Senior Procurement Advisor

You will be joining a Procurement Team which has gone through a significant amount of change to modernise the function and one which strongly believes in continuous improvement. This post is fundamental to the successful delivery of the Joint Force Procurement Strategy.  Our vision is to deliver a high quality and cost-effective service which assists in the performance of the Force, whilst delivering value for the people of the West Midlands.

Here at West Midlands Police, the Procurement team, are committed to providing a first-class Procurement services to the leadership team across the second largest metropolitan police force in the country. We work with our Senior Responsible Owners and Business Relationship Owners across all departments to manage procurement processes for the successful delivery of goods and services with an external spend of circa. £90m.

Role Responsibilities:

•            To provide assistance and support to the Procurement Manager to ensure the Contracts and Procurement Team objectives are monitored and delivered in line with the Joint WMP and WMPCC Procurement Strategy.

•            To act as a procurement lead for areas of the business and will be required to conduct tender activity in line with legislative Public Sector Regulations. Developing new contracts and maximising value for money whilst ensuring that all procurement activity undertaken focuses on the wider commercial opportunities in addition to ensuring compliance is maintained.

•            The post will identify and agree a programme of contracting activity for the strategic contracts that they lead and support to ensure that all contracts are awarded correctly in line with the Procurement Contract Regulations 2015. Identify opportunities for improving value for money and cost efficiencies. In particular, assist in the development of detailed plans to meet efficiency cost savings targets.

•            The post holder shall have personal responsibility for their own portfolio of contracts, whilst supporting a small team of Procurement Advisors/Assistants to deliver savings opportunities, ensuring that objectives and success criteria are identified and delivered in line with client expectations.

•            To assist the Procurement Manager to progress and embed the Green Agenda initiatives into the tendering and contract management process.

•            To conduct market, product, supplier and organisational research to establish a base of knowledge about existing and future requirements and potential opportunities.

•            Support and assist the Supplier Relationship Manager to implement strategic supplier management processes to support the development of best practice, supplier relationships with the force and lead best value initiatives with key suppliers.

•            The post holder shall have personal responsibility for their own portfolio of contracts and be required to conduct market, product, supplier and organisational research to establish a base of knowledge about existing and future requirements and potential opportunities.

Knowledge and experience

Essential:

•            Full member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Level 6 or relevant degree

•            Experience of working in a procurement department

•            Relevant experience of managing diverse and complex procurement requirements of significant value

•            Proven IT skills, in particular the ability to use and exploit specialist procurement systems (i.e., e-tendering)

•            Supervisory experience of managing teams

•            Ability to work under pressure with competing demand

•            Demonstrate effective communications skills, written and verbal

•            Ability to develop and proactively manage internal and external relationships with key stakeholders/partners

Desirable:

•            Knowledge of procurement practises in the public sector

•            Experience of problem solving and innovative thinking

•            Evidence of influencing and negotiating

Vetting:

Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting and Counter Terrorism Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.

Medical

Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which may include a drugs test and if required a fitness test.

About Us

West Midlands Police is England’s second largest police force. Together we serve the 2.9 million people who call the region home - one of the youngest and most diverse populations in Europe.

The shared vision of our 12,500 officers, staff and volunteers is to be recognised as a police service that is big enough to cope with everything that is asked of us, while showing we are small enough to care about the things that really matter to people.

This vision is built on three strategic priorities:

•            A service that works for local people

•            Engaged communities

•            Employer of choice

We will achieve each of these goals to enable us fulfil our mission of working in partnership, making communities safer.

These are the values which guide all of our actions and decision making:

•            Service – we put people first

•            Integrity – we always do the right thing

•            Compassion – we see the person needing help

•            Professionalism – we lead by good example

•            Equality, Diversity and Human Rights – we treat everyone fairly

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. We operate a Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All candidates who share with us that they are disabled and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview*.

Successful applicants will be required to pass management vetting and security clearance scrutiny prior to starting their role. This includes a full background & financial disclosure.

*There may be times we cannot interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example, seasonal and high-peak times. In these situations, we may limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, we will select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Closing date: 19 October 2023.