Procurement Category Manager: Science and Research - Strand, London, WC2R 2LSAbout us:Procurement Strategy & Services is part of the Professional Services Directorate and was established to help the university deliver best value from its spending.The primary role of Procurement Strategy & Services is to work with Schools, Departments and external organizations to ensure the achievement of these key goals:Delivery of value for money from university and third party spend;Delivery of projects and contracts to time, quality and cost, realizing benefits and minimizing risk;Providing a professional source of reference to all university staff on best purchasing practice;Reducing university administrative costs through continuous streamlining of the procurement process;Providing policy standards and guidance on best practice in procurement, and assisting Schools’ and Departments\\\' in delivering against these standards;Promoting and fostering collaborative procurement across the HE sector to deliver better value for money and better services; and provide innovative ways to develop the university’s commercial and procurement capability;Driving forward the improvement of university capability in procurement project management through the development of people skills, processes and tools.Procurement Strategy & Services has overall responsibility for all matters related to the effective and efficient Procurement of equipment, products and services within the university. They have a key role to play in ensuring the achievement of best value for money in the utilisation of the university’s £200 million non-pay budget and in ensuring that statutory obligations relating to all matters connected to Procurement are observed and fulfilled. The Department also ensures that commercial risks and the university’s supplier base are evaluated and adequately managed. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/professional-services/procurement About the role:To assist the Director of Procurement and Associate Director of Procurement (Science and Research), in the implementation of the Procurement Transformation Strategy and to help monitor its effectiveness. This will focus on the Science and Research Category and involve working with clients in research and laboratory roles, pre and post award and grant teams to ensure compliant and effective purchasing and contract management. The key strategic objectives of the post will be:- to help develop a progressive awareness of best procurement practice for the Science category, the development and promotion of improved procurement procedures to support the College’s obligations under its’ conditions of funding, the provision of appropriate support and guidance to staff involved with purchasing in this category, to train and support the purchasing community in the University, to keep abreast of developments in the relevant markets and ensure supply chain resilience, To identify and deliver savings (reportable) to support the Directors and other colleagues in Procurement Strategy and Services to meet the University’s objectives including sustainability, promoting the University’s Socially Responsible Procurement Policy https://www.kcl.ac.uk/assets/policyzone/finance/socially-responsible-procurement.pdf To support the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) in ensuring that approved purchasing policies, practices and procedures are followed throughout all Schools and Departments within the University To assist in the promotion of effective tendering and negotiating procedures and in the evaluation and vetting of external suppliers To establish effective supply arrangements and working partnerships with external suppliers and providers for a diverse range of goods, services and works throughout all areas of the University. To take a key role in monitoring the take-up on a University-wide basis of the various key supplier contracts To help develop throughout the University an awareness of the potential and benefits of more effective purchasing. To attend meetings and develop effective working arrangements with external purchasing consortia, internal and external specialist product groups and other relevant purchasing organisations, departments and groups within both the University and external organisations. To provide relevant advice to purchasers throughout the University in respect of procurement legislation (when relevant to grant funded projects), University purchasing policies and procedures, Research Council procurement requirements and other relevant laid-down requirements in respect of the purchase of goods and services. To establish effective supply arrangements and working partnerships with external suppliers and providers for a diverse range of goods, services and works throughout all areas of the University. To take a key role in monitoring the take-up on a University-wide basis of the various key supplier contracts To help develop throughout the University an awareness of the potential and benefits of more effective purchasing. To attend meetings and develop effective working arrangements with external purchasing consortia, internal and external specialist product groups and other relevant purchasing organisations, departments and groups within both the University and external organisations. Key ResponsibilitiesTo support colleagues in the Procurement Team, the CPO and staff across the University to provide a highly regarded and effective procurement service. To ensure that approved purchasing policies, practices and procedures are followed within the University but particularly in relation to the Science/Research category. To assist in the promotion of effective tendering and negotiating procedures and in the evaluation and vetting suppliers. To establish and maintain effective supply arrangements and working partnerships with external suppliers and providers of science and research goods and services to the University. To take a key role in promoting the use of established frameworks and other contracts. To ensure accessible tools and templates are created and maintained for customers. To attend meetings and develop effective working arrangements with external purchasing consortia, internal and external specialist product groups and other relevant purchasing organisations, departments and groups within both the University and external organisations. To provide relevant advice to purchasers throughout the University in respect of procurement legislation (when relevant to grant funded projects), University purchasing policies and procedures, Research Council procurement requirements and other relevant laid-down requirements in respect of the purchase of goods and services. To support the CPO in the provision of management information for Senior Officers, University Committees etc. relating to the University purchasing function and best purchasing practices generally. Including savings achieved. To promote the Socially Responsible Purchasing Policy. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/assets/policyzone/finance/socially-responsible-procurement.pdf To undertake any other duties consistent with the skill level and nature of the post as required by the Director of Science & Research Procurement, or CPO. This is a full time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract