Interim Category Officer

Assistant Procurement Officer - Children's Services & Education

Grade: 11
Rateb> £27.96 UMB
Location: County Hall, Oxford (Hybrid - 1 day per month on site, with the possibility of an additional day quarterly)

Role Overview

This role is ideal for someone operating at a Procurement Assistant level who is looking to develop their skills and progress into an Officer role. Reporting to the Category Manager for Children's Services, the postholder will support and deliver procurement and contract management activity across Children's Services and Education categories.

The role will involve supporting and managing end-to-end procurements with appropriate guidance, ensuring compliance with public sector procurement regulations and local authority governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Respond promptly to procurement requests from internal stakeholders
• Manage a busy shared inbox and prioritise workload effectively
• Handle Requests for Quotations (RFQs) in line with procurement thresholds and procedures
• Support and confidently moderate procurement exercises through to contract award
• Undertake contract extensions and variations in accordance with Local Authority governance processes
• Support the opening rounds of frameworks, including moderation, issuing outcome letters, following up on due diligence, and ensuring contracts are signed
• Lead variations in collaboration with key internal stakeholders, with support where required
• Maintain accurate procurement and contract records using e-procurement systems

Essential Experience and Skills

• Experience in Children's Services and Education categories is essential
• Public sector procurement knowledge and experience
• Ability to carry out end-to-end procurements with minimal supervision
• Understanding of procurement compliance and governance within a Local Authority setting
• Experience using Atamis and ProContracts
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders

Working Arrangements

Hybrid working with 1 day per month at County Hall, Oxford, and the possibility of an additional day quarterly
Flexible working hours, with core hours expected to be covered between 8:00am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday