formats to varied audiences.
- Ability to demonstrate the ICT literacy and skills necessary produce a range of complex correspondence, reports, spread sheets, financial monitoring, presentations etc.
- Proven ability to forward plan and prioritise activities over the course of months and years to meet strategic objectives.
- Ability to demonstrate the skills necessary to work effectively as part of the wider Commercial team to deliver against policy and strategy, as well as commercial negotiations with contracted suppliers to deliver better terms and efficiency savings.
- Training, coaching and mentoring skills.
- Ability to work to the Council’s core values of being forward thinking, people oriented and adaptable, always with integrity.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Proven ability to deliver excellent outcomes within the public sector in a senior commercial (procurement or contract / supplier relationship management) role.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of key commercial processes across diverse areas.
- Extensive knowledge, understanding and ability to interpret Public Contracts Regulations and knowledge of the commercial aspects of other associated legislation, case law, policy and guidance, including:
- Public Services (Social Value) Act;
- Modern Slavery Act;
- National Procurement Policies and Policy Statement;
- Best Value Duty;
- Public Sector Equality Duty;
- Local Government Transparency Code;
- Environmental and sustainability issues;
- Data Protection Act / GDPR;
- Freedom of Information Act.
- Specialist knowledge of the procurement cycle, methodologies and tender management.
- Knowledge of contract clauses, contract formation and development, contract management and compliance.
- In depth knowledge of e-procurement and e-tendering systems.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding, at a local and national level, of current and future trends and issues affecting procurement and contract management within the public sector.
- Knowledge and understanding required to effectively use Microsoft Office applications, including Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- An understanding of local government policies, priorities, structure and governance.
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of key commercial processes across diverse areas.
- Extensive knowledge, understanding and ability to interpret Public Contracts Regulations and knowledge of the commercial aspects of other associated legislation, case law, policy and guidance, including:
- Public Services (Social Value) Act;
- Modern Slavery Act;
- National Procurement Policies and Policy Statement;
- Best Value Duty;
- Public Sector Equality Duty;
- Local Government Transparency Code;
- Environmental and sustainability issues;
- Data Protection Act / GDPR;
- Freedom of Information Act.
- Specialist knowledge of the procurement cycle, methodologies and tender management.
- Knowledge of contract clauses, contract formation and development, contract management and compliance.
- In depth knowledge of e-procurement and e-tendering systems.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding, at a local and national level, of current and future trends and issues affecting procurement and contract management within the public sector.
- Knowledge and understanding required to effectively use Microsoft Office applications, including Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- An understanding of local government policies, priorities, structure and governance.
Desirable knowledge
- Knowledge and understanding of Torbay Council Financial Regulations and Contract Procedures.
- Knowledge of contract law.
- Knowledge of the commissioning cycle and its practical application within a real contract environment.
- Understanding of the democratic process within local government.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Project and Planner.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Extensive operational commercial experience of procurement and contract management, including:
- Commercial evaluation, make or buy decisions;
- Pre-market engagement and market analysis;
- Identification of appropriate routes to market and procurement procedures;
- Tender documentation drafting, including contract preparation;
- Tender analysis and evaluation;
- Managing and facilitating tender moderation sessions;
- Drafting Regulation 84 reports and award approval requests;
- Drafting outcome notification letters and supplier feedback;
- Contract mobilisation;
- Performance monitoring;
- Supplier relationship management;
- Contract negotiation;
- Change control;
- Mediation and dispute resolution.
- Extensive experience in the specialist area of construction or public works contracts, including application of standard forms of contract, such as NEC and JCT.
- Experience of delivering best value, quality, innovation and Social Value within a commercial environment.
- Experience in problem solving, involving and influencing operational professionals to implement change and improvements.
- Demonstrable experience of working proactively within a commercial environment and the successful management of tenders and contracts.
- Demonstrable experience of partnership and collaborative working across a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders and areas.
- A proven track record in the management of projects across organisational boundaries.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of procurement and / or contract management in a public sector setting.
- Experience of using POP/PL modules / finance systems.
- Experience of working with a contract management life cycle system.
- Experience of applying project management methodology, for example PRINCE 2.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to Degree level or equivalent or demonstrable academic or professional ability or experience in the relevant field.
- Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply or equivalent or commensurate experience at a senior level in procurement.
- Willingness to study for Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply or equivalent.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Student or full membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS).
- Government Commercial Function qualification in Contract Management at Foundation level or equivalent.
- Member of the Society of Procurement Officers.
- Project/programme Management qualification, e.g. PRINCE 2 Foundation / Practitioner or equivalent.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling).
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.