Procurement Lead

Job Title: Procurement Lead 

Directorate: Finance and Corporate Services 

Fulltime/Permanent 

Salary: £64,564 per annum (London) / £61,764 per annum (outside London)

Location: London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast with frequent travel to London

Closing Date for Applications: Tuesday 26th March at 12 noon

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly skilled and experienced Procurement Lead to join our dynamic team at the Electoral Commission. In this key role, you will play a crucial part in shaping the future of our procurement and contract management strategies.

 

The Role:

As the Procurement Lead, you will be a pivotal figure in our Procurement Service, collaborating closely with the Director of Finance, Head of Procurement, and other department heads. Your primary responsibility is overseeing the purchase of all goods and services within the Commission, ensuring compliance with statutory and legislative requirements.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and operationalize a commercial and contract management strategy aligned with the Commission's needs.
  • Lead, manage, and provide expertise on mid-high value, complex procurements and contracts.
  • Establish procurement governance frameworks and maintain commercial templates for optimal outcomes.
  • Engage, negotiate, and influence a wide range of senior stakeholders, both internal and external.
  • Provide expert strategic and procurement advice, ensuring compliance with organizational objectives.
  • Manage difficult conversations, navigate sensitive and political situations, and act as an escalation point.

Essential Criteria:

  • Significant experience in delivering large-scale Public Sector Procurement Projects.
  • Expertise in public sector procurement and contract management.
  • Proven experience drafting, navigating, and managing complex and high-risk contracts and commercial activities.
  • Autonomy in workload management, capable of managing own and others' workloads with little supervision.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and influencing skills.
  • Experience in establishing procurement governance frameworks.
  • Subject matter expertise in leading commercial teams, contract development, and capital delivery.
  • Proven leadership experience or a formal management qualification.
  • Commitment to continuing professional development.

Find out more on how to apply and view the job application

Applications should include a supporting statement. This should include examples of how you have demonstrated the role’s person specification, including:

•    essential skills
•    behaviours
•    knowledge

To be fair to all candidates, we can’t accept job applications submitted after the closing date.

We will let you know whether or not you have been invited for an interview shortly after the closing date.

We hold some of our interviews online using video conferencing, and other interviews in person at one of our offices. We’ll let you know when and where your interview will be.

Sometimes, we’ll ask you to complete a task for your interview. For example, preparing a presentation on a specific topic. We’ll give you instructions about the task when we invite you to interview.

Our interviews are competency based. We will ask you questions to understand more about your experience, and how it relates to the essential criteria in the person specification. Questions will also cover the values, behaviours, and skills required for the role. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about the role or working with us at the end of your interview.

We will let you know the outcome of the interview as soon as possible. Usually, within two days after the final interview has been completed. We’re always happy to give feedback if requested.  

We will always let you know when we’d like to contact your references.

If you have taken part in certain political activities, such as holding office in a political party or holding a relevant elected office, it may mean that you can’t work for us. To discuss this before applying, contact our HR team at [email protected]

If you’re successful, you’ll need to complete some pre-appointment checks. This includes a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In Scotland, this is a Disclosure Scotland check. In Northern Ireland, it’s an Access NI check.

Higher security clearance may be required for some roles. We will only ask you about convictions and cautions that are not protected. Having a criminal record does not necessarily prevent you from working here. It depends on the nature of the position and the circumstances of your offences. Read our employing ex-offenders policy for more information.

We welcome applications from everyone. We will ask for your personal details including your nationality, ethnicity and any disabilities. These details will not be shared with the interviewers.

If you have a disability, let us know at the application stage so we can make adjustments for you. This may include accepting your application by post.

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