Head of Procurement - Fife College

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Key Role Information

Location: Hybrid Working Options: The role is flexible but will require on-site attendance at Fife College’s Dunfermline Campus (KY11 8SJ). Talk to us about what your preferences are - we can be flexible!

Employment & Hours: Permanent, Full time 9 day fortnight as standard (although requests for other working patterns/hours will be considered)

How to Apply: Send your CV and cover letter, noting your current salary level and notice period via the ‘Apply’ button (E: careers@apuc-scot.ac.uk)

About The Role

The Procurement Manager is responsible for contributing directly to the success of Fife College, which is one of the largest colleges in Scotland. It has five campuses located across Fife: Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Levenmouth and Rosyth.

This is an exciting time to join the College, with the soon-to-open, state-of-the-art Dunfermline City Campus - carefullydesigned to provide learners with the best possible experience and facilities for their course. It is also the first major development to adopt the Scottish Government’s Net Zero Public Sector Buildings Standard.

This role presents a unique opportunity to collaborate strategically with a strong, pragmatic senior leadership team across a wide range of areas — from Estates and Digital to Professional Services. The postholder will have the College Services: East Team to lean on — a collaborative, experienced, and friendly bunch who are always happy to share best practice.

The prospective Head of Procurement should have demonstrable experience of working within a procurement role with some autonomy, and have relevant tendering experience with appropriate knowledge of EU / Scottish procurement regulations. Of paramount importance are excellent stakeholder management, organisational and communication skills.

The post holder will be required to utilise techniques of cost reduction, supplier selection and demand management, along with production/leverage of enhanced management information, market intelligence and advanced supplier/contract management techniques including monitoring and delivery of improvements in ethical/social and environmental aspects and continue to maintain APUC’s position as a leading Centre of Procurement Expertise.

Responsibilities:

• Establish & Maintain Procurement Strategy (statutory duty) and the annual Procurement Report (statutory duty).
• Manage senior & operational and key centrally managed supplier relationships
• Support directly employed by Fife College (FC) staff involved in procurement (if/as required)
• Coordinate (not direct reporting line) a procurement network within FC of people involved in devolved operation procurement activity / procurement process gatekeeping
• Undertake appropriate spend analysis activity and manage tendering of institution wide specific supplies/services where either the Procurement Manager believes there to be significant benefit for FC or where proposed by FC senior management. They would lead on managing / coordinating the process for above regulated spend areas and provide support to staff in managing the process for lower level spend.
• Undertake / oversee (as appropriate) Contract & Supplier management in partnership with stakeholders across FC.
• Develop & Facilitate procurement processes based on the "Procurement Journey" and provide operational guidance for/to those involved in lower value procurement exercises below formal tender levels.
• Enshrine robust and relevant sustainable procurement principles in the way that procurement at FC supply chain is managed, within the Framework of (currently) EU procurement directives, Scot-Gov, UK-Gov CE declarations and the sectors adherence to the Climate Commission targets
• Implement the Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct and the Scottish Government Sustainable Procurement Duty.
• Plan and deliver FC focussed procurement awareness training
• Provide the key link between FC and the APUC collaborative procurement team and for facilitating the implementation of suitable framework agreements
• Represent FC on the sector-wide Procurement Strategy Group, and contribute to sector-wide joint initiatives in relation to procurement on behalf of FC.
• Undertake a contract sweep and populate and manage ongoing the Hunter contract register, contract update tools etc.
• Undertake statutory reporting for FC and routine reporting within FC.
• In relation to aspects of procurement related law and procedures which may require judgement applied on risk, or fall into higher-risk present "grey" areas, they would provide an options appraisal for FC in order to make an informed judgement.

About 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. With collaboration, responsibility, and integrity at the heart of what we do, we're all about helping our member institutions achieve their objectives, whether you are putting together Framework Agreements, reducing the sector’s carbon emissions or working directly in one of our client institutions.

Joining APUC means joining a community of peers, and getting the chance to get together often and having network opportunities throughout the year. Peer support and collaboration is integral to who we are at APUC.

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