DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Position Description
POSITION DETAILS
Position Title:
Manager, Construction Procurement Strategy
Reports to:
Director, Procurement and Services
Location:
State Office, 35 Bridge Street, Sydney
Directorate:
Asset Management
Date:
September 2010
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
Lead and manage the development of best practice procurement approaches and
construction contract models for the acquisition and management of DET built
facilities which maximise the Department’s purchasing advantages and deliver
positive outcomes both in relation to the Department’s budget and its assets.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Deputy Director-General
Finance and Infrastructure
Director Procurement and
Services
Manager
Advisory Services
Manager
Policy,
Communications and
Project Support
Manager Facilities
Management and
Property
Manager
Construction
Procurement
Strategy
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Manager, Construction Procurement Strategy
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Project Director,
PPP
ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
The Department of Education and Training is an innovative organisation focused on
provision of service to the community through the delivery of quality education and
training.
It is the role of senior staff in the department to lead the development of an
organisational culture which is focused on the work of staff in schools and TAFE
Institutes. Senior staff serve and support students, staff and the community; promote
the development of key relationships and values; and work collaboratively with
interest groups. They also value team work, problem solving and strategic issues
management; and promote the significant role of education and training for the social
and economic future of NSW.
More than 1.5 million students (in schools, TAFE and ACE) in NSW benefit from the
services of the Department of Education and Training. To achieve this, the
department has a recurrent budget of approximately $12.4 billion and a workforce of
over 96,000 FTE. Its size and capacity for coordination provide opportunities to
integrate the provision of education and training in ways that had not been possible
traditionally.
The challenges and opportunities facing the department are immediate and
significant. Success depends on providing quality support to teachers in schools,
TAFE Institutes, communities and industries; ensuring that high quality learning and
teaching are everyone’s central focus; providing students with the knowledge,
understanding, skills and values for productive and rewarding lives; and providing
vocational education and training of the highest quality. This ongoing focus is needed
to meet the needs and aspirations of the community and industry, and to implement
government initiatives in the provision of educational technology.
The Department of Education and Training will meet these challenges and
opportunities by strengthening its focus on support for teaching and learning; leading
the growth of the market position of public schools; ensuring accountability to the
Government and community; and implementing an ethos of customer service
throughout the department. The department is committed to promoting public schools
and TAFE and the teachers who work in them; and creating harmonious and
productive relations with the teaching profession (and those who represent its
members), the community and industry.
Rapidly changing information and communications technology provides further
opportunities for the Department of Education and Training to apply and adapt work
practices to e-business, online curriculum, flexible delivery of services and products,
and strategic use of executive information to inform corporate and educational
decisions.
Provision of high quality public education and training requires the concerted effort of
every senior officer of the department. These efforts require close alignment of policy
and support through the department’s directorates and portfolios with the needs of
schools and TAFE Institutes.
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Manager, Construction Procurement Strategy
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The staffing environment of the Department of Education and Training is diverse and
complex. Staff are employed under a number of Acts of Parliament, with the majority
being covered by the Teaching Service Act 1980 and the Public Sector Employment
and Management Act 2002 (this includes staff employed under Chapter 1A of the
Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 in the Department of
Education and Training, or the TAFE Commission Division, to enable the TAFE
Commission to exercise its functions). Every senior officer of the department will
ensure that all staff, regardless of the awards governing their employment, are
committed to the corporate priorities.
The Asset Management Directorate manages the property and built assets of the
Department through the construction and maintenance of schools and TAFE
campuses to a standard which supports learning and teaching. It is responsible for:

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Development and Implementation of the Department’s Asset Management
strategies.
The planning and management of NSW DET construction, major works and
strategic projects program.
The management of the NSW DET maintenance and cleaning programs.
Management of NSW DET property acquisition and disposal programs.
Coordinating and advising Regional Asset Management Units in capital and
infrastructure project and program management, and associated reporting.
Development, implementation and maintenance of facilities standards and
frameworks.
Managing the ongoing implementation of government policies, with the
development and implementation of the DET Asset Management Strategy
including strategies around the aggregation of purchase of asset services to
achieve value for money and reduce the cost of doing business.
Managing the establishment and implementation of joint sector initiatives
including Public–Private Partnerships and Strategic Service Partnerships,
including reviewing opportunities and developing proposals for approval.
Managing the establishment and implementation of the shared corporate
services initiative within NSW DET.
Development of procurement strategies for built assets acquisition and
management across the state.
Developing and managing strategic partnerships with suppliers and service
providers including Department of Services, Technology and Administration.
The Procurement Unit provides:

High level procurement advice to the Asset Management Directorate for optimal
management of the built assets of the Department through the construction and
facilities management of schools and TAFE campuses to a standard which
supports learning and teaching.

Strategic procurement solution services including analysis, market research,
construction industry knowledge and process improvements in the acquisition
and management of built assets and properties.
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INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Relationship
Service Provider
Advisor
Leader
Manager of
commercial
environment
Supervisor and
supporter
Mentor
Dimension
Deliver on promises to the educational community.
Position holder:
 Influences the development of capital asset
procurement for the whole of DET.
 Guides future contractual relationships at the
organisational level for built asset services
 Position holder provides leadership to own
work team and leads multi disciplinary projects
within Asset Management and across DET
portfolios as required.
 Leading the cultural development of the newly
formed work group
With contractors and service providers
To work unit, and projects under the position holders
leadership.
On request from other staff in Asset Management.
Immediate Team
Senior Procurement Strategy and Contract Analyst
Procurement Strategy and Contract Analysts
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DECISION MAKING
Within the context of Government commitments, the Department’s statewide policy
framework, and in consultation with the Director, Procurement and Services, the
position holder is expected to demonstrate considerable initiative to:

Develop and implement asset procurement initiatives, logistics reform and
supply chain procurement management for the Department’s built facilities and
associated infrastructure to facilitate cost effective and value for money
outcomes for NSW DET.

Manage the statewide interface between asset procurement strategy and
contractual negotiations in conjunction with contract management service
providers.
CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS
Asset Procurement Unit is accountable for the provision of expert advice on best
practice procurement approaches and forms of contract for the acquisition and
management of built facilities and associated infrastructures.
The Manager Construction Procurement Strategy works closely with the Director
Procurement and Services to lead, develop and implement optimal and innovative
procurement strategies for programs associated with the delivery of asset
management services.
The position contributes and provides inputs to the:
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Development and implementation of the Department’s Asset Management
strategies including strategies around the aggregation of purchase of asset
services to achieve value for money and reduce the cost of doing business.
Planning and management of NSW DET construction projects and strategic
projects programs.
Management of NSW DET facilities management programs
Management of NSW DET property acquisition and disposal programs.
Management of NSW DET demountable building programs
Management of the ongoing implementation of government policies.
Challenges include:
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Working with information management limitations.
Working within a new function.
Developing and creating practices and procedures.
Establishing credibility across NSW DET.
High financial savings expectations and requirements.
Limited deployed procurement technologies.
Limited procurement skill base across NSW DET.
A cultural environment that can be resistant to change.
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POSITION DIMENSIONS
Staffing
Reporting directly:
Senior Procurement Strategy and
Contract Analyst.
Procurement Strategy and Contract
Analysts
Budget

Management of Procurement
Strategy for $27B asset base
for $575m capital and $420m
recurrent programs.

Support and assist
procurement strategic
development for goods and
services and ICT.

Acquisition and disposal of up
to $1B capital and recurrent
expenditure.
The incumbent of this position exercises a financial delegation of $150,000 on the
purchase of goods and services.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Develop and implement asset procurement initiatives, logistics reform and
supply chain procurement management for DET built facilities and associated
infrastructures.

Manage the statewide interface between asset procurement strategy for built
facilities and contractual negotiations in conjunction with contract management
service providers to achieve revenue and operational efficiencies which deliver
benefits and savings to NSW DET and support broad based procurement
initiatives and projects of the Directorate.

Lead negotiations of state wide or cross regional contracts, and work closely
with Asset Management units to optimise return on investment in assets, to
identify opportunities for improvement in practices and to support the
achievement of real savings to NSW DET.

Benchmark services operations and development of policies to optimise asset
procurement performance to support the delivery of educational services.

Participate and support the development of cost management, procurement
optimisation strategies across all of NSW DET expenditure categories.

Lead organisational change in asset procurement strategies and general
procurement activities to develop an understanding and acceptance of new
asset procurement systems, practice, procedures and procurement
technologies for NSW DET to manage the implementation of continuous
improvement activities and government reform and develop appropriate
education and training programs for NSW DET staff in procurement policy,
practice and risk management.
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
Interface with the construction industry to become informed buyer to maintain
the currency of information and knowledge in accordance with evolving asset
management, procurement and joint sector development strategies and
practices throughout Australia and internationally.

Establish effective working relationships and communication with stakeholders
including DET Procurement Unit, Department of Services, Technology and
Administration, NSW Treasury and with suppliers and service providers.

Evaluate built assets and construction industry procurement strategy and
contracts to continually review and evaluate performance to determine the level
of compliance with Government and Departmental asset procurement policy
and procedure, and monitor and report on key performance indicators in asset
procurement to determine progress towards meeting NSW DET and
Government requirements.

Ensure that state-wide built assets and property procurement strategies and
processes meet NSW Government guidelines to manage policy and statutory
requirements in asset procurement management.

Provide input to the development of directorate strategies and policies and
provide advice to senior management on asset management strategies and
issues;
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Influence government policies, initiatives and industry wide standards to
develop and maintain constructive and collaborative relationships with internal
and external stakeholders; formulate high level policy advice to the Minister and
the Director-General on asset contracting and procurement issues, policies and
procedures; and represent the Department at various senior Committees and
external stakeholder meetings to ensure appropriate and adequate advice is
provided in a timely manner.

Manage the operations of the Asset Procurement Unit, developing business
plans and budgets, managing physical and human resources, prioritising,
allocating and monitoring project work and tasks.

Contribute to continuous improvement in records management and the
achievement of full compliance with State records legislative requirements, by
promoting corporate records management policies, plans, procedures and
practices, and developing and delivering effective local strategies for their
implementation.

Contribute to the development of an organisational culture which is focused on
the work of staff in schools and TAFE Institutes, and serves and supports
students, staff and the community. Promote the development of key
relationships; working collaboratively with interest groups; valuing team work,
problem solving and strategic issues management; and promoting the
significant role of education and training for the social and economic future of
NSW.
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
Demonstrate commitment to core NSW public sector values of cultural diversity,
equity and ethical practice, and a healthy, safe and fair workplace; and lead
staff in implementing these values.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Extensive successful management experience at senior level in the
development and implementation of asset procurement strategies for built
assets and property including management of asset procurement policy,
procedure and guidelines.

Sound knowledge of the construction industry processes and practices
associated with the effective development and management of built asset
procurement and joint sector development function.

Understanding of the operations of Government processes for the development
and implementation of procurement programs, and ability to develop and
implement systems based on best practice asset procurement, tendering and
contracting reform processes.
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High level ability to analyse complex technical, financial, legal and risk
management issues and articulate them in binding commercial contract
documents,; excellent analytical skills and ability to think strategically,
innovatively and creatively within the constraints of government probity.
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Tertiary qualifications or extensive experience in project management,
construction, procurement management, or other related fields.
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Significant experience in working with diverse stakeholders, including
demonstrated negotiation, liaison and influencing skills and effective written and
oral communication skills and ability to develop commercial relationships with
customers and suppliers with a focus on continuous improvement.

High level leadership abilities with capacity to develop and foster a multi-skilled
team and leading multidisciplinary teams.

Capacity to lead staff in implementing the Department’s Aboriginal education
and training policies and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.
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