Procurement Assistant Manager

Fixed Term, 12 month contract
Full Time, 37 hours per week
£35,295 to £41,523 per annum plus Flexible Working & Local Gov Pension
Location: Chelmsford / Hybrid
Working Style: - expectation to attend the office (County Hall, Chelmsford) is typically once to twice a week based around business needs
Closing Date: 31st August 2025

Do you want to make a difference to real people and real lives? Do you want to be a part of helping to shape the future of our Procurement service at Essex County Council (ECC)?

Did you know that ECC spends c£1.2 billion per annum on 3rd party commissioned services, making it the 2nd largest spending Authority in the UK? The Procurement Team at ECC support the organisation to deliver services to 1.4 million residents. We aim to lead the profession on initiatives such as social value, climate action through procurement, and leveraging our size and scale to support our community.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead the development, maintenance, and implementation of category strategies aligned with commissioning objectives.
2. Manage project workstreams and tender activities, ensuring compliance with legislation, regulation, and ECC policies.
3. Develop innovative approaches in sourcing activities to improve service levels and reduce costs within set timeframes.
4. Provide stakeholder support and advice on contractual and procurement matters.
5. Collaborate with stakeholders to assess the viability of commercial options in complex environments.
6. Engage with suppliers and market entrants to identify gaps and explore opportunities through market engagement.
7. Proactively identify and mitigate contractual, commercial, and market risks to ensure supply continuity.
8. Work with colleagues and external partners to implement best practices.
9. Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes and negotiate commercial and contractual changes.
10. Ensure policies, procedures, and workflows are current and best in class.

This role entails managing sourcing, category, and contract management activities up to approximately £50 million per annum. The successful candidate will oversee end-to-end procurement activities, including sourcing, contract changes, and supplier management.

Excellent stakeholder skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to work independently under tight deadlines are essential. A good understanding of procurement legislation and its application to ECC's outcomes is also necessary.

The role will focus on procurement within Sustainable Growth and indirect services, including sourcing activities. The candidate should be educated to A level with a relevant professional qualification such as MCIPS or equivalent experience with ongoing professional development.

Candidate Requirements:

• Knowledge of category management and experience in complex commercial environments.
• Track record in managing strategic contracts and improving supplier performance.
• Experience delivering cost and service improvements.
• Knowledge of contract law and legislation relevant to procurement categories.
• Extensive negotiation skills for multi-million-pound contracts.
• Understanding of working in a political environment.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest UK local authorities, Essex offers a dynamic environment committed to transformational change and delivering value. Recognised for productivity, we focus on innovation, flexible working, and career development.

In February 2025, Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, aiming to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026.

Benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Excellent pension scheme and employee benefits.
• Training and professional development opportunities, including support for CIPS/MCIPS.
• Largest procurement team in the UK with a reputation for excellence.
• Support for employees transferring from other authorities and inclusive employment practices.