Dorset Council UK
Senior Procurement Officer - Business Partner
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This is an exciting opportunity to join Dorset Council's forward-looking Commercial and Procurement function as a Senior Procurement Officer (Business Partner) and play a key role in shaping procurement strategies that make a real difference to our communities.
This role is currently targeted at a Core Services or Environment and Economy Business Partner position with a particular focus on supporting works and capital programmes, alongside leading and delivering large, complex open procurement exercises in line with the Procurement Act 2023. Modernisation, Transformation and Technology are a key focus in line with Dorset Council's vision to become a modern, sustainable unitary council
It offers flexibility, supporting wider Adults and People procurement where required, and contributing to wider priorities as Dorset Council evolves. Candidates will be held in a pool for any further Senior Procurement Officer positions for the next 18 months.
Future reorganisation or transformation within Dorset Council is expected in 2026 which may change the strategic focus of the role, providing you with opportunities to develop new skills and work across diverse projects.
Candidates with a strong track record in public sector procurement (and withing a local authority setting), delivering tenders and framework call-offs, will be prioritised for interview as they will be expected to start contributing effectively from day one. You will be responsible for the delivery of the procurement strategy, overseeing a range of complex procurement activities from initiation through to contract management, ensuring services delivered are cost-effective, sustainable, and aligned with the Council's objectives. You will act as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders, providing commercial advice across the full procurement lifecycle, from early market engagement and strategy development through to contract award and mobilisation. You will bring a proactive, solutions-focused approach to supporting services, balancing commercial innovation with regulatory compliance. You will be confident engaging with stakeholders, managing competing priorities, and delivering outcomes in a complex environment
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What You Will Be Doing
develop and promote the business partnering approach, working alongside other Business Partners within the team and Council support Directorates in the delivery of their strategic aims provide strategic support and guidance to Directorate leads lead high-value and high-risk procurements managing tender processes for directorate-specific requirements, ensuring best practice deliver strategic sourcing and commercial advice offer commercial advice and guidance to officers and suppliers support the delivery of a more commercially minded approach within the Council contribute to commercial and procurement transformation activity, improving procurement capability and outcomes across the Council
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About You
effective communication skills with the ability to engage multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally experience working with suppliers, including supplier relationship and contract management a strong commercial background with knowledge of procurement practices expert in public sector procurement regulations and practices including Procurement Act 23 knowledge of how markets and supply chains operate, applying this to secure value for money and efficiencies project management skills with the ability to lead projects effectively (competent use of ICT, ideally including the procontract e-tender system, and strong Microsoft skills on teams, outlook, word and excel etc.)
Join us to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team where your expertise will help shape the future, ensuring our procurement practices deliver the best outcomes for our communities. The Commercial & Procurement team is a proactive and consultative team who supports a range of directorates to ensure that the Council's commercial arrangements and contracts deliver value for money to Dorset residents.
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