eProcurement Officer

eProcurement Officer

Rate: £13.26 PAYE
Duration: 3-month contract
Location: Stoke‑on‑Trent
About the Role

This role supports Procurement Operations and Payments activity from source to payment, helping transform Procurement & Commercial Services into a leading-edge and professional organisation by becoming more focused, integrated, and disciplined.

You will contribute to:

• Assisting the embedding of an effective Central Purchase Ordering and Central Buying Team
• Working with services to add value to the sourcing and purchase ordering process
• Ensuring value for money through delivery of savings against contracts
• Creating an expert function that ensures the process for ordering supplies and services is streamlined, automated and efficient

Key Duties / Responsibilities

1. To support the development of the Central Buying functions.
2. To engage and work closely with the Category Management team to align purchasing activity and maximise opportunities to deliver value for money within the buying process.
3. To gain an understanding of the Category both internally and externally.
4. To lead on buying activity up to £50,000 including:
   • a. managing a three‑quote process
   • b. managing a mini‑tender process
   • c. managing the call-off process from City Council frameworks
   • d. calling off from regional and national frameworks
5. Negotiating with suppliers to agree prices, quantities, delivery schedules and exclusivity deals.
6. Researching new supply markets, products and service provision and supporting the development of supply markets in conjunction with the Category Strategy.
7. To highlight risk and issues and record progress through periodic reporting.
8. To deliver budget efficiencies and maximise use of Council's funds.
9. To support the delivery and monitoring of a cashable savings process from contract and purchasing efficiencies.
10. To engage with suppliers with a focus on SMEs and local suppliers to support the sustainable procurement strategies.
11. To reconcile purchase orders with invoices.
12. To assist with enforcing compliance with the "No Purchase Order, No Pay" policy and Purchase Card policy.
13. To support catalogue management and development.
14. To promote commercial best practice throughout the organisation.
15. To engage with Systems and Transformation teams to develop technology that streamlines and automates the purchasing process.
16. To work with services to challenge existing purchasing activity and advise on commercial best practice.
17. To establish working relationships and proactively collaborate with relevant stakeholders.
18. To be an ambassador for the function internally and externally.
19. To adhere to performance objectives and quality standards for procure‑to‑pay processes.
20. To capture, document and report on the benefits of the challenge process.
21. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as required by the line manager.

Person Specification

Minimum essential requirements evidenced through application, test, or interview:

• Negotiation skills
• Commercial awareness
• Experience managing three‑quote processes, mini‑tenders and call-offs from frameworks
• Ability to make decisions
• Knowledge of key local government supply markets (e.g., corporate services, housing & works, city management)
• Experience of purchase ordering and payment processes/systems
• Experience dealing with external and internal stakeholders, including the public
• Analytical and maths skills
• Delivery focus with interest in innovation
• Use of finance systems, eSourcing, Microsoft packages
• IT skills
• Ability to understand customer needs and challenge/influence the status quo
• Commitment to high‑quality customer service
• Ability to work well under pressure and be flexible
• Confident, assertive yet friendly and approachable
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Strong teamworking ability
• Knowledge of public contracting regime and procurement policies
• Awareness of Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts