Procurement Consultant Ref 20867

School/department:   Procurement - Finance
Hours: Full time hours 1 FTE. This post has been designated as a hybrid worker role, with an equal split between campus and remote working.  Further requests for flexible working options will be considered (subject to business need).
Location: Brighton, United Kingdom
Contract: Permanent
Reference:  20867
Salary: starting at £36,333 to £43,155 per annum, pro rata if part time
Placed on: 23 June 2023
Closing date: 9 July 2023. Applications must be received by midnight of the closing date.
Expected Interview date: 24 July 2023
Expected start date: September 2023  

Job description

The University of Sussex is a dynamic, innovative, top 50 university. With a campus based in the South Downs National Park but just a few minutes from the city of Brighton and Hove, it provides an excellent working environment in a remarkable setting, combined with all that the city has to offer.

Creative thinking, intellectual challenge and collaborative working are fundamental to a Sussex education and that is reflected in our workplace too. This is an exciting chance to join a team working at the centre of the University.

Within the University’s Finance department, the Strategic Procurement Team are responsible for identifying/supporting key areas of spend within the University and identifying ways of adding value through procurement processes whilst ensuring compliance.

We are looking to recruit a Procurement Consultant to our Estates & Facilities Category within our strategic team. The long-term Capital Estates Roadmap includes multiple projects of varying size, scale and complexity. Therefore, the Estates & Facilities Management Category have a key, strategic role to play in assisting with the delivery of the Roadmap over the years to come.

You will support and/or lead in securing value for money from areas of the University’s commercial relationships by working on strategic projects, tendering and supplier negotiations.  Previous experience in public sector procurement is not essential and we welcome applications from experienced procurement professionals from other sectors. You are expected to be aware of the implications of working within a public sector environment and how this affects purchasing strategies and practices.

This role has been mapped as equivalent to the “Managerial” competence level in the CIPS Global Standards. You will therefore be expected to have equivalent knowledge and capability, demonstrated either through professional qualifications or experience.

  • Drive value for money in commercial contracts, transactions and arrangements for goods and services and in its ongoing relationships with suppliers.
  • Lead and/or support pre-procurement, sourcing and/or contract management activity including strategy development, market engagement, negotiation, performance management and exit activity where required.
  • Supporting the development and implementation of category or contract management strategies, using market insight and strategic awareness to inform the content and identify opportunities for enhanced value for money in commercial arrangements
  • Represent the Procurement department in project, procurement and contract management initiatives, providing clear and constructive input, leadership, guidance and advice.
  • Develop and manage productive relationships with stakeholders and suppliers to support delivery, implementation and management of commercial services, contract management and sourcing strategies.
  • Working within the Procurement and Supply Management teams, ensure a pipeline of commercial and contract management activity is maintained across assigned area(s) of spend.
  • Tracking and analysing spend, savings, supplier performance and driving continuous improvement across assigned area(s) of spend.
  • The role may involve line management or mentoring of one or more individuals, and therefore will involve leading, developing and line management to deliver quality outputs and a positive work environment.
  • Adherence, and ensuring reports adhere to, governance, legislative and policy requirements.
  • Through supplier relationships and contractual agreements, support the aims, commitments and ambitions set out within the University’s Sustainability Strategy

As part of your application, you will need to provide a personal statement to provide evidence showing how you meet each of the Essential Criteria for this role found in Section 4. Without demonstrating how you meet each of the Essential criteria within your personal statement, you may not be shortlisted for interview for this position.

Please contact Claire Hutchinson Head of Strategic Procurement (c.hutchinson@sussex.ac.uk, 01273 678811) for informal enquiries.

The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

You can find out more about our values and our EDI Strategy,  Inclusive Sussex, on our webpages.

Download Job Description and further specification 20867 [PDF 138.85KB]

The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed from the UK. 

Visa Sponsorship Queries:

  • "This role may be eligible for sponsorship. For a job to be eligible for sponsorship it needs to be assigned an eligible SOC code & meet minimum salary requirements and be full time. Please contact HRCompliance@sussex.ac.uk so they can check if this role can be assigned to an eligible SOC code and meets the minimum salary requirements. You can also consult our Skilled Worker Visa Information page for further information"

How to apply

Download our professional services application form - Dec 2020 [DOC 203.00KB] and Personal Details and Equal Opportunities Form [DOCX 65.11KB] and fill in all sections.

You must email your completed application, and personal details and equal opportunities form, to jobapps@sussex.ac.uk

You should attach your application form and all documents to the email in PDF format (we are unable to accept applications as google.docs or .pages) and use the format job reference number / job title / your name in the subject line.

You can also send your application by post to Human Resources Division, Sussex House, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH.

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