Commercial Category Lead
Salary: £40,000 per annum plus excellent benefits and hybrid working
Hours: 37 Hours per week
Contract: Maternity Cover
Location: Huntingdon (hybrid working)
CFRS is one of the best fire and rescue services in the UK – but don't take our word for it. Our recent His Majesty's Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) highlighted our positive culture, our dedication to developing our people and the things we do to promote inclusion across the service.
The Service is dedicated to delivering an outstanding service to the communities we are proud to serve. We are currently looking for a Commercial and Procurement Lead to join our welcoming, forward-thinking fire and rescue service.
About the role
Working within our Commercial Team, this service critical role will see you provide effective and efficient procurement of goods and services on behalf of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority (CPFA) to ensure organisational objectives are delivered as well as supporting regional, national and inter-agency collaborations.
* You'll support an efficient and flexible procurement service in achieving value for money, cost savings whilst delivering in accordance with the Procurement Act and Regulations, Authority Policies and Contract Standing Orders and Best Practice. You will do this by working with key stakeholders to identify potential savings opportunities to deliver value for money by the consolidation of disaggregate spend within the category lead's category.
* You'll support and promote appropriate procurement/commercial strategies addressing the needs of the Authority to deliver compliant procurement activities, ranging from Low Value to in-scope procurement thresholds as well as utilising National Frameworks for new and existing requirements.
* You will be responsible for managing all aspects of the procurement lifecycle to ensure best practice, responsible and ethical delivery and management of contracts, whilst ensuring all documentation is current and valid for transparency and auditing purposes.
* You will engage with a range of departments and key stakeholders, supporting improvements to procurement activity, enhancing engagement with the procurement function whilst ensuring compliance with regulations and commercial best practice.
* As a category lead, you'll ensure consistent advice and guidance is provided and ensure a smooth and effective procurement process.
* You will provide an understanding of the relevant market conditions, procurement options available as well as advise on potential supply chain risk and vulnerability as well as potential for commercial and reputational risk and report accordingly.
* As well as achieving cost effectiveness for the Authority you will be taking account of whole life costs and Corporate Social Responsibility/ Sustainability, social value and identifying potential risks with Modern Slavery, whilst always demonstrating effective use of public funds.
* You will undertake analysis of relevant financial data, review the contract register to identify, forecast, improve and implement changes to contracts and future purchases which enable savings opportunities and potential cost reduction.
* Work with other Public Sector bodies and partner organisations to identify collaboration opportunities within the categories that offer benefits to both the Authority and wider blue light organisations.
* You will deliver awareness sessions and guidance to all colleagues in line with the Procurement Act and internal procurement Contract Standing Orders and Guidance, to increase the commercial awareness across the Authority.
About you:
Everyone is welcome at CFRS and we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive and professional support team. The experience required in this role includes:
* Membership or be working towards completion of MICIPS accreditation and must currently be at level 4 as a minimum.
* Good commercial awareness within a public sector environment with experience of running and managing procurement processes and the resulting contract management.
* Experience of an e-tendering portal to provide an auditable tendering mechanism.
* You'll have a good knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023, principles of GPA and WTO Parameters and knowledge of the previous Regulations PCR2015.
* An understanding of value for money principles, Innovation, Social Value, Sustainable Procurement and Ethical Trading including Modern Slavery.
* Proficient in Microsoft based packages, including Sharepoint, word and excel to manipulate and interpret numerical data, along with familiarity of Teams.
* Your clear and concise ability to communicate with others will allow you to thrive in the role.
Working life at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
You don't have to wear a firefighter's uniform and run into burning buildings to play an important role in the Service. A role in our support functions offers the chance to build a challenging, rewarding career and the opportunity to give something back to the community. We're a modern and progressive place to work and promote the right values and welcoming culture by:
* Ensure transparency and fairness in everything we do.
* We're proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
* We provide health and wellbeing support for everyone in the service.
* We have inclusion ambassadors and established working groups for protected characteristics and menopause.
Additional rewards and benefits
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Access to Health Cash Plan
* A competitive pension scheme
* Access to Blue Light Discount at hundreds of stores and events
* Access to Health Shield Perks discounts
* Family friendly policies – including flexible working
* Great learning and development opportunities
* 28 days annual leave each year plus bank holidays, increasing with long service
* Parking (site specific)
* Flexible, agile, hybrid working
How to apply
To apply, please email your application to
Your application should include:
* To apply for this opportunity please send your CV and *Covering Letter (detailing your suitability for the role against the person specification – see the recruitment pack) to
* The recruitment pack can be found at:
* Complete the EDI monitoring form here:
*Please note any CVs submitted without a Covering Letter will not be considered.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee discount
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Store discount
Application question(s):
* Do you hold a full, current driving licence? (Reasonable adjustment will be made for disabled candidates within the requirements of the Equality Act. However, it is essential that the successful candidate can travel to any part of the county in addition to their contractual base, on a weekly basis).
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Huntingdon PE29 2NA