Interim Head of Strategic Procurement

Cedar are supporting a Local Authority in the Midlands who are looking to appoint an Interim Head of Strategic Procurement. This role will run for 6 months (potential to extend) and is offering a day rate up to £600 per day(INSIDE IR35). The role will operate on a hybrid working basiswith the expectations to be on-site on a Monday/Tuesday.

Reporting into the Procurement Director, the successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Supporting the transformation activity by leading the implementation and embedding of Category Management, developing a portfolio procurement strategy.
• Driving and embedding a Category Management approach to procurement through development of staff, skills and process, effective partnerships with other corporate teams.
• Providing strategic review and challenge to team plans, category strategies, budgets and forecasts to ensure they maximise the delivery of service outcomes.
• Developing, establishing and monitoring best practice in procurement across the Council as a whole, ensuring that Procurement Forward Plans and Procurement Policies and Strategies are kept up to date and are disseminated across the organisation.
• Ensuring that procurement takes place in a timely way to ensure consistency of services
• Support the Procurement Director in developing the service, contributing to strategic review and challenge to resource plans, strategies, and budgets including income and savings plans.
• Deploying a strategic approach to managing spend through category management that transcends directorates, removing discreet and siloed ways of working
• Promoting strong relationships through improvement in levels of service which promote best practice to eliminate risk and missed opportunities.

Candidates applying MUST HAVE:

• Full Membership (or progressing to full membership) of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) or an appropriate equivalent body
• Previous experience working in the Public Sector in a Procurement, Category or Commercial Management role is required
• Strong understanding of Public Sector Procurement Regulations and the upcoming changes to the Regulations is required
• Proven track record delivering against spend savings targets and helping local government services achieve outcomes
• Experience implementing and embedding Category Management would be advantageous

Should you meet the minimum requirements and are keen to be considered for the role, then please apply and I shall be in touch to discuss with you further.