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Please note this position is available on either a full time or part time (30 hours plus per week) basis.

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda - one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We're immensely proud of our flexible working options.

Job Purpose

The Eastern Highways Alliance was established in 2012 at the direct request of the strategic directors from the eleven local authorities in the East of England. This was in response to central government's Highway Management Efficiency Programme recommending that local authorities collaborate more, citing the success of highway alliances elsewhere in the country at the time. The Eastern Highways Alliance Specialist role was created to manage this Alliance on behalf of its member authorities.

Through collaborative working, the Alliance aims to deliver savings for all the participating authorities. A key early task for the successful candidate will be to procure a replacement framework for a wide range of highway infrastructure maintenance and improvement schemes and then the subsequent contract and supplier relationship management, including sourcing appropriate contract management training opportunities.

This role will be very collaborative in nature, ensuring that continuous improvement approaches are adopted which deliver benefits for all parties over the entire lifespan of our relationships.

All this activity will require the effective leadership of multidisciplinary teams and the support and development of colleagues both within procurement and across the Authorities.

Organisational Accountabilities

* Roles at this level will be focused on delivering results in a specific functional area. They will hold expertise on the application of policy and improvement of service delivery. These roles have clear team budgets and targets set within the overall service requirements
* Operational planning and performance review to maintain exceptional service delivery and ensures the political objectives and priorities of the council are met
* Working collaboratively within and across functions to and thinking commercially support the delivery of best possible outcomes for our customers on a financially sustainable basis.
* Maintain and nurture collaborative relationships with other teams in the function and external organisations that support the delivery of annual plans.
* Implementing changes and continually evaluating service to improve the area of work, while maintaining the highest possible levels of service quality are continually delivered
* Managing complex issues and resources to meet the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes
* Effective utilisation of digital technologies and innovation across the function.
* Equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken.
* Using professional expertise to translate goals and plans into ways of working that comply with relevant legislation and statutory requirements and manages a level of appropriate risk.
* Deliver exemplar customer interactions to individuals and communities which support strong relationships and a reputation for achieving outcomes and resolving issues

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

* Educated to a degree level with a relevant professional qualification (such as MCIPS) or equivalent demonstrable work experience. Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Extensive knowledge of category management and significant experience of using this methodology in complex commercial environments.
* A demonstrable track record of managing multi-million pound contracts in a large, complex, business critical environment. This should include evidence of using continuous improvement techniques to lead the improvement of key elements of supplier performance, deliver value added opportunities, innovation and the mitigation of contract and supplier risks.
* Extensive knowledge of public sector procurement law and contract law with an ability to explain the law to non-procurement staff and find pragmatic solutions to potential legal difficulties.
* Extensive negotiation skills appropriate to multi-million pound contracts and experience of planning and delivering successful negotiations.
* Extensive experience of developing suppliers and markets to meet changing business needs.
* Excellent communication and influencing skills.
* Experience of working in a political environment and skilled in understanding and responding to different perspectives.

Candidates for this role should specifically be able to demonstrate the ability to:
o Work and deliver collaboratively across a number of separate organisations
o Programme manage
o Oversee and manage budgets including delivery of significant savings

Highways experience is essential.

Working for Essex welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of gender, race, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Working for Essex is a trading name of Capita Resourcing Ltd. Services offered are those of an Employment Agency and Employment Business. Applicants will be required to register with us.

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