Category and Contract Manager - Older People

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £48,001 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 16/08/2021

The Role:

The Category and Contract Manager will lead on projects aimed at bringing efficiencies and continuous improvement to the Procurement team and organisation as a whole. Working with colleagues across the procurement teams, to deliver projects in a timely manner and ensure consistency.

The role will be accountable for the delivery of these projects and their outcomes, ensuring key stakeholders are managed throughout. Identifying additional improvement areas and managing forums across the Procurement team aimed at prioritising these. Also managing the delivery of sourcing processes and directly accountable for contracts assigned to them.

Effective leadership of multidisciplinary teams will be needed along with supporting the development of colleagues both within procurement and across the Council.

The role of Procurement is to work with stakeholders across ECC to understand requirements for goods and services, make an assessment of the market and determine the appropriate strategy for each spend area. The team also actively manage strategic suppliers and their contracts.

This position will be, in line with current government guidance based from home. However, if / when government guidelines change the role may then revert to being office based, whilst retaining some flexible working options in line with Essex County Council mobile flexible working policy.

You will be responsible for…

• Operational planning and performance review to maintain exceptional service delivery and ensures the political objectives and priorities of the council are met.
• Working collaboratively within and across functions to and thinking commercially support the delivery of best possible outcomes for our customers on a financially sustainable basis.
• Maintain and nurture collaborative relationships with other teams in the function and external organisations that support the delivery of annual plans.
• Implementing changes and continually evaluating service to improve the area of work, while maintaining the highest possible levels of service quality are continually delivered
• Managing complex issues and resources to meet the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes.
• Effective utilisation of digital technologies and innovation across the function.
• Equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken.
• Using professional expertise to translate goals and plans into ways of working that comply with relevant legislation and statutory requirements and manages a level of appropriate risk.
• Deliver exemplar customer interactions to individuals and communities which support strong relationships and a reputation for achieving outcomes and resolving issues.
• Lead the development and maintenance of the procurement policies, procedures, templates, workflows and guidance documentation for the procurement profession, ensuring that they remain best in class.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor's degree) with a relevant professional qualification such as MCIPS and or equivalent demonstrable work experience with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Knowledge of category management and experience of using this methodology in complex commercial environments to deliver significant cost or service improvements.
• A demonstrable track record of managing multi-million pound strategic contracts in business critical environments.This should include evidence of defining, measuring and improving key elements of supplier performance.
• Experience of facilitating continuous improvements projects with evidence of generating significant cost and service benefits.
• Ability to work collaboratively ensuring that the skills and experience of others are fully utilised
• Knowledge of contract law and legislation relevant to the specific category / categories within their control and its impact on market management, finance and contractual arrangements.Extensive knowledge of public sector procurement law with an ability to explain the law to non-procurement staff and find pragmatic solutions to potential legal difficulties.