Procurement Business Partner

Role Description

Main Responsibilities

Working as a lead for the Constabulary's and OPCC's in-house Buying-Hub Service you will manage the delivery of low to medium value tenders and work with South West Police Procurement Services (shared services) to undertake specific category projects for larger and complex procurement. You will support the Senior Finance & Commercial Business Partner to continually seek value for money. You will manage and administer the contracts register including risk and compliance management, ensuring meaningful contracts review meetings are scheduled and take place. You will produce the contracts' review pipeline, ensuring it is continuously kept up-to-date. You will work closely with Finance Business Partners assisting with budget setting and forecasting processes.

Role Profile

Procurement Business Partner

Rank/Scale: SO2 Reports To: Compliance

Responsibilities

• Assisting and leading on the contract and procurement process and projects for low to medium value, medium risk, within specific categories.
• Acting as the single point of contact for the design and preparation of specifications for tenders and contracts.
• Operating within the context of financial regulations, force policies and procurement legislation.
• Lead on the commercial process for selecting the preferred supplier to ensure best value procurement principles are met and advise on the financial/commercial implications of each procurement and highlight risks.
• Carrying out mini-competitions and preparing evaluation and recommendation reports for low and medium value/risk procurement.
• Attending project/review board meetings as required; supporting the assessment and management of risk associated with each activity.
• Ensuring that specifications and outcomes are expressed in a meaningful way that can be priced by the market.
• Management of Constabulary's and OPCC's joint contracts register, ensuring all documents are complete, correctly filed and easily accessible by the relevant teams and contracts managers.
• Management and socialising of the Constabulary's and OPPC's joint contracts pipeline; using specialist knowledge or expertise (e.g., supplier/market research, cost modelling, risk transfer or benchmarking) to achieve outcomes.
• Use information and analysis to inform the development of commissioning and commercial thinking; assisting in the preparation of procurement strategies; ensuring compliance with all legal, financial and value-for-money requirements and policies.
• Relationship building: ensuring effective communication and engagement with stakeholders and partners (including external suppliers); guiding managers on technical procurement matters; preparing tender documentation; undertaking tender evaluation including pre-qualification of suppliers.
• Fostering a sense of contract ownership across service leaders; working with legal and other professionals to develop contracts, terms and conditions, KPIs and, where appropriate, incentive or payment strategies.
• Working closely with South West Police Procurement Services by assisting in high value tenders and contract reviews.

Team management and leadership

• Leading (including line management) of a small buying hub team comprised of category requisitioners.
• Prioritising continuous professional development in the role; supporting and encouraging professional and personal development of direct reports.

General

• Proactively identifying opportunities for process improvement and delivery of cost savings.
• Adhering to Health and Safety, Environmental Management, Data Protection, Equal Opportunities, Freedom of Information, Race Relations and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) legislation, and ensuring compliance with appropriate local procedures.
• Any other duties as allocated by Senior Finance and Commercial Business Partner commensurate with the level of responsibilities and expertise.

Qualifications and Experience

Senior Finance and Commercial Business Partner

Essential:

• 2 years minimum working in a procurement or commissioning environment.
• Worked with little direct supervision or guidance on developing innovative solutions.
• Experience of managing low-to-mid-value tenders; high level of literacy and numeracy (A levels or equivalent).
• Hold or be working towards a recognised professional qualification (CIPS level 5 or above or related graduate level discipline or equivalent by experience).
• Proven delivery skills and experience of working to set deadlines in large or complex organisations.
• Knowledge of procurement regulations and a good understanding of contract law, risk management and contract management.

Desirable:

• Researched markets and suppliers; ability to develop a tender to gain maximum value for money while managing risk.
• Evaluated cost makeup and used cost reduction techniques to improve value for money; built and maintained productive relationships with stakeholders and external organisations.
• Experience in a structured environment; worked independently or with others to deliver projects; developed communication and stakeholder management plans.
• Produced written and verbal summaries; ability to compile a tender (value of at least £50k); excellent communication and report writing skills; ability to simplify technical information.
• Good commercial skills including cost modelling, benchmarking, financial management and/or other business improvement techniques.
• Ability to work on own initiative and build consensus for change; effective communication with people at all levels; customer focus; flexibility, creativity and self-motivation; ability to influence at a senior level.

Experience and Qualifications

Notes: Vetting Level - minimum MV; Mobility - may be required to relocate within Gloucestershire; Working Pattern - average 37 hours per week with possible shift/night/weekend/public holiday work; Standards of Professional Behaviour apply; Training and development required.

Role Profile

Procurement Business Partner

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