Procurement Officer

**Procurement Officer**
**£300 per day**
**Location: Brentwood**
Akton Resourcing are currently working with a local authority to recruit a Procurement Officer for an initial period of 3-months (there is a possibility that this may go from temp to perm). The role holder will be responsible for developing, monitoring and maintaining a comprehensive procurement advice function, ensuring mechanisms are in place in relation to national legislation and the Council’s rules are followed to obtain best value for money.

**Main Responsibilities**:

- To provide professional and specialist advice and support to staff and promote procurement best practice and governance across the Council to embed a compliant, sustainable approach to effective procurement and contract management.
- To lead and report to the sponsor on any project working groups to deliver against a range of procurement considerations.
- To ensure the Council’s approved procurement procedures are complied with, by working with service managers and senior management.
- To maintain and manage a comprehensive contact register to enable procurement savings and opportunities to be identified.
- To advertise tenders and coordinate responses in accordance with EU regulations and the Council’s standing orders.
- Review the Council’s procurement strategy on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the National Procurement Strategy.
- Prepare reports on category spend analysis to assist in identifying potential savings.
- Provide procurement training to officers, CLB and members.
- Manage the Council’s energy contracts to ensure the Council is achieving best value.
- Contribute to the formulation and review of service plans.
- Write and maintain procedure notes for the Procurement function, ensuring all audit recommendations are followed.
- To work on any other improvement projects throughout the Council where procurement or financial processing input is needed.
- Maintain contact with the Local Government Association and other local procurement officers to allow continuous learning and identify potential for collaborative procurements.

**Qualifications and Knowledge**:

- Educated to A-Level or equivalent.
- Must be numerate and literate
- GCSE A-C in Maths and English, or equivalent.
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), or working towards a sound understanding of procurement principles within the public sector.
- Knowledge of Construction Industry Scheme.
- Working knowledge of procurement frameworks and opportunities presented by such mechanisms.

**Skills and Experience**:

- At least three years’ experience of working in an Accounts Payable and Procurement Environment.
- At least three years’ experience of managing staff to be able to manage project teams to deliver required outcomes and outputs.
- Detailed knowledge of the financial framework in which local government operates.
- Through working knowledge and understanding of requirements of Local Government Procurement, and EU Procurement Regulations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Competent in the use of Word, Outlook and Excel, as well as financial systems.
- Project management skills and ability to lead a project team consisting of a range of senior managers across the organisation.

**Start Date: ASAP.