Commercial Compliance and Assurance Project Lead

Commercial Compliance and Assurance Project Lead - Outside IR35

Background

Our local authority client is investing heavily in evolving and transforming its Procurement and Contract Management capability creating a ‘hub and spoke’ model supporting all Service Areas across the organisation. As part of this journey, the Council is now seeking an individual to lead on the design and implementation of proportionate and effective commercial governance and assurance.

The Role and Deliverables

In summary, the key deliverables of this piece of work are:

• Working with the Procurement and Contract Management team and Service Areas, design and gain approval for an overall approach to drive commercial compliance across the Council and provide assurance in relation to decisions made.

• Compliance will focus on both adherence to legislative obligations including PCR2015, PA23 and the 2024 Procurement Regulations and, alongside ensuring the correct implementation of these will include ensuring notices and reporting are issued in a timely manner. In addition, compliance will need to address adherence to Government Commercial Function Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) and the Council’s own internal processes, delegations of authority, contract rules etc.

• Assurance will focus on establishing a robust and proportionate approach for oversight of all Procurement and Contract Management activities thereby ensuring informed decision making on the basis of risk, approved Council procedures, value for money, Council priorities etc.

• On the basis of the agreed approach above, evolve a set of processes and controls to embed the commercial compliance and assurance framework throughout the Council.

• Management of a ‘pilot’ of the compliance and assurance framework across a single Service Area of the Council. This will include delivering familiarisation training, leading monitoring of adherence to compliance and assurance procedures, capturing lessons learned / potential improvements and updating the overall compliance and assurance approach and associated procedures based on the results of the pilot.

• Development and delivery of commercial compliance and assurance familiarisation training to all relevant Council staff whose role includes commissioning, procurement or contract management.

• Generation of a final report detailing benefits resulting from the implementation of effective compliance and governance in the Council with recommendations for ‘next steps’ to further improve commercial effectiveness.

• Handover of ownership of compliance and governance role to permanent member of the Council staff.

Accountabilities

In effecting the deliverables above, the post holder will:

• Ensure all transparency requirements determined via legislation or internal policies are met.

• Lead the development and maintenance of all template documentation associated with purchasing, procurement and contract management and publication to internet and intranet where relevant.

• Develop content for internal and external platforms (intranet and internet) used by the function to ensure transparency and a clear understanding of where to access information.

• Lead on the collection and analysis of data from stakeholders (internal and external) on the performance of the function as a whole to drive continuous improvement.

• Represent the Council on sub-groups and forums in relation to governance and compliance to share best practice and look for opportunities to collaborate as required.

• Engage proactively with the Procurement and Contract Management team to assess challenges and inefficiencies to drive development of additional guidance and or documentation.

• Working alongside other team members, provide coaching and mentoring to the Procurement and Contract Management team’s 4 Apprentices to support their development.

• Support the Category Management Lead and Contract Management Lead in managing all provisions pertaining to compliance and assurance management.

• To work in compliance with Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Code of Conduct and the Council’s Policies and Procedures.

• Through personal commitment and clear action, promote the Council’s employment policies, with particular reference to diversity, equality of access and treatment in employment, service delivery and community involvement.

• Support/develop a working culture within the Procurement and Contract Management team that reflects the Council corporate vision and plan