Procurement Specialist

Procurement Specialist 6 months Remote Our client is a leading economic development bank dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the United Kingdom. The bank operates independently but is government-owned. It plays a pivotal role in improving access to finance for SMEs, recognizing their importance in driving economic growth, innovation, and job creation. Purpose of the Job: To be a source of procurement expertise in the Commercial Operations team, to be responsible for the Bank’s procurement activity ensuring it is commercial and compliant, working with the wider Commercial Operations team and business stakeholders to ensure commercial and procurement support is provided across the business. The successful candidate will contribute to the function of the wider Commercial Operations team including delivery of the strategy and broader initiatives such as in relation to ESG and Continuous Improvement. Main Duties:

• Utilising extensive experience and knowledge to provide robust commercial advice and guidance to colleagues on all procurement matters
• To be an expert resource in developing procurement strategy, coordinating and running public sector procurement exercises and in all aspects of contract drafting and management
• For more complex and higher value procurements to manage those directly
• Produce all required procurement documentation for all large/high risk/complex procurements
• Manage and chair evaluation and moderation processes
• Contribute to compelling MI insights that provide management with high quality analysis of the Bank’s procurement activities to inform strategic decision making
• Provide input into the business planning and budgeting process
• Embed and develop continuous improvements
• Assisting colleagues as a business partner with procurement processes and contract management
• Proactively carry out forward planning of procurement activity
• Be a member of working groups on all projects that have a significant spend planned or a commercial impact on the organisation
• Work closely with our contracts specialists to ensure procurement requirements are translated into the Bank’s commercial contracts
• Assist the Senior Commercial Manager in establishing the function as a strategic partner to all other functions within the Bank

• Extensive and demonstrable experience in public sector procurement is essential
• Extensive and demonstrable experience of being responsible for, leading on and running OJEU/Find a Tender is essential
• An excellent working understanding of public procurement legislation and regulation
• A sound commercial procurement outlook with an ability to provide commercially focussed advice
• Good experience of professional services procurement
• An all-round procurement strategist and practitioner
• High level of knowledge of commercial contracts including formation, drafting and negotiation
• Broad category expertise (service rather than goods)
• Experience in working with procurement and contract management tools

• Passion of supporting change in a corporate environment and with individuals
• A continuous improvement approach and mind-set
• A demonstrably strong interpersonal and written communication style
• Ability to work closely within the commercial and procurement team and business functions to enable them to contract with suppliers for goods and services from suppliers
• Ability to manage stakeholders, colleagues, and managing upwards
• “Can do” attitude with a desire to be a team player and clear ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships
• An ability to work autonomously and is a “safe pair of hands”
• Comfortable working in fast paced environment with a capability to prioritise competing demands
• Working collaboratively both within the operations team and with other central functions, including finance, legal, risk and compliance, HR, and IT