Head of Procurement Operations and Enablement

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London Fire Brigade is the busiest fire and rescue service in the country. What's more, we are one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world protecting people and property from 102 stations across the 1587 square kilometres of Greater London.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is in the early stages of a multi-year transformation journey. This aims of this transformation are to provide the capabilities, capacity, and resiliency to enable LFB to provide the best possible service to London and Londoners. As part of this, the Commercial and Procurement team is likewise transforming to introduce a robust end-to-end category management capability which will consist of Contract and Procurement Managers, Procurement Service Desk and Tender Compliance specialists (Phase 1) and Category Managers (Phase 2), who together will enable the efficient transition to a more digital, data-driven, and results-focused way of working. We are seeking enthusiastic, passionate, and experienced Procurement Professionals to join our team for this exciting journey, as the team grows and evolves.

Pivotal to the ongoing transformation of the Procurement and Commercial team is the implementation of a new Procurement Operations and Enablement section, and a Head of Procurement Operations and Enablement is now sought to begin this process. The section will produce the policies, procedures, controls, skills and data that will enable the Procurement and Commercial Department to provide an outstanding service to all, with the Head of Procurement Operations and Enablement shaping this function from its inception to a high-quality business as usual state. Once the procurement transformation project is complete, the post holder will be responsible for ongoing continuous improvement initiatives and projects.

Specifically, the Head of Procurement Operations and Enablement will:

• Transform all facets of purchasing operations, data and systems controls, management, operational and compliance reporting; and the recruitment, resourcing and continuous people development of the team to deliver a high standard of end user support;


• Develop and deliver an agile self-serve, enablement strategy for Brigade end users;


• Improve partnership working with leaders and stakeholders from across the organisation to better anticipate change;


• Reduce complexity, delay, and unnecessary touchpoints in the sourcing lifecycle;


• Lead a dynamic and ambitious team of procurement professionals in the day-to-day delivery and continuous improvement of the enablement service;


• Provide expert advice to stakeholders on Procurement Operations metrics, risks, warnings, and trends for areas of continuous improvement;


• Applicants should have demonstrable experience of managing a high performing operations team, hands on knowledge of both Service Desk and P2P process management, and a strong understanding of both the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.


• A strategic thinker with the ability to influence stakeholders up to the highest levels, the preferred candidate will be an integral member of the Procurement and Commercial Senior Leadership Team.


• Deputise for the Assistant Director of Procurement & Commercial as and when required.
  
  26 days' holiday plus bank holidays


• Option Absence Scheme (which can result in an additional 12 days annual leave for staff at this grade)


• Flexible working including job share


• Welfare Scheme


• Use of Brigade Medical Adviser/physios


• Season ticket loans


• Equality Support Groups


• Contributory Pension Scheme


• Cycle to work scheme


• Opportunity to access affordable accommodation


In line with the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) employment checks will be completed by successful candidates, which will include a Standard criminal records check. Successful candidate will be required to declare any convictions for offences and any offer of employment is subject to the LFC receiving a criminal records disclosure which it considers satisfactory.