Interim Procurement Specialist

Temporary (8 - 12 weeks), Full Time£500 per day umbrella (Inside IR35)Location: ChelmsfordWorking Style: Anywhere WorkerClosing Date: 13th October 2024

The OpportunityWe are seeking an experienced Interim Procurement Specialist to work with stakeholders across the organisation to understand requirements for goods and services, assess the market, and determine appropriate strategies for various spend areas. The role will also involve managing strategic suppliers and contracts, ensuring continuous improvement and value-added opportunities for both the organisation and its suppliers.

The Category and Supplier Relationship Specialist will drive the delivery of benefits from strategic suppliers through collaborative approaches, ensuring that category plans for high spend areas are innovative and effective. This role requires strong leadership skills, including managing multidisciplinary teams and supporting colleagues across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of category and supplier relationship plans for high spend/high risk areas.
• Engage with colleagues to identify market gaps and lead initiatives to encourage supplier development.
• Collaborate with key suppliers to identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement and added benefits, focusing on areas like local economy, skills development, and environmental improvements.
• Gather insights from contract managers, analysts, and strategic suppliers to help operational teams understand and develop opportunities.
• Lead complex projects and tenders, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and internal policies.
• Influence the regional procurement agenda and lead cross-organisational project teams.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to provide commercial and financial guidance for complex projects.
• Adopt and promote best practice procurement approaches, ensuring policies and procedures are current and effective.

Skills and Experience Required

• Degree-level education with a relevant professional qualification (such as MCIPS) or equivalent work experience, alongside continuous professional development.
• Extensive experience in category management within complex commercial environments.
• Proven track record of managing multi-million-pound contracts, demonstrating continuous improvement in supplier performance, value creation, and risk mitigation.
• In-depth knowledge of public sector procurement law and contract law, with the ability to explain legal principles to non-procurement staff.
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly in high-value contracts, with a history of successful outcomes.
• Experience in developing suppliers and markets to adapt to changing business needs.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience working in political environments and managing diverse perspectives.

Please send your CV to apply