Are you a senior procurement professional looking to be part of a new and dynamic team? Want the opportunity to get stuck into region-shaping procurement projects?
The WMCA has invested heavily within the procurement team, who are now in a fantastic period of growth and change. With the addition of new staff within the team to support new projects and added responsibilities, and with two internal promotions to secure a new Head of Procurement and a new Procurement Business Partner, this is an exciting time to join the team on their journey.
Working closely with senior stakeholders, you’ll be providing best practice procurement advice and supporting the Procurement Business Partner in implementing strategic change across the business.
What you will be doing.
- Lead and manage a portfolio of procurement projects, from advertising requirements to compiling/ issuing contractual documentation and holding contract review meetings to monitor performance.
- Ensure appropriate governance is in place adhering to all internal and external public sector regulations and advising the same to stakeholders and 3rd party suppliers.
- Identify any risks to procurement strategies and ensure appropriate audit trails are in place.
- Manage multiple workstreams for various teams across the CA, all at different stages of development.
- Manage a team of Procurement Lead Officers to include objective setting, creating development plans.
- Provide advice and guidance on appropriate systems and portals.
- Ensure timely delivery of all procurement process stages to meet the demands of the business.
- Ensure workload databases are developed and kept current and support the team with prioritisation of deliverables and objectives.
What’s essential.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, from the ability to build credibility from scratch to influencing stakeholders to accept and endorse new proposals, procedures, systems and methods of working.
- Ability to present information, proposals and ideas to a range of senior audiences.
- Demonstrable commercial awareness with the a track record of delivering against targets.
- Proficiency using Microsoft Office, Outlook and similar systems.
- Excellent report writing skills to include presenting, commercial analysis and negotiating skills.
- Previous experience working with Public Sector Procurement Regulations.
- Experience of managing a team.
- Purchasing experience is essential for this post, demonstrating the ability to develop procurement strategies and lead on tender responses, undertake bid conditioning and bid clarification, debriefs suppliers, award contracts, manage supplier relationships, supplier performance and undertake supplier and contract management activities.
How to apply.
On clicking ‘apply for this job’, you will be prompted to register for an account, which you can do using your name and email address. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV when registering. Uploading your CV will auto-populate the employment and education sections of your profile. Please note, we do not see your CV once you have submitted your application. Our shortlisting decisions are based on what you tell us in your profile - and so it is important to check the information is correct and format your profile so that it really stands out.
You will be asked to provide a supporting statement which should evidence (using examples) how your skills and experience match the essential criteria of the role that you are applying for. You will be asked to type your statement into the portal directly. If you have already prepared a supporting statement, then you can simply copy and paste this directly into the application form. For more information on how to apply, please visit the FAQ page on our career site.
Reasonable adjustments.
If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Recruitment Team. We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.
Salary and benefits.
We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes a Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK), 28 days paid annual leave (plus an option to purchase more!), ethical saving options and healthcare plans, paid volunteering days, free financing for the latest technology, discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.
Hybrid working and location.
We believe hybrid working is the best way for our organisation to fulfil our commitment to a modern, agile workplace while continuing to provide a great service to our customers. Hybrid working means having flexibility between working in the office and at home on agreed days, where a role allows.
The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD. It is expected that you can split your time between the office and working remotely, with at least 2 days a week spent in the office. Please note, this is the minimum expectation.
Creating an inclusive workplace.
We are dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace that reflects the communities of the West Midlands region. We believe that building a team with varied backgrounds and experiences will benefit us as an employer and enhance our work.
WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.
We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.
We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying. If your values align with ours and you are dedicated to working towards a future that we can all be proud of, we would love to hear from you.
Right to Work in the UK
WMCA has a legal responsibility to ensure that all its employees have the legal right to work in the UK. Therefore, if you are made an offer of employment, this will be subject to WMCA verifying that you are eligible to work in the UK before you start work.
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role by assessing their circumstances against the relevant criteria set out by UKVI.
Thank you for considering joining our team at WMCA. We look forward to receiving your application and the opportunity to work together towards our shared goals.
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