Category Specialist

Category Specialist 

Bristol City Council

Bristol

£38,813 - £41,675

Ref: 3348

Bristol City Council are searching for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who would like to play a part in building a strategic, corporate procurement function to support the whole Council. With a focus upon social services you will procure a diverse range of works, goods and services that will directly influence the services available to Bristol residents. This represents a valuable opportunity to develop a procurement service from the ground up to reflect best practise and deliver positive outcomes.

As a Category Specialist you will work with the Category Manager and wider team to enable effective procurement which meets the Council’s needs, policy requirements and service users. You will offer procurement guidance to end-users across the Council, providing knowledgeable support in setting up new contracts and developing purchasing strategies across a wide variety of areas to ensure that the operational needs and strategic goals of the council are maintained. As you develop you will take the lead in specific procurement requirements within the Social Care area.

You will provide support to the Category Manager on a day to day basis ensuring that the Contract Register, spend analysis and procurement best practice are managed within the timescales required. You will create evidenced based wide procurement strategies to deliver LEAN end to end procurement processes, including ownership of documentation, route to market, evaluations and award processes. You will play a vital role in supporting the Corporate Procurement team in supporting all departments for low and medium risk procurement projects. You will develop strong strategic relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders to maximise opportunities to collaborate, achieve efficiencies, improve capability and promote the procurement profession. This team is looking for an individual committed to professionalism and excellence in their work, and with a passion for providing high quality support.

With a background of delivering a procurement and supply chain service, you will have a sound understanding of best practice procurement processes and methodologies. As a strong communicator, you will confidently engage with people at all levels. With a collaborative ethos, you will embed change, resolve issues and help teams to overcome any setbacks. You will also have shown development of successful soft skills, particularly in stakeholder engagement. With a keenness to develop your own skills, and with our support, you will work towards an MCIPS or business equivalent qualification.

Our team is at the very heart of our council – we recognise that together with our elected members, we make the difference to our local communities. We are dedicated to staff development and individual success within a team framework. To help our staff deliver, we provide a supportive work environment, development opportunities and work to help everyone achieve their potential, whilst enjoying a positive work-life balance.

If after reading the job advert along with the Job Description and Person Specification you have further queries, please contact the hiring manager Alistair Little at Alistair.little@bristol.gov.uk

To apply, please visit our website.

Closing date: 26 May 2019.

Interviews are currently scheduled for w/c 24 June 2019.

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the City we serve.  We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community.