Lewisham
Procurement and Contracts Manager
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Procurement and Contracts Manager – Lewisham Council
Discover yourself in Lewisham, where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!
We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary.
About the Role
An exciting opportunity to play a key role in Lewisham’s Procurement Team.
As a Procurement and Contracts Manager, you will provide expert guidance and support to the Housing Directorate team, ensure compliance with legal and Council requirements, and contribute to the development and implementation of the Council’s procurement strategy. This role is ideal for someone passionate about driving excellence in procurement and delivering impactful public services.
Responsibilities
Your key responsibilities include:
- Leading the successful delivery of procurement and contract management activities, primarily supporting the Housing Directorate under the decentralised model.
- Manage and maintain the Council’s online procurement system to ensure compliance with PA2023, UK, and Council regulations.
- Maintain system accuracy and efficiency for consistent use by all directorates.
- Providing written guidance, training, and consultancy to commissioners on procurement practices:
- Advising on legal frameworks, tendering strategies, selection criteria development, and evaluation methods.
- Reviewing tender documentation pre-publication to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
- Monitoring procurement practices via system audits to uphold compliance standards and correct any non-compliance.
- Ensuring transparent reporting for transparency provisions in PA2023, UK, and local regulations.
- Developing the Council’s procurement strategy by conducting research, market analysis, and benchmarking, supporting decisions by the Strategic Procurement Board.
- Maintaining a strategic knowledge base on market trends and supplier intelligence to guide best-practice procurement decisions.
- Ensuring the procurement strategy aligns with Council priorities, including economic, social, and equality objectives.
- Overseeing administrative tasks, maintaining records (supplier contracts, paper, and digital documentation).
- Keeping up with emerging procurement legislation and best practices, sharing insights across the Council.
- Supporting the broader scaling of efficiency gains in procurement and contract management.
- Leading, training, and managing procurement officers and apprentices, focusing on continuous improvement in performance and project compliance.
- Promoting proactive stakeholder engagement, including:
- Managing key stakeholder relationships (e.g., Mayor, Council members, local authorities, private/ public sector partners).
- Coordinating policy representation on relevant bodies.
- Ensuring alignment of procurement activities with Council’s strategic objectives.
- Attending Council meetings as required, advising on procurement-related decisions.
- Undertaking additional duties as required by the Strategic Procurement and Corporate Contract Manager.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Council-Wide Requirements
All employees must:
- Engage in annual appraisals, professional development, and training.
- Adhere to the Council’s Dignity at Work Policy and core values.
- Comply with Health & Safety policies, safeguarding colleagues and the public.
- Support environmental policies within daily duties.
- Treat all employment-related information in strict confidence.
- Embrace adaptability for council-aligned responsibilities and projects.
The Benefits
Lewisham offers:
- Excellent training and development opportunities.
- Generous holiday allowance (local government standard).
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Flexible working and family-friendly policies.
- Support for bicycle loans and season ticket loans.
- Staff discounts (including local gym memberships).
- Supportive staff networks.
What We’re Looking For
A proactive, detail-oriented individual with:
- Significant experience in:
- Housing (particularly roles within public sector or registered providers).
- Procurement and contract management, with expertise in delivering value for money, ensuring compliance, and driving strategic objectives.
- Strong interpersonal skills: Effective negotiation, stakeholder relationship-building, and consultative support.
- Robust time management to thrive in a fast-paced multi-project environment.
- Evidence of Commercial acumen and problem-solving abilities.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Location
The position is primarily based at Laurence House, Catford (SE6 4RU) with a hybrid work model, balancing in-office presence and remote work.
Special Conditions
The recruitment process is anonymous. CV uploads are not accepted for this role. Applicants must:
- Read the Applicant Handbook before applying.
- Complete the application fully and detail how your skills meet the person specification criteria.
For any access requirements during the application or interview process, please contact the Lead Contact at teresa.hitchins@lewisham.gov.uk.
For further details, view the full Job Description and Person Specification here.
Salary: £60,633 - £62,742 per annum (SCP minimum unless applying at remuneration scale).
Diversity and Inclusion
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, get in touch; we are committed to supporting your participation.
Further details on Access to Work: www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply.
Note: The post remains open while provision is interviewed.
Let’s stay connected! Stay updated with Lewisham Council’s latest news on: LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram or TikTok. For YouTube access, visit Lewisham Council’s channel.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location