Procurement Officer

Hours: 35 (Mon-Thurs 8.15am-4.30pm, Fri 8.15am-12.15pm). Part-time hours may also be considered.

Salary: £24,017 to £26,962 per annum (applicants normally start at the bottom of the scale)

Job Description: • Conduct research to ascertain the best products and suppliers in terms of best value, delivery schedules and quality. • Liaise between suppliers, service providers manufacturers, relevant internal departments, and customers. • Build and maintain good relationships with new and existing suppliers; • Negotiate and agree contracts, monitoring the quality of service provided; • Maintain procurement contract files and use them as reference for future procurement activities. • Forecast price trends and their impact on future activities; • Produce reports and statistics using computer software, if required; • Raise and evaluate tenders on Department of Finance website and make recommendations, based on commercial and technical factors; • Ensure suppliers are aware of business objectives; • Attend meetings and trade conferences, as appropriate; • Check compliance of suppliers via ISO 9001-2015 • Raise and record Purchase Orders business wide. • Develop commercial tender and contract documentation in line with public procurement policy and best practice. • Develop procurement strategies which integrate policies in response of sustainability and continuous improvement.

Other Responsibilities • Comply with the USEL policy on Data Protection (in particular processing sensitive tender information) • Undertake other related duties within the grade and competence of the post-holder as required. • The post holder may also be required to work outside normal office hours on occasions. • To be aware of and adhere to all of Usel’s Policies and Procedures • Maintaining effective relationships with USEL procurement partners

This job description may be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

Person Specification: Essential: • Understanding of public purchasing processes & contract management. • Great communication skills - both written and verbal. • Ability to prioritise workload. • Ability to / experience of working in a busy office environment. • Excellent computer skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CRM Systems and etendersNI. • Sound knowledge in relation to procurement, completing public procurement tenders, contract management and the procurement lifecycle. • Able to adapt to change and positive attitude.

Desirable: • Dynamics financial system. • CIPS Diploma in Procurement and Supply, or other relevant qualification. • Three years’ experience in a procurement environment.