Head of Strategic Procurement
About Us:
Shape a new procurement function that’s driven by community priorities
In Kensington and Chelsea, we put local people and local businesses at the heart of decision-making, working in partnership with them to provide quality services that are responsive, effective and efficient. We have put in place a new strategic procurement function to provide leadership, support and oversight to help the organisation deliver on these priorities. Heading up this team, you’ll use your commercial expertise to make a strong, positive difference for the people and communities we serve.
We take our responsibilities as a major local employer seriously and want to recruit people who reflect the make-up our communities while also sharing in our values of respect, openness, honesty, compassion, responsibility and humility. Strong leadership is key to ensuring the success of this approach, as well as delivering on our strategic bi-borough arrangement with Westminster City Council.
The Role:
This high-profile role offers the opportunity to shape our procurement function for the future in close consultation with the community. With influence at the most senior levels, you’ll help the council meet its key priorities, to identify and deliver transformation and savings opportunities through commissioning and procurement activities and provide a ‘joined up’ service that brings together value for money and social value. Leading the procurement of people services, transport, construction, housing and many other key services, you will prioritise the needs and views of residents and effective use of the local supply chain.
Relationship-building – with colleagues across the Council, partners at Westminster City Council, local public sector partners, our communities and suppliers – will be critical. You’ll also need a strong grip on governance issues. Your focus will be on continuous improvement: leading, motivating and developing your team to uphold the council’s values and support local communities by delivering better outcomes through commissioning and procurement.
Please refer to the Job Description for more information
About You:
Experience of corporate commissioning, procurement and contract management across a range of services is essential, but we are also looking for a values-led approach. You’re likely to have worked at a senior level in public sector partnership settings and will have delivered complex projects and improvement programmes through the management of individual and team performance. You’ll be familiar with the workings of politically driven organisations, and will have an excellent grasp of governance structures and risk management. Your outstanding negotiation and influencing skills will be matched by a commitment to collaborative working.
In return, you can look forward to a package that includes a competitive salary, a high-quality pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays.
We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
Application process
Please do not upload any documents, including CVs/Covering Letters or supporting statements, as these documents will not be reviewed and could result in your application not being shortlisted.
You should describe how you meet the person specification requirements for the position you are applying for in Section G of the application form.
Additional information
We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
We engage our staff with a variety of learning types including face-to-face and virtual learning because we want to ensure our staff understand our values and behaviours, grow their skills and develop their careers.
This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers.
We do not accept speculative CVs from any source.
Please note, we will primarily contact candidates by e-mail throughout the recruitment process, please monitor your email junk / spam folder as our system generated emails may be allocated to these folders by your email settings.