Direct Channel Assistant

**Salary: £28,000**

**Location : Kent**

**About Commercial Services Group**

Commercial Services Group (CSG) is one of the largest providers of public sector and education procurement services globally, with revenues of c£500M, 1800 staff and six trading divisions: Global Education Supplies, Procurement, Energy & Carbon, Community Services, Professional Services and People Services.

Wholly owned by Kent County Council, CSG supports over 15,000 customers in 86 countries and collaborates with a supply chain of c1,000 suppliers.

**The Role**

KCS Procurement Services provide PCR15 frameworks covering a range of products and services for use by public sector delivering compliance and value for organisations across the UK.

This role will offer direct customer contact nationally to drive usage of our compliant frameworks and will involve building market position, by identifying, developing, negotiating and closing business relationships, whilst maintaining the latest regulatory and industry knowledge.

You will be responsible for retaining and generating new business across the public sector (including Local Authorities, NHS, Higher Education, Public Services and other sectors) providing advice on procurement and usage of frameworks to support customers in their buying decisions.

**Key Duties**
- Support the DCE team in achieving the rebate financial targets.
- Support DCE in identifying procurement opportunities nationally by contacting potential customers in new markets as well as continued new growth amongst the existing customer base.
- Support DCE in developing and maintaining relationships with senior decision makers within potential customers and customer representative groups.
- Maintain a strong understanding of the challenges facing public sector and illustrate knowledge of the product / service you are offering, including competitor and regulatory changes.
- Communicate new product and service developments to prospective customers.
- Hit target for a range of Key Performance Indicators of procurement activity and usage of frameworks, regularly reporting performance to the Direct Channel Executive/Commercial Manager.
- Record procurement activity and create a strong pipeline of future opportunities across the full range of frameworks and support DCE in recording all customer, supplier and framework activity.
- Support DCE in managing on-going customer relationships during the procurement process to maximise probability of success, ensuring all appropriate contract documentation is signed by the customer.

**In return, CSG will offer you**:

- 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
- Birthday off work
- Life assurance cover
- Company pension
- Flexible first, hybrid working
- A culture of progression & development
- Shopping discounts & retailer offers
- Team & company events
- eLearning portal
- EAP programme
- Referral scheme
- Health & Wellbeing platform
- Health Cash Plan initiative
- Discounted gym membership