The Role
Post: Head of Category (Procurement)
Salary: £52,242.00 per annum
Grade: FRS F
Salary range: £52,242.00 - £67,836.00 per annum
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Application closing date: Friday 28 June at 16:00 GMT
Not all lifesavers wear uniforms. From specialist support staff to education and fire prevention, enforcing regulations to answering 999 calls, we're a diverse, welcoming community – will you join us?
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is in the early stages of a multi-year transformation journey. This aims of this transformation are to provide the capabilities, capacity, and resiliency to enable LFB to provide the best possible service to London and Londoners.
As part of this, the Commercial and Procurement team is likewise transforming to introduce a robust end-to-end category management capability. We are seeking enthusiastic, passionate, and experienced Procurement Professionals to join our team for this exciting journey!
The Head of Category – ICT is a key member of the Procurement and Commercial Management team, reporting into the Head of Commercial – Corporate. The role is responsible for leading the ICT Category team in procurement and commercial contract management activity that maximises value for money and minimises risk.
This includes creating and developing multi-year category plans in pursuit of the team’s transformation plan and ensuing that these are delivered by the team. Resource management will be a key aspect of the role to ensure the right capacity and capability of up to five procurement professionals and specialists to meet the demands of the category in a fast faced market and internal environment with conflicting priorities. Experience of proactive stakeholder management to foster timely decision making based on procurement data and MI analysis, and actioning and resolving risks and issues to meet the function’s performance targets is key.
Applicants should have a high working knowledge of procurement legislation, be commercially astute with the capability to demonstrate compliant, value adding procurement, contract management and category management activities. They will be proactive, self-sufficient and resilient individuals who can manage the category team capacity to maximise efficiencies against objectives through robust prioritisation.
They will also have experience of leading teams and inspiring others to be resilient in the face of busy project demands and changing priorities.
We are looking for someone with hands-on and leadership experience in this field. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills in order to manage multiple stakeholders, ensuring resources are commercially focused on delivering proportionate, sustainable, and innovative commercial solutions that effectively manage commercial risks are essential. They will have a working knowledge of common procurement tools and databases (including ERP tools, Microsoft 365 applications and SharePoint sites)
Further information about the main duties and responsibilities of the role are detailed in the job description. If you are unable to see the job description please visit our jobs pages at https://jobs.london-fire.gov.uk/alljobs/ to access the full advert.
We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across London. The London Fire Commissioner is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we positively welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.
Assessment Overview
Stage 1
Online application, CV and cover letter (sift). Shortlisted candidates will be invited to stage 2.
To apply, please complete the online application, provide a cover letter clearly outlining the selection criteria below. The CV is for information purposes only and will not be marked.
Within your cover letter please answer the following questions:
1. Experience: provide an example of your leadership experience involving managing motivation, capacity and capability; ideally for a procurement team going through change.
2. Skill: provide an example of your interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills in dealing with challenging stakeholders.
3. Knowledge: describe a complex procurement or contract activity you have led and detail how you overcame the challenges.
Please ensure you give yourself enough time to complete and submit your application. Late or un-submitted applications cannot be accepted.
Please note any correspondence received from us will be via e-mail and sent to the address you provide on your application form.
Stage 2
Assessment for this role is due to take place on 08th and 11th July. Please be advised that if you are unable to make the scheduled assessment date, we may not be able to make alternative arrangements.
Please note: Should you be shortlisted you may need to be able to conduct an interview over Microsoft Teams (a video conferencing service). You will be asked to provide relevant contact details for that to take place if shortlisted.
Additional Information
Benefits of working for LFB
• 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Option Absence Scheme (which can result in an additional 12 days annual leave for staff at this grade)
• Flexible working including job share
• Welfare Scheme
• Use of Brigade Medical Adviser/physios
• Season ticket loans
• Equality Support Groups
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Opportunity to access affordable accommodation
In line with the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) employment checks will be completed by successful candidates, which will include a Standard criminal records check. Successful candidate will be required to declare any convictions for offences and any offer of employment is subject to the LFC receiving a criminal records disclosure which it considers satisfactory.
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