Procurement Officer

**Procurement Officer**

**Support Excellence in Procurement at Royal Greenwich**

Are you an experienced procurement professional ready to take the next step in your career?

Royal Greenwich is seeking a **Procurement Officer** to play a key role in supporting the Head of Procurement and Category Leads, ensuring efficient and effective procurement processes while delivering social value and best value for money.

In this role, you will be responsible for supporting procurement exercises, advising departments on procurement regulations, and ensuring compliance with best practice. You will also have the opportunity to manage end-to-end procurement activities for contracts, guide colleagues, and contribute to the development of procurement strategies that support the Council’s objectives.

**About the Role**

Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you will support a range of procurement activities, including leading the procurement of contracts worth up to £500,000. You will play an essential role in ensuring compliance with procurement regulations, contributing to contract management, and helping achieve financial savings and social value benefits.

**Key Responsibilities Include**:

- Supporting Procurement Strategy and Governance: Work alongside the Category Lead to develop and maintain the Council’s procurement strategy, ensuring compliance with national and local procurement regulations, and contributing to best practice.
- Managing Procurement Exercises: Lead the end-to-end procurement processes for contracts, including developing specifications, guiding departments, managing supplier engagement, and ensuring the effective use of the Council’s eProcurement system.
- Contract Management and Supplier Relationship: Contribute to managing supplier relationships, ensuring contracts deliver value for money and social value benefits. Support performance management and resolution of contract delivery issues.
- Data and Spend Analysis: Conduct regular data analysis and produce reports on procurement activities, ensuring accurate reporting of spend and procurement outcomes.
- Market Research and Supplier Engagement: Lead market research activities and soft market testing with suppliers to understand market conditions and develop appropriate procurement strategies.
- Providing Procurement Advice: Offer procurement advice and guidance to internal teams, ensuring that procurement processes are well understood and implemented.
- Maintaining Records and Compliance: Ensure the centralised contract register is updated, including managing direct awards and variations. Ensure full compliance with procurement and contract management practices.

**What We’re Looking For**

We are looking for a Procurement Officer with the following knowledge, skills, and experience:
**Knowledge**:

- A good understanding of UK procurement regulations and policies, particularly in the public sector.
- Knowledge of the rules and processes related to the procurement of goods, services, and works in a local authority setting.
- Knowledge of how procurement contributes to achieving best value and social value in the public sector.

**Skills and Abilities**:

- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present data to inform procurement decisions.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively engage with senior officers, colleagues, and external suppliers.
- Well-developed problem-solving skills, with the ability to collaborate with others to find practical solutions.
- Ability to work independently, prioritise workloads, and meet deadlines with a proactive and positive approach.
- Strong skills in Microsoft Excel and e-procurement systems, with attention to detail.
- Ability to proofread and review procurement documentation for completeness and accuracy.

**Experience**:

- Experience in preparing contract documentation, reports, and other procurement-related documentation.
- Demonstrable experience in a procurement environment or a relevant field, with involvement in managing RFQs or tender exercises.
- Experience of managing or supporting high-value or complex procurement exercises, including conducting market research and engaging with suppliers.

**Equal Opportunities**:
Commitment to the Council’s equal opportunities policies and values, ensuring inclusive practices across all procurement activities.

**Why Work for Royal Greenwich?**

As the home of the Prime Meridian Line, Greenwich Mean Time and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Royal Greenwich was named as the first new Royal Borough for more than 80 years.

Royal Greenwich is a great place to live and work, with the main Council offices based in the heart of Woolwich.

Benefitting from excellent transport links ranging from buses and tubes to trains and ferries, Royal Greenwich is one of the easiest boroughs to get to. Not to mention the New Elizabeth Line that only takes 21 minutes to get into or from central London from Woolwich,