Specialist Procurement Advisor

Role PurposeThe role is responsible for delivering approved business cases and embedding Southwark’s Procurement & Contract Management Target Operating Model. This includes owning category-level delivery, driving commercial outcomes, embedding standard lifecycle processes and governance, and ensuring sustainable savings and performance improvements are realised across third-party spend.The role will oversee day-to-day implementation, ensuring activities are progressing to plan, issues are addressed quickly and agreed savings and outcomes are delivered. Working closely with services, finance and the central programme team, the Procurement Specialist acts as the key bridge between all stakeholders and senior leadership – maintains pace, tracks progress, manages risks and dependencies, and ensures alignment across all parties involved in delivery. They are also responsible for engaging directly with suppliers to negotiate pricing and for establishing structured contract management meetings in collaboration with the relevant service areas.

Key ResponsibilitiesDelivery and AccountabilityDevelop and deliver category plans aligned to business cases through the use of spend, market and performance insight whilst aligning delivery to category pipeline and sequencingDeliver assigned business case(s), ensuring agree outcomes and savings are achievedTurn approved business cases into clear delivery plans with defined action, owner and timelinesTrack progress against milestones and take corrective action where delivery is off trackEnsure consistent delivery across services, avoiding duplication or misalignment between teamsEnsure agreed activity complies with council Contract Standing Orders and governance. Ensure activity and delivery is aligned to the transformation and development of the Procurement & Contract Management Operating ModelCoordination and LeadershipCoordinate inputs across services, stakeholders, and programme teams to drive delivery progress.Act as the main point of contact between services and the programme, ensuring alignment on priorities, progress, and outcomes.Run weekly delivery group stand-ups to review delivery progress, actions, risks, dependencies, decisions required and next stepsAttend the fortnightly programme management meeting to provide update on progress and raise and cross-cutting risk that need resolving.

Risk Management and EscalationIdentify risks, issues, and dependencies early and take action to resolve them.Work directly with service leads and the Programme Manager to remove blockers.Escalate issues through the appropriate governance routes when needed.Highlight cross-cutting risks and resourcing pressures at programme meetings.Financial OversightWork closely with Finance to ensure delivery aligns with agreed baselines and financial methodologies.Support the tracking and reporting of forecast and validated benefits.Supplier and Contract negotiation Work directly with suppliers to negotiate contract terms, pricing, and service arrangements to achieve improved value for money.Support the establishment of clear contract management practices, in line with the new Procurement and Contract Management Target Operating Model, including regular performance and review meetings with service areas.Monitor supplier performance and work with services to address issues, drive compliance, and identify further savings opportunitiesGovernance and ReportingMaintain core delivery documents, including plans, milestone trackers, action logs, and risk registers.Provide regular, accurate updates on progress, risks, and outcomes.Work with service owners to provide clear, accurate, and consistent reporting on delivery progress and outcomes to the SRO and wider Programme Board.Delivery Narrative and Continuous ImprovementKeep stakeholders informed on delivery progress and outcomes in a clear, practical way.Capture lessons learned and feed them into ongoing delivery to improve ways of working.Work with the Director of Commercial and the Head of Procurement to ensure insights and lesson learned from business case implementation are systematically captured and incorporated into the development of the wider Procurement Target Operating Model Working RelationshipsProgramme Manager and Project Support / PMO Service Leads and Delivery TeamsSenior Responsible Owner (SRO)Finance Business PartnersProgramme Board and Delivery Governance ForumsAssistant Director of Change Interim Director of Commercial Partnership Head of Procurement Director of Finance Assistant Director of Financial Transformation Experience of developing and implementing category strategies.Proven experience delivering complex programmes or implementing business cases.Significant commercial and procurement experience, with a strong understanding of sourcing, supplier management and contract negotiation within a public sector of similarly complex environment. Demonstrable experience delivering savings from third-party spend, including negotiating with external suppliers to achieve cost reductions and improved value for money.Experience working with procurement processes, category management approaches and contract management frameworks Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across multiple levels.Experience working with financial tracking, benefits realisation, and governance frameworks.Ability to manage risk, resolve issues, and maintain delivery pace in a complex environment.Excellent organisational, communication, and leadership skills.Knowledge of Procurement Act 2023 and Public Sector GovernanceDelivery of validated savings and benefitsAdoption of standard processes and governanceImproved contract performance and supplier outcomesTimely delivery against programme milestonesIncreased visibility of spend and performanceKey Skills and Experience (Indicative)Experience of developing and implementing category strategies.Proven experience delivering complex programmes or implementing business cases.Significant commercial and procurement experience, with a strong understanding of sourcing, supplier management and contract negotiation within a public sector of similarly complex environment. Demonstrable experience delivering savings from third-party spend, including negotiating with external suppliers to achieve cost reductions and improved value for money.Experience working with procurement processes, category management approaches and contract management frameworks Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across multiple levels.Experience working with financial tracking, benefits realisation, and governance frameworks.Ability to manage risk, resolve issues, and maintain delivery pace in a complex environment.Excellent organisational, communication, and leadership skills.Knowledge of Procurement Act 2023 and Public Sector Governance