Senior Head of Procurement & Commercial Services - REQ004505

Job title: Senior Head of Procurement and Commercial Services

Salary: DIR 60% £79,939 - £87,722

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Leeds – Hybrid Working – Civic Hall Leeds and WFH

Closing Date and Time: Sunday 22nd March at 23:59

Leeds is made up of 812,000 people - from a diverse range of backgrounds, speaking over 175 different languages. A city with a unique geography - a vibrant urban centre surrounded by towns, villages and more rural areas, each with their own distinct history and character. We are proud to be a welcoming city, where our rich culture and diversity is celebrated and accessible for all. Every person in Leeds counts and should have the opportunity to contribute their strengths to Team Leeds. Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees and we seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

Leeds City Council is seeking an exceptional and forward‑thinking Senior Head of Procurement and Commercial Services to play a pivotal role in shaping, leading and delivering our procurement and commercial strategy. This is a rare opportunity to influence major citywide outcomes and help us achieve our ambition to be the best local authority in the country.

About the Role:

As a key member of the Financial Services Senior Leadership Team, you will lead the Procurement and Commercial Services team (a multi-disciplinary service, including procurement practitioners, contract managers, commercial lawyers, commercial accountants and data analysts). You will provide strategic leadership across the Council’s complex public sector procurements, contract management and commercial activity.

You will ensure that efficient, innovative and value‑driven procurement and contract management arrangements are in place, aligned to the Council’s Business Plan objective to increase efficiency.

You will lead the council’s procurement category management function, determine procurement policy (subject to member approval), and hold responsibility for Contracts Procedure Rules under the Council’s scheme of delegation. You will also act as an authorised signatory to contracts entered into by the authority.

The post holder will oversee a procurement portfolio of approximately £1bn in annual spend and drive the development of a procurement and commercial centre of excellence.

You will provide commercial support to the council in respect of all areas of activity (including the council’s trading companies and partnerships), and support the development of income generation opportunities. You will also lead complex regional projects/procurements.

Key Responsibilities:

In this strategic leadership role, you will:

Lead and develop the Council’s approach to procurement and commercial services, including strategy, category management and policy.
Advise and consult with elected members and senior stakeholders on procurement opportunities, commercial issues and social value.
Establish a robust framework of corporate procurement arrangements that maximise value for money and ensure consistent practice across the Council and the region.
Provide strategic leadership in risk management, contract management, funding opportunities, and commercial support across the authority.
Represent Leeds regionally and nationally on key procurement matters, promoting best practice and raising the Council’s profile.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for contract management across the Council, ensuring all contracts deliver value for money, comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, and support high‑quality service delivery
Provide strategic and operational leadership for the council’s portfolio of PFI contracts, including development of a council-wide PFI expiry strategy.
Manage and motivate a high‑performing multi-disciplinary workforce, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and innovation.
Ensure effective governance, financial compliance, safeguarding and risk management across all procurement and commercial activities

About You:

We are looking for a dynamic, influential and collaborative leader who can bring credibility, expertise and strong strategic capability.

You will:

have:
- degree level or equivalent qualification;
- Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) or appropriate professional qualification; and
- contract management certification (e.g. Government Commercial College, IACCM) or extensive practical experience
have extensive experience (minimum three years) of working at a senior level within a procurement and commercial setting.
Bring strong experience of shaping strategic priorities with senior management and building productive relationships with elected politicians, senior officers, trade unions and partner organisations.
Demonstrate the ability to lead cultural and organisational change, develop innovative approaches, and deliver high‑quality, value‑for‑money procurement and commercial solutions.
Have a comprehensive knowledge of local, regional and national issues influencing the city and council policy and practice, and strategy within Procurement and Commercial Services.

Values & Behaviours:

We are looking for someone who:

Embodies the Council’s values:
Working as a Team for Leeds, Being Open, Honest & Trusted, Working with Communities, Treating People Fairly, Spending Money Wisely.
Champions diversity, inclusion and fairness.
Works collaboratively, communicates effectively and builds strong partnerships.
Models ethical, professional and accountable leadership at all times

What we offer you

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a strong and robust organisation founded on excellent leadership and sound equality, diversity and inclusion policies and practices, built on shared core values
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements including a hybrid model between home and office-based working, flexitime and a generous leave entitlement
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 22nd March – with in-person interviews scheduled for w/c 30 March

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact: Victoria Bradshaw – Assistant Chief Executive (Finance Traded and Resources) Victoria.Bradshaw@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

Working as part of the Financial Services Senior Leadership team, you will live and model the values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country. As the lead officer for Procurement and Commercial Services your role will be crucial in ensuring the Council is more enterprising and efficient, and ensuring that the authority has in place proper arrangements for the administration and delivery of procurements and commercial activity. The role operates within the context of the Council’s Business Plan Objective to increase efficiency.

Provide strategic leadership and support to the Council’s complex public sector procurements and commercial projects (including PFI and PFI expiry), as well as providing strategic leadership for the delivery of the council’s Commercial and Procurement Services team as a whole; including determining, subject to elected member approval, the council’s category management and procurement policy, and under the scheme of delegation having responsibility to determine the council’s Contracts Procedure Rules and to be an authorised signatory to contracts entered into by the council.

You will be accountable for a range of statutory and regulatory undertakings in relation to procurement and contract management and will be responsible for developing a procurement and contract management strategy for the council and advising members and directorates on the Council’s commercial activity. The post holder will be accountable for the council’s portfolio of procurements and the c£1bn of annual spend on general procurement.

Lead on complex projects on behalf of the region utilising and coordinating resources from across multiple local authorities, bringing together innovation in project development.

Key Requirements

Provide strategic leadership and support to the council’s complex public sector procurements, commercial and social value activity.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for contract management (including PFI contracts and PFI expiry) across the Council, ensuring all contracts deliver value for money, comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, and support high‑quality service delivery.
Develop a procurement and contract management strategy for the authority supporting services to deliver their key objectives as identified in the council’s Business Plan.
Provide strategic leadership for the delivery of the council’s procurement category management function as a whole, including determining, subject to elected member approval, the council’s category management and procurement policy.
Under the scheme of delegation hold responsibility for the council’s Contracts Procedure Rules and be an authorised signatory to contracts entered into by the council.
Advise and consult members on procurement strategy and opportunities, associated commercial issues, and delivery of social value through procurement.
Develop a procurement and commercial ‘centre of excellence’ by ensuring all staff have the appropriate skills and abilities to assist council departments with procurements of varying size and complexity and support the development of the council’s wider commercial activity.
Lead the development of a framework of corporate procurement and contract management arrangements for use by council departments and the city region, which will ensure consistency of procurement practice and improve value for money by maximising spending.
Provide a system for monitoring and reporting on savings achieved through the introduction of more efficient and economic procurement arrangements.
Provide leadership on identifying and resolving risk issues in complex procurements and the council’s commercial activity.
Provide advice to the council and external clients on standards for pre-procurement documentation for the feasibility, initiation, expression of interest and outline business case stages of a procurement, including options appraisal and pre-procurement strategies for the presentation of procurements to the market.
Provide advice to the council on standards through the commercial lifecycle (pre and post procurement documentation such as business cases, pre-procurement documentation and strategies, contract management documentation).
Provide commercial support to the council in respect of all areas of activity (including the council’s trading companies and partnerships), and support / promote the identification and development of income generation and funding opportunities.
Promote the identification and pursuit of relevant funding opportunities to support the council’s objectives.
Act as an ambassador for the council in disseminating procurement ideas and best practice regionally and nationally.
Develop strong networks and partnerships with other local, regional and national public and commercial organisations so as to further the council's corporate objectives.
Ensure the provision of an integrated procurement, commercial support and procurement support service for the delivery of procurements, in accordance with the council’s governance and management arrangements.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for contract management across the Council, ensuring all contracts deliver value for money, comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, and support high‑quality service delivery.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for the council’s portfolio of PFI contracts, including development of a council-wide PFI expiry strategy.
Provide strategic advice and support to client departments on the formulation of bids to Government agencies in relation to complex public sector procurements in accordance with the council's asset management priorities.
Ensure compliance with statutory undertakings; and maintain and develop quality accreditations where appropriate for services.
Ensure safety and safeguarding requirements are discharged and resources available to deliver the Council’s emergency plan within the area of responsibility.
Lead on employee relations matters within the area of responsibility.
On behalf of the council develop, lead and act as council at representative at board level in respect of regional procurement and other commercial activity.
Build relationships with external stakeholders locally and nationally to raise the council’s profile and influence.
Work with WYCA in respect of delivery of a dovetailed public investment offering in the region.
Lead and manage procurement and commercial services, ensuring the delivery and improvement of services which meet the needs of our communities and stakeholders (including promoting the delivery of social value through procurement).
Provide advice on commercial and procurement matters across the authority to the Council’s Elected Members, senior officers and other stakeholders (including partners, government and other key regional and national stakeholders).
Lead by example, fostering effective joint working within the council and across the City. Provide direction and support to immediate line reports, creating an organisational culture of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.
Develop and promote new ways of working and promote partnership working and long-term relationships with key clients, to improve corporate priority outcomes and to ensure that developments and improvements remain focused on delivering outcomes for local people (including delivering social value through procurement).
Lead managers within the service to develop a high performing workforce and manage resources to achieve service and overarching objectives in line with the cities agreed priority outcomes.
Promote and deliver positive solutions to achieve diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement activity and human resource areas.
Undertake effective consultation and engagement activities and communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with Council policy.
Support open, responsive and accountable government, ensuring good governance compliance with financial and procurement procedures.
Manage all aspects of risk and be accountable for the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with all statutory obligations and relevant health and safety policies.
In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for developing appropriate, proportionate and effective financial solutions to be implemented across the service.

Qualification here, or any other relevant post graduate qualification

To both hold full membership within procurement, commercial and / or contract management. Degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject
Have experience (minimum three years ) of working at a senior level within a local government procurement and / or commercial setting.
To be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development
Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of the council’s strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront.
Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations to understand future challenges and to deliver effective workforce solutions.
Ability to contribute, as a member of the service Leadership Team.
Evidence of developing and driving a culture which puts customers first and where everyone can realise their potential and ‘feels they count’.
Build strong and dynamic relationships and networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies to deliver better outcomes for Leeds City Council.
In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations
To manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and members of the Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

Roles at this level support the Assistant Chief Executive Finance, Traded and Resources in setting the purpose and strategic direction and in leading, developing and ensuring the effective delivery of service, directorate and corporate priorities, which contribute to the achievement of the Council’s vision and strategic outcomes. This involves leading the planning, organising and commissioning the delivery of services to and on behalf of the organisation and all partners and stakeholders in the medium to long term.

People in these roles have a proficiency in a specialised area or a broad understanding of relationships between different functions and disciplines. They have the ability to select, develop and assess the suitability of ways of working; and will have highly developed skills in persuading, influencing, developing and motivating people and establishing effective partnerships to achieve service objectives.

As part of a directorate/service leadership team; roles at this level live and model values and behaviours to help the council to achieve the ambition to become the best city council in the country.

For roles at this level, you must be able to show:

Knowledge:

You use your knowledge and expertise to plan and deliver the highest levels and standards across either a specialist area(s) or an entire service.
Have a comprehensive knowledge of local, regional and national issues, which influence the city and council policy and practice, and strategy within your service area. Maintaining up to date knowledge of current thinking and developments and use this to evaluate and assess business practice to influence efficient and effective ways of working.
Lead changing programmes and priorities based on in depth knowledge of the economic, business, cultural and political environment within the city and region, you use your skills to persuade, influence, develop and motivate people and establish effective partnerships to achieve service objectives.
Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development. Have detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues, including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with elected politicians, trade unions and organisational leadership teams which commands respect trust and confidence.

Leadership & strategic planning:

Have extensive experience (minimum three years) of working at a senior level within a procurement and commercial setting.
Demonstrate strong leadership and management skills to develop a high performance culture across the multi-disciplinary service(s) where everyone can achieve their potential and ‘feel they count’ and where there is a drive to deliver the most efficient and effective solutions There is evidence of a high performing, engaged and productive workforce along with effective leadership and management that leads to focussed solutions and quality outcomes
Contribute to and influence the strategic direction of the service area working with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders and ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront, Business plans are in place for the service, and contingencies are identified so that plan objectives can be met.
Lead the development, implementation, promotion and evaluation of strategies and policies. Contribute to overarching strategies and the management of key plans, projects and programs at an organisational, directorate wide and local level, you use strong leadership and management skills to develop innovative strategies to support a high performing culture where the service’s plan and policies are translated into excellent service outcomes.
Ability to contribute, as a member of the Financial Services Senior Leadership Team.

Collaboration & innovation:

Create a vision and direction that challenges and looks beyond the obvious and inspires and motivates others to achieve by driving change, leading by example and promoting the ambition to become the best city There are examples of innovation in managing and implementing solutions on complex issues and in transformational change programmes.
Establish, develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships and build trust with a range of internal and external stakeholders and partners to improve and enhance service delivery and innovation ensuring the Council promotes, secures resources and is effective in delivering its agenda through work with peers, Members, Trade Unions and other partner organisations across the city and regions
Ensure the capacity to respond positively to change is enhanced, 'traditional thinking' is challenged and innovative solutions are pursued throughout the area of responsibility. Creating a culture that puts customers first and promotes an innovative and forward-thinking organisation, and a ‘can do’ attitude from employees and colleagues, where everyone can realise their potential and ‘feels they count’.

Problem solving & decision making:

Take responsibility and accountability for developing and implementing appropriate, proportionate and effective solutions to complex service delivery problems.
Demonstrating the ability to collate and analyse complex information to inform decisions and promote best practice within a strategic framework.
Understand the need to balance corporate requirements with operational responsibilities and make timely well-judged decisions in order to achieve successful outcomes across a diverse range of, related and unrelated issues using a degree of evaluative judgment in relation to risks and issues and have the ability to identify potential impact within a range of changing and conflicting internal and external factors

Deliver:

Lead and manage a number of complex and potentially conflicting strategic and operational issues/priorities and are able to develop and implement innovative solutions to deliver required service outcomes. There is evidence of continuous service improvements, support for organisation-wide initiatives where best practice, value for money and high performance is demonstrated.
Develop, manage and contribute to complex partnerships involving various stakeholders to gain ownership of a shared vision and direction to achieve positive outcomes. Demonstrating effective leadership and management to achieve sustainable service improvements and outstanding results in a multi-disciplinary environment.
Develop and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, partners, public and private sector and voluntary organisations across the city and region to ensure the delivery of excellent services and outcomes.
You influence the strategic direction of the service; through working with internal and external partners and stakeholders ensuring services support and deliver outcomes that reflect the needs of the diverse, multi-cultural nature of our city.
Manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.

Resource & people management:

Engage, develop and performance manage resources that support adaptable ways of working and creating strong more flexible teams with the right people in the right place with the right skills using a coaching approach to motivate, enthuse and drive individuals within the directorate to create a high performing workforce and an organisational culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement
Manage resources and a substantial budget in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic national, local and political context. You have a thorough understanding of the issues facing the Council within its economic, business, cultural and political environment. Plans are in place to ensure that there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources, employees are effectively employed and budgets are maximised.
The role profile and specification are an outline only and may vary from time to time without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility.

LCC Values

Leeds City Council values are at the heart of everything we do. They inform the way we design and deliver our services and the way we all work and behave. Leeds City Council expects all its employees and councillors to observe our core values and to understand our codes of conduct for ethical behaviour, correct use of the Digital Information Service (IDS) facilities and protection of sensitive information.
They reflect the current needs of the city. In a period of immense change and real challenge we must be both confident and decisive about what we do and how we do it. Observing our values can help us:
Working as a Team for Leeds Work in ways which are open, inclusive, responsive and accountable to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.
Being Open, Honest & Trusted Ensure citizens and council members are provided with all relevant information to make decisions, learn from mistakes and seek to promote continuous improvement and best practice.
Working with Communities Work effectively with the variety of partners to deliver services, communicate and involve stakeholders and the wider community in new developments to encourage ownership and commitment.
Treating People Fairly Recognise that everyone has an equally important part to play within the Council and value the diverse and vibrant nature of the city and all its citizens.
Spending Money Wisely Set high expectations of achievement across a range of strategic outcomes, actively seek out opportunities to improve delivery of services though partnership and feedback from service users.

Working Context: Working environment including any specific risks

The post is based in Leeds, but the post holder may be required to work in any other suitable office accommodation. The hours of this post are 37 but there may be a requirement in exceptional circumstances to work additional hours out of office hours.
The role profile and specification are an outline only and may vary from time to time without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility.

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