Interim Director of Procurement

Oxford Brookes University is a highly successful post ‘92 university with a history going back over 150 years. Distinctive in nature, we are a modern and forward thinking institution rooted in, and connected to a city with a rich history of culture and learning. We are a globally recognised University focused on providing high-quality teaching, delivering impactful research and an excellent student experience.

We’re ambitious in our plans and continue to climb up the University league tables.

Oxford Brookes University was ranked one of the UK’s top 50 universities in the Guardian University Guide 2022. In the 2022 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, we are the 7th highest ranked UK institution for research and 6th in the UK for teaching, and we are proud to have been named as one of the world’s top universities in 16 subjects in the latest QS World University Rankings.

We hold the Athena SWAN Bronze award in recognition of our advancements in gender equality, representation and progression. Our people are at the heart of the University.

This is an interesting and varied role.  No two days are alike. As a department  we are involved with stakeholders across most internal departments and we also work with a range of external stakeholders such as critical suppliers and purchasing consortium. On a typical day there are many phone calls, zoom meetings and face to face meetings. Normally as a department we are in the office one or two days a week. We have a purpose built agile office with hot desks and breakout areas.

This is a full time, fixed term post for 12 months.

Based in Headington Campus and reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Procurement will be responsible for developing and advising on all our procurement processes, ensuring we procure goods and services compliantly with our financial regulations and, given we are in the public sector, compliantly with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.  At the same time we ensure we achieve best value for money on these procurements. We have devolved buying rather than centralised buying so the role involves influencing and supporting stakeholders across the organisation. We are currently developing a contract management system for the whole university. We provide support and training on contract management throughout the university.

Key relationships include senior management (Directors and members of the Vice-Chancellors Group), finance departments and a broad stakeholder group including Estates and Campus Services and IT Services. Other key relationships include regional and national purchasing consortium e.g. SUPC & UKUPC. The role is based at the Headington Campus in Oxford with occasional meetings on other campuses.

The team exists to ensure the University obtains best value for money by coordinating the procurement activity within the University and ensuring purchases are made in accordance with the University Financial Regulations and Statutory requirements.

The team is currently made up of six personnel. We have two Senior Category Managers, one Category Manager plus one vacant Category Manager role, one Junior Category Analyst and one Administrator.

Key relationships are within the faculties : Health Life Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, The Oxford Brookes Business School and Technology Design and the Built Environment. In addition a number of  directorates are supported e.g. IT Services and Estates and Campus Services. External key relationships include the university buying consortium e.g. SUPC and other consortiums that are utilised to help deliver VFM. As a team, we aim to achieve superior status in the Procurement Maturity Assessment in the next 12-18 months.

What will I do in this role?

• Ensure VFM is delivered for the university via the procurement process
• Ensure all procurements are compliant with internal financial regulations and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
• Develop and motivate the team
• Use current data to understand changing procurement needs
• Promote procurement throughout the organisation
• Ensure savings targets are met and savings recorded
• Report annually on procurement progress e.g. co-writing the annual VFM report to Governors and complete/submit the Procurement Value Survey report
• Attend consortium category meetings and framework launches. 

What skills do I need?

• Excellent line management skills
• Great communication skills both written and oral
• Broad experience of different expenditure categories
• Good understanding of public sector procurement laws and regulations
• Ability to produce, understand and analyse complex data
• Ability to work closely with colleagues and customers to build relationships in a consultative and collaborative manner
• Sense of urgency, proportionality and good prioritisation skills
• Excellent digital, numeracy and literacy skills e.g. collaborate on system improvements, process improvements, and writing and presenting reports. 

Based at our Headington campus, you’ll experience the vibrant campus atmosphere and benefit from our modern office environment. The campus is one mile from the centre of Oxford and is served by regular public transport. This role will be hybrid and we expect there will be a 50/50 split between home and office working.

Benefits

Our employees’ well-being, physical, mental and financial, is incredibly important to us. This is why we offer our employees a varied and comprehensive benefits package.

As an Oxford Brookes employee, you will enjoy 25 days holiday, rising with your service, plus 8 Bank Holidays and University concessionary Days (approx 5 per year).

We encourage and support hybrid working (where the role allows) and ensure that you have the necessary equipment to allow you to work flexibly.

We have an extremely competitive Local Government pension scheme (circa 19% Employer contribution rate), as well as providing all staff with financial education, a comprehensive employee assistance helpline and full access to the EdenRed employee benefits platform.

In addition, all employees have access to: 

• Discounted rates for the University sports & gym facilities and access to a variety of other university facilities including NHS Dentist, Brookes on-site Nursery.
• Discounted travel options (Discounted bus travel in and around Oxford,  BrookesBus – Park & ride scheme, Interest-free loans for travel tickets and cycle to work scheme)
• TOTUM card discount scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Connected community – Brookes have a wide variety of staff networks which instil a sense of community offering employees a space for support, guidance and friendship making it. a vibrant and inclusive place to work. 

The University has adopted equity, diversity and inclusion as one of its five core values. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates whatever their background, and especially from BAME candidates, who are under-represented in our workforce, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. Applicants with a disability can be reassured that Oxford Brookes is a Disability Confident employer. As a Disability Confident employer we guarantee to interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential selection criteria.

To email the post of Interim Director of Procurement to a friend please copy and paste the link below: