Interim Director of Procurement

Shared service MCIPS or significant experience as a procurement director or Head of Procurement role. Commercial/Director experience A significant understanding of the workings of local government and the challenges being set by the new local government agenda along with the financial, legal and political context of local government Experience of Running major operations or service provision Leading, managing and delivering transformational change in a complex organisation 1. To lead, monitor and develop the procurement service across the partner Councils, ensuring it achieves key performance measures and delivers services to meet customer needs. 2. To ensure that procurement advice and support delivers: value for money of 3rd party expenditure; robust supplier risk management; and sustainable delivery of procured services across partner Councils. 3. Forecast and deliver agreed cost savings, together with a range of additional benefits including social value, improved supplier performance, improved quality of service and total cost of performance, in line with the councils' objectives. Benchmark performance against other authorities/organisations to inform future improvements and targets 4. To work with the senior management within partner Councils to maximise the benefits of market and commercial insight in delivering procurement/category strategies that support their commissioning strategies. 5. Lead at a strategic level the formulation and implementation of procurement policy and practice across partner Councils. Ensure these are aligned to deliver each councils priorities and objectives. 6. Develop the current procurement offer & scope of activity to deliver a more comprehensive, proactive service. Implement a programme of improvements to ensure this. 7. Deliver a customer focused procurement service, engaging with customers and service managers to understand priorities and objectives, and align resources to deliver. 8. Develop services in an innovative and creative way, through an engaged workforce that feels empowered to challenge the status quo, to ensure effective and efficient service delivery to customers. 9. Ensure that an appropriate programme of skills development is in place and maintained across partner Councils to ensure all staff have the requisite knowledge and skills to undertake procurement related activities in a compliant manner which delivers value for money. 10. To develop and implement appropriate systems to support more efficient processes for customers; ensure effective control; and provide rich management information to inform strategic decision making. 11. To effectively manage the direct procurement budget of £1.3m per annum 12. Act as the Councils single point of contact for all external partners/bodies on procurement related issues. 13. Other duties - the job description indicates the main areas of activity for this post. From time to time other tasks/duties maybe required which are commensurate with the general area of responsibility and grade of the post.