Procurement Business Partner - Based in Beds (Hybrid, 2 days in office) 12 month FTC. With a view to going permanent, up to £45,000

Expanding business are seeking a professional Procurement Business Partner for a 12 month fixed-term contract, with the potential to develop into a permanent opportunity.

• Assist Senior Category Managers & Head of Procurement to provide guidance, advice & support to other team members. Set key objectives, create opportunities to promote an environment of continuous improvement and development.
• Attend and support the Procurement Committee process (ProCo).
• Secure goods/works/services at optimal price and quality, achieved through effective sourcing, supplier negotiations and supplier relationship management, in line with the corporate strategy.
• Create value through supplier partnerships, innovation & sustainable initiatives.
• Create & manage category strategies, liaising with senior managers and directors to effectively implement in line with the corporate strategy.
• Develop appropriate sourcing and contract strategies procurements including the mitigation of potential supply chain risks.
• Collate and analyse data that supports the control of prices, costs and financial savings achieved, taking appropriate actions to improve performance.
• Create risk assessments, registers or other risk evaluation tools and agree actions to mitigate risks with suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Conduct effective performance reviews and appraisals with members of staff from procurement and supply.
• Demonstrate effective leadership skills with stakeholders by developing, communicating and promoting the purpose, values and vision of improved procurement and supply chain management across the organisation and with suppliers.
• Evaluate the range of contracting options for major programmes, projects or complex procurement activity, including the situations when each should be used, taking account the full scope of the project and the project outcomes.
• Evaluate benchmarks for goods/works/services to develop cost and performance analysis that supports performance improvement.
• Evaluate historical and forecasted data related to categories of spend to help formulate options and make recommendations to achieve the best value outcomes.
• Evaluate and apply an appropriate methodology to improve category management by standardising processes and systems across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities to develop collaborative relationships with other similar organisations to facilitate benchmarking to measure success and tender collaboration opportunities.
• Implement total quality management approaches with suppliers to improve the cost, quality or delivery of purchased goods or services.
• Outcomes for the organisation taking care to communicate performance and issues with stakeholders.
• Keep abreast of and communicate to stakeholders any changes of policy, legislative and regulatory requirements affecting procurement and the supply chain.
• Manage the trade-offs and conflicts between stakeholders in sourcing activities and complex contracts and advise on commercial priorities.
• Manage large multi-million pound, complex and/or business critical portfolio of tenders, achieving best value whilst following best practice in line with UK Regulations.
• Monitor and evaluate developments in legal aspects that affect sourcing decisions, explaining the implications to colleagues and other internal stakeholders.
• Plan work commitments and delegate effectively to staff. Promote understanding of strategies, plans and processes.
• Promote positive working relationships by building on the different strengths of people in the team and support the development of individuals’ knowledge, capabilities and skills to further the aims of procurement and supply.
• Reduce cost, time to market, inventories or work in progress by implementing lean thinking methods and lean supply with the supply chain.
• Research and create benchmarks for processes or performance in the organisation’s supply chain.
• Review internal documents regularly to ensure it captures the latest business needs and requirements.
• Recognise the need for change and promote change in a positive manner to the team, encouraging their comments and contribution to the process.
• Seek and assess feedback from stakeholders to monitor the success of procurement and supply activity.
• Support the personal and professional development of individuals to enhance their performance
• To work with the business and negotiate contractual arrangements with suppliers to ensure that value for money is optimised across all categories of expenditure (Opex and Capex).
• To work with stakeholders and Contract Manager to develop KPI’s and SLA’s and provide to strategically monitor suppliers performance in line with the specific KPIs, SLA’s contractual obligations and service level agreements.
• To manage subordinates in facilitating best practice procurement activity.
• To work with suppliers and other stakeholders to achieve partnering and strategic relationship management to deliver value for the organisation and its supply chain.
• To work with Contracts Manager to identify & practice ways of generating added value through effective supply chain management.
• Other duties that may be required by the Senior Category Manager or Head of Procurement

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
• MCIPS qualified (or equivalent experience)
• Successful track record of delivering effective outcomes from sourcing activities
• Expertise in category and contract management
• Expertise of EU procurement regulations.
• Experience in conducting ‘public tenders’ under Find a Tender Service (FTS) regulations.
• Experience of conducting procurement / category management using best practice, sourcing and managing large tenders.
• Proven track record of resolving queries and influencing people as well as building collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Experience of successfully delivering complex competitive tenders

What you'll get in return

Hybrid policy 2 days a week in the office. Annual equivalent salary up to £45,000

12 month Fixed Term Contract, with view to going permanent

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.