Category Officer (Children Services) OCC615893

Job details

Salary range: £35,745 - £42,403 per annum

Work location: County Hall, Oxford (Hybrid – There is a requirement to attend our offices at County Hall, 1 day per month as a team, plus attendance in person to any meetings/workshops when required.)

Hours per week: 37 - we are open to discussions about flexible working  

Contract type: Permanent

Closing date: Wednesday 1st May 2024 

Interview date: Week commencing 6th May 2024

About us

Our consolidated Procurement and Contract Management hub drives the professionalisation and consistency with which procurement and contract management activities are delivered as well as reducing fragmentation and duplication of effort.

We have implemented a category led approach to managing spend in order to aid organisational wide decision making in relation to key areas of expenditure and break down historic service-based silos allowing us to focus on delivering outstanding value to Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and the communities we serve.

About the role

The role of our Procurement and Contract Management team is to support OCC, and the wider public sector system in Oxfordshire, to deliver effective and consistent services and ensure that products and services purchased from suppliers represent value for money.

The post holder will work with their Category Manager and fellow Category Officers to deliver agreed procurement and contract management activities in relation to their assigned category within Children Services, ensuring that resources are flexed and prioritised to meet changing demands and to ensure performance aims and objectives are successfully delivered in accordance with agreed targets.

About you

• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) or an appropriate equivalent body, or a willingness to commit to achieving MCIPS within three years of appointment.
• Relevant procurement and contract management work experience in the public sector with demonstrable impact across the procurement and contract management cycle.
• Experience of managing contract relationships with key suppliers within the Social Care market (preferably within Children and Education)

Rewards and benefits

• Various cycling options including a tax-saving bike purchase scheme
• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits
• Up to 33 day’s holiday p.a. plus bank holidays 
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development
• Coaching, workshops, mentoring, shadowing and support from social groups
• Relocation expenses of up to £8,000 for eligible new starters
• Tailored induction
• Continuing professional development - employees can develop their skills and knowledge through our online training platform. Access to Apprenticeship schemes

Would you like to know more?

Please click here to view the Job Description and Selection Criteria 

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Simon Walkden, Head of Category HESC by email - simon.walkden@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Application Procedure

To apply, please complete an online application form by clicking either of the Apply Now buttons at the top and bottom of this advert. This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the selection criteria, as specified in the job posting. You may attach a cover letter and/or CV to your application form, however it is not mandatory.   

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