Post title
Commercial Partner
Division / Section
Commercial and Procurement Services
Department
Resources
Responsible To
Chief Procurement Officer
Number of post holders
3
Acting up/ Secondment
No
Purpose of Job
The post will be responsible for the relationship management and engagement with Directorates, Elected
Members, committees, external agencies and key stakeholders for matters relating to commercial
excellence, procurement and strategic projects.
The post will lead on the co-ordination of the delivery of the commercial and engagement function
including data management, policy development and continuous improvement to deliver a business
partnering approach across the Council in relation to procurement matters.
Lead on the direction, development and application of procurement strategy and policy and take a leading
role within specific areas of work/projects, in line with the Council’s, and its partners’, strategic direction,
outcomes and priorities.
Oversight and of the Council’s procurement systems
MAJOR TASKS/JOB ACTIVITIES
Lead and deliver the following:
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Engagement with Directorates and key stakeholders
Work in partnership with external agencies
Prioritisation and planning of activities for the Commercial and Procurement Service, in conjunction
with Senior Category Managers.
Delivery of specific projects
Strategic project engagement and management
Liaise effectively with Senior Category Manager and all budget holders in order to maintain an
awareness of all current procurement projects and procurements planned for the next three years
Planning and directing the work of the commercial operations and engagement function, commercial
innovation officer and contracts officer
Policy development
Champion and promote Sustainable Procurement, ethical purchasing standards and the delivery of
community benefits Contract Standing Orders
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Procurement Reform
Innovation projects
Committee Business
Provision of expert advice including guidance to the wider Council on complex technical and
procurement issues
Continuous improvement and best value
Audit compliance
Work with Service areas and Delivery team to review and plan for expiring contracts and waivers on a
monthly basis.
Management and development of the Council’s procurement systems and management information
to drive value for money, procurement planning and compliance with legal requirements and Contract
Standing Orders,
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Liaise effectively with Senior Category Managers and all budget holders in order to maintain an
awareness of all current procurement projects and procurements planned for the next three years.
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Contribute to the successful delivery of the outcomes of the Commercial Excellence programme
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Reporting & compliance including Committee business, Members’ briefings, waivers, Director reports
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Other appropriate duties associated with the role.
Supervision and Management of People
(Numbers and type of staff)
The post will have responsibility for between 1 and 15 members of staff, ranging from Grade 9 Senior
Officers, Grade 6 Commercial and Engagement Officers, to Grade 2 Modern Apprentices. The post may
also have project management responsibility for staff on an ad hoc basis and may be required to matrix
manage staff as required.
As a senior manager within Commercial and Procurement Services, and a member of the Senior
Management Team, the post’s decisions have a major impact on Council service provision. They will be
expected to work under the general direction of the Chief Procurement Officer, but will necessarily have
considerable decision making freedom on a day to day basis. They will be required to develop their own
work programmes, set their own targets, monitor performance and manage the conflicting priorities and
deadlines that such a role entails. The post may be required to procure and manage external staff and
consultant resources, particularly in relation to delivering the Procurement function effectively.
The post will be expected to manage professional staff across a range of professions including
procurement, legal and finance professionals.
Creativity and Innovation
As a member of the Commercial and Procurement Services management team, the post will be expected
to lead on service innovation and problem solving in relation to wider divisional and corporate issues,
delivering projects and management activities when required.
The post will demonstrate a creative and constructive approach to problem solving and will develop a
positive environment that encourages staff and reporting managers to continuously develop and improve
services. An ability to interpret a range of complex information and to identify key issues, principles and
inter-dependent factors is essential in order to ensure that decisions are properly informed by
procurement expertise. The post must demonstrate confidence in their own judgement whilst
encouraging feedback and responding constructively to alternative ideas and proposals, whilst creating
and developing positive relationships with those individuals and teams.
The post will also be expected to manage the commercial and engagement function of the service. This
will require a creative approach to data analysis and presentation, commercial operations, policy
development and legislative responses, whilst engaging and educating users of the service and responding
to their needs and requirements in order to effect positive change.
Contacts and Relationships
The post will have a wide range of contacts both internal and external relating to the effective
management and organisation of the Procurement Function, in line with the agreed priorities, vision and
outcomes of the Council, and Coalition pledges. These contacts will include Elected Members, Chief
Officials/Senior Officers, other employees, Trade Union officials, external service providers, third sector
representatives, partner organisation and members of the public.
They will be expected to deputise for the Chief Procurement Officer, attending committee and other
meetings to present reports and provide advice and information as required.
They will advise the Chief Procurement Officer on complex issues, often with high profile/political and
media interest. They will deal with a range of complex and contentious matters requiring a consistently
high degree of support, persuasion and advocacy. They consult with Directors, Heads of Service and senior
managers to plan the development of services. They develop partnership relationships with other
sections, departments and agencies to ensure effective strategic planning, customer orientation and to
define service levels and performance standards and targets.
The post will occasionally act on behalf of the Council with regard to a whole service on matters relating to
Procurement. They will be expected to develop strong working relationships with senior staff and
managers of various external organisations such as the Scottish Government, COSLA and external service
providers and other local authorities throughout Scotland and the UK, and to respond to consultations,
legislative changes and procurement reform as required.
Decisions (Discretion)
The post will develop strategic and policy options which will impact on the future development of
Commercial and Procurement Services, and on the whole of the Council, stakeholders and partner
organisations.
The post will provide advice, recommendations and proposals to Chief Officials, Elected Members and
committees relating to policy, service practice and provision for a range of major services across the
Council and the City.
Decisions (Consequences)
Decisions will have a major impact across all services, covering the whole Council. The strategic decisions
will potentially impact upon £650million of Council third party spend.
Resources
The post will be the budget holder for a non-staffing budget of over £1 million per annum.
The post will be responsible for supporting Chief Officials and senior managers to ensure that over £600
million of annual third party spend is procured in line with legislation and the Council’s standing orders.
The post will be responsible for enabling the delivery of financial savings and efficiencies to the Council of
over £10 million per annum.
The post will manage tenders for research and other projects and manage external budgets and
consultants as required. The post should be capable of challenging existing practices and proposing
initiatives for new and more efficient use of resources.
Environment – Work Demands
The post is responsible for the effective management and development of a specific team of senior
commercial and engagement officers, senior contracts officer, commercial and engagement officers and
modern apprentices, as well as across a wide range of internal services. The post will be expected to work
in a varying environment often dealing with conflicting, political and other vested interests. This means
that the post works with a high level of competing priorities and demands, all within tight deadlines, and
often subject to revision, which must be dealt with effectively and diplomatically.
The post will work at a corporate and strategic level within the Council to meet a range of strategic
deadlines/objectives.
Environment – Physical
Normal physical demands. The post is largely office based.
Environment – Working conditions
Normal working conditions. The post is largely office based.
Environment – Work Context
Normal working conditions. The post is largely office based.
Knowledge and Skills
A degree or an equivalent professional qualification in Procurement/Purchasing or related subject is
essential together with a relevant postgraduate qualification. Significant commercial and procurement
experience is also required for this post. Relevant experience and demonstrated competence will also be
taken into account where it is felt that they are equivalent to the qualification requirements.
The post will have the ability to manage a range of services, requiring knowledge and skills in a range of
specialist and managerial disciplines. Demonstrated competence in managing services and /or projects,
including staff, customers, budget, project and change management knowledge and skills is essential.
The post will have extensive practical experience in the provision of policy advice within the public sector
and extensive experience in programme and strategy management, joint agency working and partnership
initiatives.
Health and Safety
The Council must abide by relevant health & safety and employment law, as well as the common law duty
of care. All members of staff are required take care for their personal health and safety and that of others
who may be affected by their actions or inactions. You are therefore required to carry out your duties in a
safe manner in accordance with instructions and in compliance with safety rules/procedures, regulations
and codes of practice. You are required to advise your line manager if you become aware of any unsafe
practice or condition or if you have any other safety concerns and should comply with accident and nearmiss reporting procedures.
If you supervise, manage or lead other staff, you are also responsible for ensuring that the Council’s
operations are carried out in such a way that ensures, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety
and welfare of those staff and that of any others who may be affected. You will therefore conduct relevant
risk assessments and assign duties with appropriate instructions, in compliance with safety
rules/procedures, regulations and codes of practice. You will address and/or escalate any issues of any
unsafe practice, condition or any other safety concerns you identify or that are brought to your attention,
taking appropriate advice as necessary and will ensure that accident and near-miss reporting procedures
are understood and complied with.
Organisation Structure
(attach structure - specific to area of operation).