Procurement Manager

APUC

Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) is the Centre of Procurement Expertise for, and owned jointly by, all of Scotland's Universities and Colleges; we provide a wide range of procurement / supply chain related shared services both as a central team and embedded within our client Universities and Colleges throughout Scotland.

We currently employ around circa 90 people, many of whom are based in Colleges and Universities but with some based in our regional offices in Stirling (HQ), Glasgow and Edinburgh.

New College Lanarkshire (NCL) is one of the largest Colleges in Scotland and operates across Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire with campuses in Cumbernauld, Motherwell, Coatbridge, Kirkintilloch and Broadwood. The College teach over 10000 students enrolled on a mix of full-time, part-time, evening and commercial courses. The college recognise the critical role that they play in achieving the social, economic and cultural aspirations of their area.

Purpose of the job

Reporting to the College Services manager (Central & South), the role holder will work for APUC but be based within New College Lanarkshire, covering a variety of spend areas within the College as well as ensuring that the relevant supporting activities including systems management and reporting are completed in line with institutional and statutory needs. This is a senior role within the College and is responsible for building and maintaining relationships at all levels within the organisation. You will lead the procurement function within the organisation and have line management responsibility for one member of procurement staff.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

·      Accomplished supply chain management professional with demonstrable record of success in a similar role

·      Have effective and highly responsive customer management skills;

·      Attention to detail and a methodical approach to systems management and organisation.

·      Be of high intellectual calibre, with the highest ethical standards;

·      Have the essential competencies of clarity of purpose, self confidence,integrity and strong influencing power;

Required Experience

·      Public sector procurement with extensive knowledge of EU/GPA level tendering

·      Legal aspects of supply chain management

·      Meeting demanding targets and deadlines on a day to day basis

·      Data analysis and production of management reports

·      Advanced spreadsheet skills and the ability to use financial models

Contacts and Relationships

·      The post holder must build strong working relationships with all stakeholders and develop the reputation of APUC as a source of expert guidance and support both to institutional customers and suppliers

Why work for us

• Full time hours are 35 hours per week on average and can be worked 5 x 7 hour days or you can compress your hours to work either 4.5 days per week, 9 days per fortnight (so a long weekend every 2 weeks) or 9.5 days per fortnight. If you choose a 9 day fortnight, our default non-working time is a Friday but occasionally other days can work better.
• We aim to provide a work life balance for colleagues and offer flexible work options for all including flexible start and end times and options to take longer or shorter lunches as preferred.
• Hybrid working with colleagues coming into the office 3 days per week. Space is available for those who want to come in more often, and we have in-person and online events throughout the year to make sure we stay well connected.
• Your holiday entitlement (given in hours) is equivalent of 26 x 7 hour days and an additional 14 x 7 hour fixed and floating days to cover bank holidays and the festive break.
• We are closed for the festive period (between Christmas and New Year) and Good Friday and Easter Monday. Every year!
• You will be automatically enrolled into our pension scheme and our Group Life Assurance which is based on your annual salary from day 1 of employment.
• We offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental pay (subject to eligibility criteria).
• Wellbeing activities and events are organised throughout the year in accordance with key national mental and physical health awareness dates.
• Career development is important to us and all staff have regular performance reviews and there is a variety of funding options to enable staff to pursue professional and leadership qualifications, as well as other learning and development opportunities such as access to our Procurement Skills Development Programme and internal workshops.
• Cycle-to-work schemes are available with Cycle Solutions and Halfords (maximum value of £1,500).
• Retail and gym membership discounts & offers with access to our mydiscounts portal.
• Home & Technology benefit is an affordable way of accessing new technology by making savings on National Insurance. Products include tablets, laptops, desktops, SmartTV's, games consoles along with garden furniture and equipment, home improvement tools and more.
• Access to Scotwest Credit Union which offers a range of affordable loans, mortgages and savings accounts.
• We have an Employee Wellbeing Policy and Annual Plan, a team of trained Mental Health First Aiders, and all of our people managers are trained in providing support for employees experiencing mental health issues. Our EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) can be accessed through an online portal which gives access to a library of health and wellbeing articles, as well as allowing you to book counselling sessions.
• We have an Employee Representative and Consultation Group, who meet quarterly. We regularly ask for feedback in a variety of ways at company events or through surveys.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying please email your CV, along with a covering letter, explaining why you feel you would like to work with APUC and in the particular role mentioned, noting your current salary level and notice period.