Senior ICT Buyer

ICT Senior Buyer

Start date is ASAP for approx 6 months

Hybrid/Remote role

Hours are 37 hours per week. Mon - Fri

Job Purpose

An experienced Senior Buyer specialising in ICT within the County Council. This post will provide support to the Senior ICT Supplier Manager in developing and delivering the sourcing and supplier management framework to meet the County Council's Digital requirements.

To support a strategic approach to ICT Supplier Management that delivers innovative, cost-effective and quality products/services that meet the County Council's priorities.

To be a key contact for senior managers and commissioners across the organisation, supporting the Senior ICT Supplier Manager, in the planning and delivery of IT sourcing and supplier management activity to ensure key milestones are achieved.

Whilst previous experience of public sector sourcing would be a benefit it is not essential and training would be provided.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities

The following are a range of duties that are appropriate to this grade.

• Support the development of good practice supplier management techniques which ensure the County Council's suppliers provide quality, value for money ICT software services in line with the County Council's priorities.
• Provide leadership in sourcing activities for ICT requirements, ensuring effective, compliant routes to market for potential solutions and managing the end to end sourcing process for tactical requirements.
• Develop routes to market for strategic requirements in collaboration with Corporate Procurement team.
• Support the development of the IT service management plans to ensure all sourcing and contract variation activity is identified, planned and can be delivered within the required timescales.
• Ensure the governance arrangements for all supplier management activity complies with the County Council's internal policies and regulations.
• Undertake supplier relationship and quality management activity that ensures compliance with contracts and that any issues are identified, and appropriate action taken.
• Identify, prioritise and mitigate risks with the County Council's strategic ICT suppliers on an on-going basis.
• Build and develop relationships with key stakeholders within the County Council.
• Provide advice and guidance on supplier issues to service managers and project managers.
• Make an active contribution to the development of standard documentation and working practices which contribute to the County Council's requirement to have an ICT Supplier Management and sourcing service that is modern, efficient and economically and socially responsible.
• To be responsible for managing other staff within the service as appropriate.
• Any other duties as may be appropriate to achieve the objectives of the post

In addition to the skills knowledge and experience described above, you may be required to undertake a lower graded role as appropriate.

Skills Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge and professional experience of sourcing and managing ICT suppliers, likely to be CIPS level 4 qualified (or working towards the qualification).
• Ability to build relationships and influence at all levels
• In addition to the skills knowledge and experience described above, you may be required to undertake a lower graded role as appropriate.

Requirements

Qualifications:

CIPS level 4 qualified or working towards; or equivalent degree, knowledge and experience.

Experience

Experience in delivering effective and efficient supplier management practices that meet the IT needs of an organisation.

Experience of managing supplier relationships and contracts including managing poor performance.

Experience in leading end to end sourcing activities

Experience of negotiating, driving value for money and influencing at all levels.

Experience of working collaboratively with a variety of people and professionals at middle to senior management level and across organisational boundaries.

Experience of key supplier and market development.

Experience of managing staff and achieving key outcomes.

Knowledge and skills:

In-depth technical and practical knowledge of supplier management best practice

Ability to build relationships and influence decision making at all levels across an organisation

Technical and practical knowledge of Public Contract Regulations and Framework Agreements

Understanding of strategic sourcing methodologies

Ability to manage broad and varied workload and work to deadlines and targets

Use of IT systems to undertake supplier management activity

Oral and written communication skills including the ability to communicate at all levels