Commercial and Procurement Lead – Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

CFRS is one of the best fire and rescue services in the UK – but don’t take our word for it. Our recent His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) highlighted our positive culture, our dedication to developing our people and the things we do to promote inclusion across the service.

The Service is dedicated to delivering an outstanding service to the communities we are proud to serve. We are currently looking for a Commercial and Procurement Lead to join our welcoming, forward-thinking fire and rescue service.

Salary: £39,545 per annum

Hours: 37 Hours per week 

Contract: Maternity Cover

Location: Huntingdon (hybrid working)

About the role 

Working within our Commercial Team, this service critical role will see you provide effective and efficient procurement of goods and services on behalf of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority (CPFA) to ensure organisational objectives are delivered as well as supporting regional, national and inter agency collaborations.

• You’ll support an efficient and flexible procurement service in achieving value for money, cost savings whilst delivering in accordance Procurement Regulations, Authority Policies and Best Practice.  You will do this by working with key stakeholders to identify potential savings opportunities to deliver value for money by the consolidation of disaggregate spend within the category lead’s category.
• You’ll support and promote appropriate procurement strategies addressing the needs of the Authority to deliver compliant procurement activities, ranging from Low Value to Finder Tender Service thresholds as well as utilising National Frameworks for new and existing requirements.
• You will be responsible for managing all aspects of the procurement lifecycle to ensure best practice, responsible and ethical delivery and management of contracts, whilst ensuring all documentation is current and valid for transparency and auditing purposes.
• You will engage with a range of departments and key stakeholders, supporting improvements to procurement activity, enhancing engagement with the procurement function whilst ensuring compliance with regulations, commercial best practice,
• As a category lead, you’ll ensure consistent advice and guidance is provided and ensure a smooth and effective procurement process.
• You will provide an understanding of the relevant market conditions, procurement options available as well as advise on potential supply chain risk and vulnerability as well as potential for commercial and reputational risk and report accordingly.
• As well as achieving cost effectiveness for the Authority you taking account of whole life costs and Corporate Social Responsibility/ Sustainability, social value and identifying potential risks with Modern Slavery, whilst always demonstrating effective use of public funds.
• You’ll undertake analysis of relevant financial data, review the contract register to identify, forecast, improve and implement changes to contracts and future purchases which enable savings opportunities and potential cost reduction.
• Work with other Public Sector bodies and partner organisations to identify collaboration opportunities within the categories.  Engagement with National Fire Chiefs Council Procurement Hub, supporting the National Agenda for all procurement projects that offer benefits to both the Authority and wider Blue Light Organisations.
• You’ll deliver awareness sessions and guidance to all colleagues in line with procurement regulations and internal procurement guidance, to increase the commercial awareness across the Authority.

About you:   

Everyone is welcome at CFRS and we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and professional support team. The experience required in this role includes:

• Membership or be working towards MICIPS and or
• Good commercial awareness preferably within a public sector environment with experience of running and managing procurement processes and the resulting contract management.
• Experience of an e-tendering portal to provide an auditable tendering mechanism.
• You’ll have a good knowledge of the Public Procurement Regulations, principles of GPA and WTO Parameters and some knowledge of the New Procurement Act due to come into effect.
• An understanding of value for money principles, Innovation, Social Value, Sustainable Procurement and Ethical Trading including Modern Slavery.
• Proficient in Microsoft based packages, including Sharepoint, word and excel to manipulate and interpret numerical data.
• Your clear and concise ability to communication with others will allow you to thrive in the role.

Working life at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

You don’t have to wear a firefighter’s uniform to play an important role in the Service. A role in our support function offers the chance to build a challenging, rewarding career and the opportunity to give something back to the community. We’re a modern and progressive place to work and promote the right values and welcoming culture by:

• Ensure transparency and fairness in everything we do.
• We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
• We provide health and wellbeing support for everyone in the service.
• We have inclusion ambassadors and established working groups for protected characteristics and menopause.

Additional rewards and benefits

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to Health Cash Plan
• A competitive pension scheme
• Access to Blue Light Discount at hundreds of stores and events
• Access to Health Shield Perks discounts
• Family friendly policies – including flexible working
• Great learning and development opportunities
• 28 days annual leave each year plus bank holidays, increasing with long service
• Parking (site specific)
• Flexible, agile, hybrid working

How to apply

To apply for this opportunity please read the Recruitment Pack and complete an EDI Form and send your CV and covering Letter (detailing your suitability for the role and ideally examples of previous campaigns/work) to recruitment@cambsfire.gov.uk

*Please note any CVs submitted without a Covering Letter will not be considered.

If this role isn’t for you, but you know someone who might be interested – please share details with them.