Procurement and Business Partner

Procurement and Business Partner

About the role

To take overall responsibility across for procurement of goods and services within an overall non pay budget of about £28m. This involves providing leadership for the strategic, operational and governance aspects of the supplier and contractor relationships as well as providing professional advice on the managerial and legal aspects of procurement and contract management to management.

Location: Manchester (but predominantly work remotely. On occasion the candidate may be asked to attend the Manchester office)

Job Type: Temporary

Duration of booking: Expected to last 4 months with possible extension to 12 months

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates: Up to £40 per hour Umbrella or £35 per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Sector: Healthcare

Based: Office

Responsibilities

As Procurement and Business Partner, you will be responsible for:

Management and leadership

Manage and lead the procurements for assigned business areas

Develop and implement policies for managing programmes of work and quality assurance procedures within Procurement and contract management that impact across the organisation

Develop, operate and maintain systems and processes to meet the organisation’s contract management and procurement requirements.

Support contract management groups via business partnering

Support and deliver Procurement and contract management strategy ensuring accountability, training and support to staff at all levels

Interpret new procurement standards and DHSC Directives and implement system change accordingly.

Support contribute and as directed lead on the development and implementation of policies, procedures and strategies to ensure an efficient and effective procurement function.

Support contribute and as directed lead on the promotion and delivery of procurement and contract management training for Board Members, Directors and financial and non-financial managers.

Management of own workload, and supporting the workloads of others in the team and the quality of work to ensure that objectives and targets are achieved.

Develop a culture that improves quality.

Develop an awareness and understanding of all aspects of the objectives and develop a flexible and multi skilled team.

Engender a culture of service and visibility to internal and external customers and stakeholders of the department.

Line managing staff and/or contractors according to policies and procedures

Communication

Providing advice and guidance to Directors, managers and other staff on financial and legal issues related to contracts and procurement.

Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholder groups at all levels, effectively communicating complex issues.

Support contribute and as directed lead the development and implementation of strategies to ensure that key stakeholders can understand procurement procedures and requirements. Including overseeing the preparation of procedure notes to ensure they accurately reflect current practice.

Advise staff on changes to legislation and statutory requirements. This includes being fully conversant with the Institute’s Standing Financial Instructions and Standing Orders, ensuring Managers and Directors understand and adhere to them.

Support commitment to be open and transparent in its work. Including leading on the provision of prompt information in relation to Freedom of Information Requests and Parliamentary Questions.

Provides best practice contract and supplier management information to staff at all levels

Contribute and as directed lead on support, accountability and specialist advice for contract managers and teams across including very complex and sensitive areas of work at all levels of the business.

Providing complex advice and support to directors and senior staff, other members of the team and to external organisations and individuals.

Communicating commercial legislation and statutory requirements for public sector procurement at all levels.

Communicate complex purchasing strategies

Communicate very detailed and complex contractual issues with staff and suppliers, negotiates very complex contracts containing sensitive or contentious or confidential or personal information on a regular basis involving prolonged concentration

Present complex purchasing programmes to potential and existing suppliers in open forum meetings.

Represent at internal and external meetings and events such as with internal and external auditors, the Department of Health, Shared Business Services, the Board Strategy Group and Audit Committee.

Represent with the DHSC for Procurement issues

Assist with the dissemination of DHSC and cabinet office expenditure controls and responsible for the approval request process Professional services

Qualifications

Master’s degree or Doctorate or equivalent level of knowledge acquired through experience and further training/development

Management qualification or equivalent level of knowledge acquired through experience and further training/development

Knowledge and skills

Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience

Knowledge of procurement methods and business analysis techniques

Knowledge of developments in commercial law

Knowledge of Software as a Service legal implications

Good understanding of risk management principles and tools. Ability to identify risk and assess likelihood and impact

Solid understanding of corporate governance principles and processes (SOs, SFIs, Cadbury, Greenbury and Hampel)

An understanding and commitment to equality and diversity

Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences and to generate trust and confidence in individuals at all levels both within and outside the organisation

Effective and persuasive communicator, with a high degree of personal credibility

Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, both internally and externally

Ability to communicate confidently and generate trust and confidence in individuals at all levels both within and outside the organisation

Ability to motivate team members and other key internal and external stakeholders

Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and present it clearly and precisely, both verbally and in writing

Ability to critically appraise and analyze tender documents both internally and from suppliers

Ability to cope with multiple and changing demands, meet tight deadlines and exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures

Ability to think and plan strategically and exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures

Ability to manage a portfolio of projects

Ability to act with a high degree of autonomy

Ability to use standard Microsoft packages and ability to use the Internet to search for and resource information

Excellent organisational and co-ordinating skills

Excellent standards of numeracy and literacy

Ability to foster a co-operative working environment

Experience

Experience of working in a purchasing setting and undertaking above threshold Procurements

Experience of developing strategies to meet changing organisational needs

Experience of developing and improving systems and processes

Experience of working in partnership with other organisations

Experience of making professional judgements on issues where there is no local precedent

Experience of project management

Experience of staff management and training

Experience of managing own workload and that of others amongst competing priorities

Experience of effective communication with a range of audiences at all levels

Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to provide and explain highly complex, sensitive financial information to non-financial personnel