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Job Title: Interim Procurement Specialist (Temporary 8 – 12 weeks)

Company: Optima Plus Recruitment

Location: Chelmsford

Hours: Full-time

Daily Rate: £500.00 per day (Umbrella – Inside IR35)

About Us: Optima Plus Recruitment is a leading recruitment agency dedicated to connecting talented individuals with rewarding employment opportunities. We specialize in matching skilled professionals with reputable organizations across various industries.

Job Description: The role of Procurement is to work with stakeholders across the client 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.

Responsibilities:

* Lead the development, maintenance and implementation of innovative category and supplier relationship plans for high spend / high risk categories and suppliers.

* Work with colleagues in commissioning and operations to identify gaps in market provision. Lead engagement activity with the market to encourage suppliers to emerge or evolve to meet these requirements.

* Lead initiatives with key suppliers to identify opportunities for further benefits, promoting collaborative working and promoting a continuous improvement ethos. Benefits could focus on the local economy, skills development or environmental improvements in addition to saving money.

* Lead the collation of knowledge, insight and innovation from the contract managers, analysts, market and strategic suppliers to help commissioners and operations understand and develop opportunities within their portfolios.

* Lead complex projects and tenders, ensuring all sourcing activity fully complies with appropriate legislation and regulation whilst also complying with client policies.

* Influence the regional procurement agenda, including identifying and leading cross-authority project teams.

* Collaborate with and exert influence on Directors, Senior Managers and Members as to the commercial and financial viability of differing commercial options for specific projects within complex and often, contentious environments.

* Lead the adoption of best practice approaches with the aim of ensuring that the Procurement function is seen as ‘best in class’. Ensure policies, procedures, documents and workflows are kept up-to-date and remain best in class.

* Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Requirements:

* Educated to a degree level with a relevant professional qualification (such as MCIPS) or equivalent demonstrable work experience. Evidence of continuing professional development.

* Extensive knowledge of category management and significant experience of using this methodology in complex commercial environments.

* A demonstrable track record of managing multi-million-pound contracts in a large, complex, business critical environment. This should include evidence of using continuous improvement techniques to lead the improvement of key elements of supplier performance, deliver value added opportunities, innovation and the mitigation of contract and supplier risks.

* Extensive knowledge of public sector procurement law and contract law with an ability to explain the law to non-procurement staff and find pragmatic solutions to potential legal difficulties.

* Extensive negotiation skills appropriate to multi million pound contracts and experience of planning and delivering successful negotiations.

* Extensive experience of developing suppliers and markets to meet changing business needs.

* Excellent communication and influencing skills.

* Experience of working in a political environment and skilled in understanding and responding to different perspectives.

How to Apply: If you meet the above requirements and are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your CV along with a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and qualifications. We look forward to hearing from you!

Application Deadline: 13th October 2024

Optima Plus Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace environment