This is an exciting opportunity to join the Commercial & Procurement team and play an important role that makes a real difference to our communities. The Commercial & Procurement team is a proactive and consultative team that supports a range of directorates. We ensure the Council's commercial arrangements and contracts deliver value for money for Dorset residents.
The roles act as procurement advisors and are currently aligned to the following directorate teams. One role will be largely focussed on supporting the diverse Economy and Environment (formerly Place) directorate, which includes areas such as Property, Highways, Coastal, Waste, Transport and Fleet.
Additionally, the All-Age Commissioning role provides procurement expertise across Adult and Children's Services, helping services plan, procure and manage commissioned provision in a consistent and coordinated way. This includes care placements, residential services, supported accommodation, early help, specialist support services and other commissioned provision for children, young people and vulnerable adults.
The roles will be flexible and support to other directorates may be required at times, providing you with opportunities to develop new skills and work across diverse projects rather than be siloed into one specific area. There are also opportunities to support ICT Governance and Transformation. You will lead the commissioning and delivery of high-value, complex procurement projects in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
Candidates with a strong track record in public sector procurement, including delivering open tenders and framework call-offs, and a good comprehension of procurement regulations will be prioritised for interview. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute effectively from day one. We also welcome applications from candidates with broader experience in compliance, tendering and contract management.
What you will be doing
- Manage tender processes for directorate-specific requirements, ensuring best practice.
- Provide support and guidance to stakeholders.
- Offer procurement and commercial advice to officers and suppliers.
- Procurement activities from initiation through to contract management.
- Support stakeholders in achieving their strategic objectives.
- Promote and support a commercially minded approach across the Council.
Reorganisation is currently taking place across the Council, which may change the focus of the role.
About you
- Effective communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage a range of stakeholders internally and externally.
- Experience of working with suppliers, including supplier relationship management and contract management.
- Confident using ICT systems, ideally including the Proactis ProContract e-tendering system, and have strong Microsoft 365 skills, including Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Knowledge of procurement practices.
- Awareness of public sector procurement regulations and procedures.
- Project management skills, with the ability to manage projects effectively.
- A solution-focused approach and strong attention to detail
Join us and be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team where your expertise will help shape the future and ensure our procurement practices deliver the best outcomes for our communities.