Deputy Director of Procurement in Wales

The purpose of the post is to work alongside the Director of Commercial and Procurement to adopt a contemporary model of procurement that deploys public contracts to secure the greatest possible public value. The post holder will need to understand the potential of procurement to improve outcomes across the Welsh Government and the public sector in Wales.

Procurement is a crucial lever to deliver the Welsh Government's ambitions for a more prosperous, more equal, and greener nation. The Deputy Director of Procurement will lead this work, driving the future of the profession in Wales, transforming the procurement function within Welsh Government, shaping its procurement policy and delivery, and working across the Welsh Government to support wider policy priorities. This will require strategic leadership, resilience, and direction in innovative and collaborative procurement to maximise public sector spend to develop wider benefits.

The role requires an individual who understands the wider policy agenda, including social value and wider community benefits, and the need to ensure value for money/effectiveness and efficiency. Understanding the pressures and sometimes conflicting objectives; and demonstrating strong collaborative/partnership leadership (internally and externally) will be vital.

The Commercial Procurement Directorate is a cross Welsh Government Directorate and is accountable to the Cabinet Secretary Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office. The Directorate oversees development of the Welsh Government's policy for procurement in Wales, providing advice and support to Ministers. It provides leadership to the procurement profession in Wales, as well as having oversight of the Welsh Government's own procurement policy and practices and a pipeline of collaborative frameworks for the Welsh Public Sector.

Key tasks

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact on one of the most critical periods of Wales's future? Your ability to collaborate, innovate, think strategically, show resilience and a focus on delivery are fundamental as we strive to redefine our future. This role will operate in a complex and fast-moving environment, and as Deputy Director for Procurement in the organisation the post holder has responsibility for:

• Effective and robust senior and operational engagement with public sector organisations across Wales to understand needs and translate these into commercial and procurement strategies and practices.
• Ensure there is a significant focus on 'outcome based' procurement, demonstrating awareness that it's not always about the most commercial outcome, but wider social value, that is a key Policy direction of the Welsh Government. With the wider objective of using public spend to drive wider benefits for Wales.
• Leadership, development and motivation of staff, setting standards and values for the organisation. Ensuring effective communications with staff, unions, partners and stakeholders are in place.
• Providing robust, appropriate and considered written and oral advice to Ministers concerning procurement, procurement policy, e-procurement and procurement reform.
• Set the vision and direction, communicating priorities and business plans and ensuring that individual and team objectives are aligned with them. Ensuring that all programmes and projects deliver to time, cost and quality requirements; systematically organising activities, clarifying tasks and responsibilities and making best use of resources.
• Take lead responsibility for developing procurement policy that captures the opportunities of Well-Being of Future Generations Act, the Social Partnership Bill and reflects the Government's priority to embed fair work, local supply chains and decarbonisation and proactively identify a coherent set of deliverable policy priorities for procurement.

Benefits

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme
• Between 25 and 30 days annual leave based on your period of continuous employment in the Civil Service (pro-rated for part time)
• training and development opportunities`
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Smart Working flexible working arrangement

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.