Procurement Consultant

Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Procurement Consultant for our client, a local government organisation based in Shropshire, West Midlands.

The client is strengthening its procurement and contract management capability and is seeking a specialist consultant to lead and support work across the Children’s Services category. The successful post holder will work closely with Children’s Services commissioners to understand service priorities, develop category plans and translate commissioning requirements into effective procurement strategies. The role will involve leading complex and high-value procurements, using provider market knowledge to inform decisions and ensuring value for money, service quality and positive outcomes for children and families. This is an opportunity to join an established interim team focused on delivering significant procurement projects and strengthening commercial capability across the organisation. The role requires specialist Children’s Services procurement experience rather than generalist procurement expertise. This role is a contract position with an initial contract of 3 months, with the possibility of extension. The assignment is expected to last approximately 12 months. This role is fully remote, with no routine requirement to attend site. Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Engage with Children’s Services commissioners to understand service priorities, pressures, procurement pipelines and intended outcomes.
• Develop and implement a clear Children’s Services category plan, linking with relevant procurement activity across Adults and Public Health.
• Translate commissioning requirements into commercially robust procurement and sourcing strategies.
• Lead and support complex and high-value procurements from initial market engagement through to contract award and mobilisation.
• Use provider market knowledge and intelligence to assess market capacity, test assumptions and identify commercial risks.
• Provide specialist procurement advice and constructive challenge to commissioners and senior stakeholders.
• Support stakeholders in balancing compliance, value for money, provider capacity, service quality and outcomes for children and families.
• Develop and prioritise the procurement pipeline, ensuring projects progress at pace and follow appropriate governance.
• Strengthen collaboration between procurement, commissioning, finance and operational teams.
• Support the development of sustainable procurement and commercial capability across the organisation.

Personal Requirements:

• Significant procurement and category management experience within Children’s Services, ideally within local government.
• Strong understanding of commissioning environments and the ability to work collaboratively with commissioners.
• Proven experience developing category plans, sourcing strategies and procurement pipelines.
• Knowledge of relevant provider markets, potentially including children's social care, social worker supply, SEND, early intervention, specialist placements and third-sector services.
• Track record of leading complex and high-value service procurements.
• Strong commercial awareness and knowledge of public sector procurement processes and governance.
• Confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders constructively using evidence and market insight.
• Ability to connect Children’s Services procurement requirements with wider Adults and Public Health activity.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Pragmatic, proactive and outcome-focused approach, with the ability to work autonomously in an evolving environment.

Pay: £500–£550 per day Working Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. Please note this role is outside the scope of IR35.