Senior Category Buyer

To lead on the South West Police Procurement Department (SWPPD) approach to managing and delivering successful regional procurement in identified key sub-categories, especially the complex / high value procurements which will involve the full engagement of key stakeholders (including operational and technical experts in each of the forces,) and building effective and productive relationships with specific suppliers, as well as leading a procurement team. The role will focus on four key areas of activity:  

SWPPD Development and Management 

• Actively engage regional and national groups for specific categories of spend

• Manage one or more Category Buyers

• Develop individuals and teams to enhance performance 

Category Strategy 

• Understand key supply market drivers, market conditions and trends for their category areas

• Understand how to access supplier data and information. Understand the analysis process and how to apply it to new situations

• Understand available internal and external data, complete spend analysis and provide insight

• Understand potential changes to the future requirements for their category areas

• Support the process to generate robust category strategies with the correct level of analytical rigour

• Engage with the senior stakeholder community and help gain buy-in for recommendations

• Ensure the strategy delivers ‘best value’ based on a combination of quality of product, service and cost, and that the strategic sourcing process is applied consistently and appropriately

• Achieve Procurement savings 

Category Sourcing 

• Lead on complex and high value / high risk procurements

• Select appropriate procurement route and assessment criteria

• Quality assure advertisements for the letting of contracts, particularly for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union

• Quality assure tender documents

• Develop user specifications with key stakeholders

• Ensure that all procurement contracts and awards comply with standing orders and financial regulations, central government directives, and all relevant national and European legislation

• Manage the implementation of multiple new contracts across the region

• Utilise e-procurement tools

Category Management 

• Develop and implement appropriate tools and criteria to objectively measure supplier performance in terms of cost, risk, stakeholder satisfaction, supplier performance and continuous improvement

• Manage and develop operational relationships with key suppliers to maximise value to the business

For further details please see the attached role profile.