JOB TITLE: Head of Procurement

SALARY SCALE: £42,315 - £45,351 (Under Review)

REPORT TO: Head of Corporate Services

LOCATION: Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

SUMMARY OF ROLE

The Head of Procurement is responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive, robust, and compliant procurement function for the organisation. The role involves leading, developing and implementing a procurement strategy, ensuring effective contract management, and continuously evolving procurement policies and procedures. The role-holder will lead procurement transformation, ensuring compliance with governance provisions and aligning procurement processes with the organisation’s Digital Transformation Strategy and sustainability objectives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

Develop and implement an organisation-wide procurement strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.

• Lead contract management performance to include management, monitoring and reporting of the Contract Register, ensuring procurement KPIs are met and driving improvements.
• Oversee the continuing development of the procurement function, including tender management, Procurement card management and procurement support, guidance, and training.
• Implement robust procurement policies and procedures to ensure timely and compliant awarding of tenders and contracts.
• Manage and resolve supply issues escalated by business units, ensuring compliance with relevant policies, guidelines, and legislation.
• Provide lead expertise and strategic input into sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations, facilitate team development and performance management within procurement, ensuring capability building.
• Collaborate with senior managers to provide procurement support that meets organisational and departmental objectives.
• Develop, implement, and oversee the delivery of a Corporate Procurement Plan, ensuring policies and procedures align with the Digital Transformation Strategy.
• Establish a Target Operating Model for procurement, ensuring reliable linkages between enablers, processes, and governance.
• Formulate and drive a programme for procurement efficiencies, capturing synergies from digitisation, energy management, and other initiatives.
• Align sustainable procurement approaches with climate strategy and climate action plans, ensuring long-term environmental impact considerations including green procurement.
• Create and manage a procurement framework that integrates sustainability and measures social, economic, and environmental capital delivered by the organisation.
• Develop and maintain a monitoring system for critical supply chain issues and associated risks and supply chain resilience, providing regular reporting.
• Support organisational change management initiatives, leading procurement-related change management training and assessing effectiveness.
• Ensure strong procurement governance, overseeing compliance, risk management, and reporting processes.
• Champion transformational change initiatives, particularly in relation to IT digitisation within procurement.
• Develop and deliver procurement training programmes to enhance organisational capability and compliance awareness.
• Ensure adherence to procurement regulations through audits, reporting, and best practice implementation.
• Manage the preparation, release, and evaluation of eTenders, ensuring a transparent and effective procurement process.
• Oversee the purchase order process, ensuring accuracy, policy alignment, and efficiency.
• Provide expert advice to senior management on procurement-related matters, supporting strategic decision-making.
• Provide direct line management to the Senior Procurement Specialist ensuring clear objectives, professional development, and be accountable for the procurement performance for other team members including Procurement Advisors and personnel responsible for procurement within all divisions/sections.
• Oversee and support the procurement helpdesk, ensuring effective support for internal stakeholders.
• Manage the Budget allocated to Procurement and carry out duties necessary as a Budget Holder.
• Provide direct line management of the Senior Procurement Specialist and be accountable for the procurement performance of the personnel responsible for procurement within all divisions/sections.
• Comply with and actively promote Waterways Ireland policies and procedures on all aspects of equality.
• Complete all training as required by Waterways Ireland within specified timeframes.

The above list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to take on other duties and responsibilities for the effective and efficient performance of the role. The organisation operates within a changing environment, and you will be required to be flexible and adapt to these changes and to develop your role as a result going forward.

The reporting line and key duties and responsibilities of this role may be subject to change following the outcome of a review of the organisation’s structure and staffing.