Procurement Specialist

This role sits within our clients managed services. They specialise in offering procurement consultancy services to the education sector. They bespoke procurement solutions to suit individual client needs and budgets, from one-off tendering to onsite managed services. They aim is simply to be the best at what they do!

Working with our client you will be responsible for leading the process for procuring contracts for a variety of categories, including facilities, estates, finance, curriculum and ICT and other projects and services.

Reporting to the Procurement Manager you will be responsible for offering a proactive and comprehensive service and advice on all aspects of procurement to all levels of personnel and manage relationships between our client and their diverse range of suppliers.

General Work:

• Manage various procurement activities for clients, ensuring effective communication.
• Conduct research and analysis on client expenditures.
• Provide detailed procurement reports.
• Identify and secure savings across multiple spend categories.
• Maintain updated procurement data for clients.
• Benchmark and test markets to consider alternative suppliers, recommending changes to achieve savings.
• Review and suggest improvements for client procurement procedures.
• Draft procurement policies and procedure notes.
• Prepare paperwork for tenders and quotations, adhering to regulations.
• Project manage procurement activities, alerting stakeholders of issues.
• Track savings performance against targets.
• Keep client workplans and contract data current.
• Draft progress reports.

Client Interaction:

• Provide sourcing advice and assistance.
• Prepare documentation for quotes and tenders, ensuring compliance.
• Arrange and attend supplier and client meetings.
• Use electronic tendering portals and ICT systems.
• Regularly review client compliance with procurement procedures.
• Identify additional savings opportunities.
• Review and finalise contracts for various products and services.
• Advise on and monitor Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Develop monitoring programs for contractual arrangements.
• Stay updated on procurement legislation and best practices.

Essential Requirements:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including technical report writing.
• Relevant education and qualifications in procurement or project management.
• Excellent data research, analysis, and IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Proven organisational and project management skills.
• Ability to collaborate and solve problems creatively and independently.
• Experience in supplier management and procurement, including familiarity with OJEU or PCR 2015 - essential

Personal Requirements:

• Methodical approach with attention to detail.
• Practical problem-solving skills.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise.
• Commercial and pragmatic mindset.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Ability to build rapport and work as part of a team.
• High motivation and efficiency with an eye for detail.