About the Role

Working within the framework of the Procurement Act 2023 and wider public sector procurement legislation, the Procurement Insight and Contract Management Lead plays a key role in supporting effective procurement and contract management arrangements across Sefton Council.

This specialist role is responsible for supporting teams across the Council to be effective in contract lifecycle management, contract systems, procurement insight data and spend analysis, compliance, and assurance activities. The postholder will help ensure procurement activity is translated into well-managed, compliant, and high-performing contracts that deliver value for money and support the Council’s corporate priorities.

The post-holder will be responsible for managing the Council’s Atamis Commercial Management System, providing easy access to data and information about all aspects of commissioning, procurement and contract management including spend analysis, supplier relationship management, pipeline planning, tendering, and contract lifecycle management.

The role will work closely with Procurement Category Managers, service areas, Finance, Legal, and corporate partners to strengthen governance, improve procurement intelligence, reduce commercial risk, and embed consistent contract management practices across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting and promoting effective contract lifecycle management across the Council, including mobilisation, implementation, performance management, renewals, extensions, variations, and contract exit arrangements.
• Leading on the maintenance and development of procurement and contract management systems, templates, workflows, and reporting tools to ensure they are efficient, accessible, and user-focused.
• Ensuring the corporate contract register remains accurate, complete, and audit-ready.
• Developing dashboards, reports, and procurement insight to support decision-making, performance monitoring, compliance, and procurement planning.
• Providing spend analysis, management information, and procurement intelligence to identify risks, opportunities, aggregation potential, and areas for improvement.
• Supporting compliance with procurement governance requirements, statutory transparency obligations, and reporting requirements under the Procurement Act 2023.
• Promoting best practice in contract management, supplier performance management, and contract assurance across the organisation.
• Supporting audit, governance, and assurance activity through accurate record keeping, reporting, and data management.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives, including improvements to procurement systems, guidance, templates, and user experience.
• Embedding ethical procurement, sustainability, social value, and responsible sourcing principles within operational contract management activity.
• Providing practical advice, guidance, and support to service areas to strengthen procurement and contract management capability across the Council.
• Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders and suppliers to support compliant, customer-focused, and value-driven outcomes.

This role will suit someone with significant experience in public sector procurement or contract management who enjoys working with systems, data, governance, and operational improvement. The successful candidate will bring strong organisational skills, analytical capability, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to delivering high-quality procurement and contract management support across the Council.

Please see Appendix A (page 9) for a full copy of the Job Description and Person Specification.

The closing date for this vacancy is  3 July 2026 (or earlier in the event of high volume of applications being received).

Provisional interview dates are week commencing 13 July 2026.

Equal Opportunities

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential. We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.

GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME

Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.

If you’re an unemployed Sefton resident, register with our Sefton@Work service for free support to help you into employment.  You may be eligible for extra assistance such as funding for travel, work clothing, or vouchers to make starting your new job easier.  Call Sefton@Work on 0151 934 2610 or visit seftonatwork.net to find out more and get started today!