About the job

Job summary

Forestry England is an organisation like no other. Our strong values and shared ambition to connect everyone with the nation’s forests underpin all that we do. 

We are uniquely placed to confront the climate emergency, tackle the nature crisis, and support the nation’s health and wellbeing. Working for Forestry England is to be part of the solution to the challenges of our generation. 

Mechanical Engineering manage the safe and economic life cycle of all vehicles, machinery, and equipment (VME) used by Forestry England, Forest Research and Forest Services across the United Kingdom. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead the wide-ranging procurement activity for all Mechanical Engineering VME Assets in a key role within the Forestry England Mechanical Engineering team. 

Job description

You will manage all stages of the procurement or tender process for assets under the remit of Mechanical Engineering including market engagement, developing procurement plans and tender documentation.   You will also moderate the tender evaluation, manage the standstill period and draft contracts whilst also providing support for vehicle lifecycle management.

 This is a fast-paced working environment linking into annual asset replacement and financial planning. You will be supported by a senior administration role and work collaboratively with other technical and operational fleet managers to ensure the specifications for any procurement required.

 The  Fleet Support Manager (Procurement) will also work closely with our regional business partners as well as the wider Finance and Commercial teams to ensure that forecasted financial expenditure and forecasting  are captured on a timely basis, enabling accurate operational reporting, as well as ensuring that the department meets all required financial assurance and regulatory compliance.

 The Fleet Support Manager (Procurement) will play a key part in ensuring the timely end-to-end tendering processes, ensuring tender process and award is completed efficiently and to business requirement whilst  all relevant legislation and policy is complied with. The post holder will be given the opportunity to progress their career through identified training plans and ongoing professional development.

 

Purpose of the Job

 Lead the development, planning and implementation of commercial procurement activities for all VME Assets for Forestry England. Manage the financial forecasting of all annual replacement and additional VME ensuring all relevant legislation and policy is complied with.

 Undertake complete end-to-end procurement process from initial conception, through full EU procurement process to contract award.

 Work effectively with a range of key regional business partners in Forestry England, external stakeholders, and technical specialists within Mechanical Engineering to deliver effective and timely procurement tenders and contracts.

 Actively manage suppliers and engage with the relevant marketplace to ensure current knowledge of available assets relevant to working practice within the forestry sector.

 Work flexibly both within Mechanical Engineering and across the organisation engaging with teams to ensure the provision of safe, efficient and effective delivery of assets within key economic targets.

 Monitor income and expenditure against the approved budget through the production of timely procurement and budget reports.

Interpret asset specification & quotation data, guiding stakeholders in value for money acquisitions.

 Build collaborative relationships with business units across the organisation including the Forestry England Commercial team, supporting them in Mechanical Engineering requirements.

 Support the Function Leads in the review of business cases and capital investment opportunities

 Work with Senior Management and other roles within the Central Management Team to inform key strategic decisions and formulate business strategies including capital investment planning and reporting.

 Ensure the wider department follows correct procurement procedures and discharges financial responsibilities in line with delegated authority.

 Manage end of life asset disposal ensuring efficiency in supply of available disposal routes.

 Ensure that all procurement activity is recorded and forecasted within budget monitoring requirements.

Person specification

Person specification (Success Profile)

• The Success Profile below set outs the essential and desirable elements that make up the vacant position - you’ll be expected to demonstrate how you meet the Experience and Technical criteria at application and/or interview stage. Any behaviours will be assessed at interview stage.

Essential

• Experience of working in a role with responsibility for procurement or commercial activity.
• Experience of building and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
• Awareness of relevant legislation and public sector procurement policy.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to draw out key information and assessment of procurement returns to make recommendations that support sound technical and financial decision making.
• High level of skill & competence in the use of Microsoft Excel, and other Microsoft products.
• IT literate, with knowledge and experience of key management accounting packages.

Desirable

• Working knowledge and understanding of working in rural environments.
• Working knowledge and understanding of working with Small and Medium Sized (SME) Suppliers
• Working knowledge of procurement tender process and activity.
• Experience of working within Forestry, Fleet, Environment or Engineering sectors.

Strengths

• Influencer: You influence others, you articulate the rationale to gain their agreement.
• Improver: You look for better ways of doing things and enjoy coming up with new and original ideas.
• Negotiator: You facilitate constructive discussions and enjoy getting all parties to reach an agreement.
• Responsible: You take ownership for your decisions and hold yourself accountable for what you have promised to deliver.

 

Behaviours

Changing and Improving

Delivering at Pace

Working Together

Communicating and Influencing

Experience

Essential:

• Working knowledge of relevant Crown Commercial and other public sector frameworks.

Desirable

Applicants must either:

• Working, or willing to work towards, qualification of CIPS Level 4 Diploma or above in Procurement and Supply.          

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,870, Forestry Commission contributes £9,721 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement as follows:

1.  A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A personal statement (no longer than 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience are suitable for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.

Interviews will take place either in person or via Teams and be assessed against experience and the listed Behaviours.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed

Further Information 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 
• If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.