Procurement and Contracts Manager

The Procurement and Contracts Manager is responsible for leading and managing the procurement service, providing advice and guidance on all aspects of procurement and contract management ensuring best practice, and delivering value for money.

The role involves leading on procurement, tenders, finalisation of contracts, and contracts management matters in PHSO, including the identification of changes to procurement practices and procedures necessitated by changes in legislation and developments in best practice.

Main Duties:
•    Maintain, review and develop the Procurement Code.
•    Ensures compliance with PHSO policy, and UK procurement law.
•    Provide professional advice and guidance to Directorates in the process of re-letting, renewing or arranging new contracts for their PHSO business area or managing their existing contracts effectively.
•    Continually identify and mitigate commercial risk for each contract, ensuring that significant risks are escalated accordingly.
•    Demonstrate a deep understanding of the terms and conditions of contracts, commercial terms, financial modelling and effectively draft and negotiate terms to the benefit of the contractual engagement and the organisation.
•    Prioritise the smooth running of PHSO’s Procurement and Contract Management Portal to ensure deadlines and value-for-money are met whilst maintaining a high standard of analysis and insight.
•    Act as a point of escalation for PHSO in the event of poor performance by suppliers, including providing advice relating to contract terms and conditions and how and when to enact them, including pursuing legal advice.
•    Actively consider and suggest ways forward in improving procurement and supply chain, consulting with stakeholders and acting in a way to meet customer needs.
•    Produce and report on procurement compliance to PHSO audit committee, Executive team and Board.

Knowledge
Essential:    

•    Excellent knowledge of procurement processes, strategies, tools and techniques as they relate to best practice in procurement and contracting
•    A good knowledge of contract law in relation to commercial contracts and demonstrable experience in drafting/amending terms and conditions to suit individual needs
•    A thorough knowledge of procurement directives and an understanding of their practical application
•    Knowledge and practical experience of Electronic Procurement Systems.
•    Understanding of performance management 
•    Sound knowledge of people management skills and processes

Desirable:

•    An awareness of public administration (central government in particular) or the NHS and the context in which it operates

Skills
Essential:    

•    IT literate
•    Excellent interpersonal skills.
•    Ability to work independently and collaboratively.  
•    Excellent presentation skills.
•    Ability to manage performance.
•    Excellent communication skills, including verbal and written.
•    Experience of analysing complex written material and identifying and summarising key issues. 
•    Ability to work collaboratively and apply feedback.
•    Able to influence others including those outside of your direct working relationships.

Experience
Essential:

•    Experience in procurement management,  project management  and contract management 
•    Strong and consistent practical experience of procurement in a public sector environment in order to have obtained deep and broad knowledge
•    Demonstrable successful negotiation experience of addressing commercial points with suppliers
•    Comprehensive experience in delivering a quality service on time, often under challenging circumstances with competing priorities
•    Experience in leading, developing and managing a team
•    Demonstrable experience of delivery in a role with a strong ethos of customer service
•    Demonstrable track record in building and sustaining relationships to achieve results, internally and externally
•    Demonstrable high levels of organisation, efficiency and flexibility
•    Experience of prioritising own work and that of others, including those outside of own area.
•    Experience of using own initiative and working under pressure
•    Previous experience of working in a customer focused environment, demonstrating empathy

Desirable:

•    Practical experience of working in public sector procurement
•    Previous project management experience 

Qualifications

•    CIPS qualification (essential).

What's on Offer
•    Salary of £48,333
•    Civil service pension scheme (Min. 26.4% employer contributions)
•    30 days holiday + bank holidays
•    Flexible working and 'flexi days' - if you work more than your standard hours you can take up to two flexi days per month
•    24/7 support Employee Assistance Programme, including free counselling, bereavement support and health advice.
•    Premium access to Headspace mindfulness and wellbeing app.