Procurement and Contracts Manager – AR

Job Description: Procurement and Contracts Manager

Job Title: Procurement and Contracts Manager

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Procurement and Contracts Manager to support a local authority’s procurement activities, with a primary focus on managing the end-to-end procurement and tendering process. The successful candidate will provide expert procurement advice, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and council procedures, and support commissioners in delivering effective and value-for-money procurement exercises.

The role has a strong emphasis on early market engagement, procurement routes, tender documentation and evaluation, with minimal day-to-day contract management responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end procurement exercises, from early market engagement and route-to-market advice through to tender evaluation and award.
• Advise stakeholders on procurement procedures, including open procedures, competitive flexible procedures, the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), and appropriate frameworks.
• Prepare and publish procurement notices and manage tender exercises through the Proactis e-tendering portal.
• Issue tender documentation, manage clarification logs and ensure procurement processes are transparent and compliant.
• Prepare and review Permission to Procure reports, award reports and tender packs, providing tracked changes and comments where required.
• Brief tender evaluators, facilitate moderation meetings and review supplier feedback summaries.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with relevant legislation, council regulations and transparency requirements.
• Provide guidance and expert advice to commissioners and senior stakeholders on procurement best practice.
• Support the development and implementation of procurement strategies, policies and procedures.
• Manage and support one member of staff, ensuring work is completed accurately and within agreed deadlines.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Substantial experience managing public-sector procurement and tendering processes.
• Strong knowledge of procurement legislation and procedures relevant to local authorities.
• Experience advising on procurement routes, frameworks and market engagement.
• Experience preparing and reviewing tender documentation, procurement reports and award recommendations.
• Experience supporting tender evaluations and facilitating moderation.
• Proficiency in e-tendering systems, ideally Proactis or a similar platform.
• Excellent written communication, analytical, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing staff and prioritising workloads in a busy, complex environment.

Qualifications

A relevant procurement qualification or equivalent substantial practical experience is desirable.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on procurement professional with strong local authority or public-sector experience, confident managing competitive tendering exercises, advising stakeholders and ensuring procurement compliance. Experience in contract management is beneficial, but the main priority is end-to-end procurement expertise.