Job Title: Group Procurement Operations Officer
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £25,622 (£28,320 is achieved after 12 months successful performance in the role)
Working Hours: Full-time 35 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday
Location: Liverpool / Hybrid

For your application to be considered please attach a current CV and cover letter.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 28 days holidays plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working options available
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

The difference you will make as Group Procurement Operations Officer.

You'll be responsible for supporting the Procurement Operations Manager to manage, maintain, and continuously develop and improve the group’s procurement data in terms of group spend, applications, processes, procedures, policies and day to day operational duties.

About You

We're looking for an advanced Microsoft Excel user with experience handling and analysing large, complex data sets. You'll be results driven with strong analytical skills and possess a good understanding of data quality and integrity principles.

Ideally, you'll be customer focused with excellent communication and problem-solving skills. A team player, you'll be able to work flexibly to meet business needs. Although not essential, knowledge of e-procurement systems would be an advantage.

Job Profile - Role requires you to:

• Support Operations Manager with interrogating data and analysing trends in relation to group wide spend data from all systems and reporting these finds to the category management team.
• Oversee the purchase card process in relation to user creation, limit amendments and monitoring of portal.
• Manage and oversee any requests received from stakeholders across the group in relation to procurement requests.
• Be the Contract Manager for the Group’s Travel Management contract and staff voucher programmes.
• Provide procurement and purchasing support to colleagues across the Group, including developing and maintaining user guidance and providing coaching and support when required to deliver operational excellence and the Group's procurement objectives.
• Support Operations Manager to maintain the Group’s current SSIP provider’s portal to ensure all of the Group’s contractors are listed.
• Support the Procurement Operations Manager in the development of e-procurement requirements and configuration, working closely with IT colleagues and third-party providers to ensure the required infrastructure is in place to effectively support the Group's procurement objectives.
• Manage enquiries effectively, providing clear and accurate advice or signposting as appropriate and dealing complex queries via the appropriate channels to ensure an effective resolution.
• Challenge areas on non-compliance in relation to spend and processes and provide guidance to colleagues across the group.
• Conduct due diligence on requests received from the Group, to create/amend supplier records.
• Engage with our Marketing team to communicate information relevant to the wider business in an informative and proactive approach to engage stakeholder across the group.
• Liaise with IT colleagues, Finance colleagues and third-party providers to ensure system issues are dealt with effectively and within service level agreements, escalating service failures via the approved channels as appropriate.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders effectively, building constructive working relationships to effectively deliver the Group's procurement objectives.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Group Procurement processes and procedures.
• Respond flexibly to any necessary changes in work priorities and undertake other duties when required to support the effective operation of the service.
• Ensure that all information security requirements, including data protection, are met in accordance with the Group's policy, procedures and statutory requirements.
• Ensure that health and safety requirements are met in accordance with the Group's policy, procedures and statutory requirements.

Person specification

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Advanced user of Microsoft Excel with previous experience handling and analysing large data sets.
• Results driven with strong analytical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work under pressure, deliver to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
• Ability to work using own initiative as well as being an excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirements.
• Understanding of the principles of data integrity and data quality .
• Customer focused with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work at all levels within the business.
• Proven track record of building good working relationships.
• Strong problem-solving skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of e-procurement systems.
• Commercially aware with a focus on continuous improvement and the ability to drive change.