Procurement Consultant - Children's Services

3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

To provide specialist procurement and category management expertise across Children's Services, supporting Shropshire Council's procurement transformation programme and delivering commercially robust procurement solutions that improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

The postholder will work closely with commissioners and stakeholders to develop category strategies, procurement pipelines and market-facing solutions across Children's Services. The role requires deep subject matter expertise, strong commercial acumen and the ability to influence strategic decision-making whilst ensuring compliance, value for money and service quality.

Key Responsibilities

Category Management & Strategy

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Children's Services category plan.
  
• Establish and maintain a prioritised procurement pipeline across Children's Services.
  
• Align category strategies with related commissioning activity across:
  • Adults Services
    
  • Public Health
    
  • Wider Council Services
    
• Analyse market conditions, trends and provider capacity to inform procurement decisions.
  
• Identify commercial opportunities, risks and service improvement initiatives.
  

Procurement Delivery

• Lead and support complex and high-value procurements from inception through to contract award and mobilisation.
  
• Develop procurement and sourcing strategies that are commercially sound and compliant.
  
• Ensure procurement exercises deliver value for money and positive service outcomes.
  
• Support market engagement activities and supplier development.
  
• Manage procurement governance and approval processes.
  

Commissioner & Stakeholder Support

• Work closely with Children's Services commissioners to understand service needs, priorities and future requirements.
  
• Translate commissioning intentions into effective procurement solutions.
  
• Act as a trusted advisor and critical friend to commissioners and stakeholders.
  
• Provide constructive challenge to ensure proposals are commercially viable and sustainable.
  
• Support evidence-based decision-making through market intelligence and commercial insight.
  

Market Analysis & Commercial Advice

• Maintain a detailed understanding of Children's Services markets, including:
  • Children's Social Care
    
  • Residential Placements
    
  • Foster Care Services
    
  • SEND Services
    
  • Early Intervention Services
    
  • Social Worker Supply
    
  • Specialist Support Services
    
  • Third Sector Providers
    
• Assess market capacity, risks and opportunities.
  
• Advise stakeholders on sourcing options and commercial approaches.
  
• Support supplier engagement and contract management activities where appropriate.
  

Service Improvement & Transformation

• Support Shropshire Council's wider procurement transformation agenda.
  
• Contribute to the development of procurement best practice and commercial capability.
  
• Promote collaborative working across procurement, commissioning, finance and operational teams.
  
• Help establish sustainable procurement practices and future capability development.
  
• Support long-term service improvement and organisational resilience.
  

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with public procurement legislation, policies and procedures.
  
• Maintain robust procurement documentation and audit trails.
  
• Support risk management and governance processes.
  
• Ensure procurement activity remains transparent, proportionate and legally compliant.
  

Requirements

Essential

• Significant procurement and category management experience within Children's Services.
  
• Strong understanding of commissioning environments and service design.
  
• Experience developing:
  • Category Strategies
    
  • Procurement Pipelines
    
  • Sourcing Strategies
    
  • Procurement Business Cases
    
• Experience leading complex and high-value procurement exercises.
  
• Strong knowledge of Children's Services provider markets.
  
• Experience working with commissioners and senior stakeholders.
  
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
  
• Ability to influence and challenge stakeholders constructively.
  
• Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations and governance.
  
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
  
• Strong analytical, project management and problem-solving abilities.
  
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
  

Desirable

• Local Government procurement experience.
  
• Experience across:
  • Children's Social Care
    
  • SEND
    
  • Early Help
    
  • Specialist Placements
    
  • Social Care Workforce Supply
    
• CIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation.
  
• Experience working across Adults Services and Public Health categories.
  
• Experience supporting procurement transformation programmes.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Fully Remote
  
• Hours Per Week: 37 Hours
  
• Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments