Category Manager WCR 4

Working on behalf of a Local Authority, Aatom Recruitment has an opportunity for Category Manager WCR 4 a 3 month contract with a possibility of an extension.

This position will be a total of 37.25 hours per week, with hours from 09:00am – 17:00pm.

Job Purpose:

Working as part of the Council’s Procurement Service you will lead the delivery of high value/more complex or innovative tenders across Adult Services, Public Health and Children’s Services in Westminster and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Job Specific Accountabilities:

• Lead high value/high risk tenders through all stages of the process from initiation (Gate 0) to contract mobilisation (Gate 4).
• Provide commissioner or the budget holder with pragmatic and informed advice throughout;
• Use your sector knowledge and expertise and desktop research to ensure you understand the product or service you are involved with;
• Work collaboratively with legal and other subject matter experts to develop the form of contract, special terms and conditions, KPI’s;
• Prepare a procurement strategy that describes your procurement findings and recommended approach;
• Secure efficiency and other operational improvements from your work;
• Understand how sustainability and social value will be secured through the tender process;
• Ensure that specifications and desired outcomes are expressed in a meaningful way;
• Develop evaluation models to achieve the desired outcome and best value for money;
• Ensure compliance with all legal and Council requirements and policies;
• Support the mobilisation of the contract prior to handover at Gate 4.
• Attend project board meetings as required;
• Ensure effective communication and engagement with stakeholders and partners (including external suppliers);
• Assess and manage the risk associated with each activity including the development and assessment of the financial robustness of bidders during the tendering process and post award;
• Keep aware of relevant policy, best practice and legislative changes;
• Be committed to your own professional development and promote good practice within the team and more widely across the business;
• Manage your tender using the e-procurement tools used by the council and contribute to its further development;
• As part of the procurement strategy develop approaches to ensure a competitive environment for the procurements you undertake.

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience:

• A graduate degree, or equivalent/appropriate experience and have or be working towards CIPS level 5/6 or equivalent professional qualification or have relevant experience.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Proven delivery skills and experience of working to tight, pressurised deadlines;
• Highly developed communication skills, the ability to generate insight and value added for the customer;
• A heightened commercial acumen;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including report writing;
• Highly literate computer skills particularly MS Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel).
• The ability and confidence to work effectively with people at all levels internally and externally;
• Customer focus and the ability to build empathy and trust;
• The ability to challenge and influence effectively;
• Emotional resilience;
• Flexibility, creativity and self-motivation;
• Experience in a procurement/finance or commissioning environment;
• Experience in written statements of requirements, specifications or contracts which contain technical or commercial requirements across a range of different services (or may have specialised in a certain area (such as care services or the built environment);
• Good understanding of the end to end process and the key inputs that are required to complete and deliver a tender successfully, including those covered by PCR regulations;
• Experience in a structured or project-based environment;
• Experience in producing written and verbal summaries, including reports that have a strong and compelling narrative;
• Strong financial literacy and numeracy and has used analysis to influence outcomes or thinking.

To get more information about this role and how to apply please contact Anisha.