Head of Procurement

at  Christchurch City Council

The Christchurch City Council employs around 3000 people who are passionate about our city and the wider community. The Council focuses on the social, economic and cultural well-being of Christchurch and in particular has responsibility for a range of local services, including roads, water, sewerage, waste collection, parks and reserves, and libraries.
We work with communities to ensure our city is supported with the right planning, policy and consenting to enable our city to be liveable, safe, and inclusive and well prepared for the future, with opportunities for all.
The Head of Procurement and Contracts role is a leadership position focused on the provision of strategic leadership, direction and management of the Council’s procurement and contract management function. This unit operates as an integral part of the Risk, Finance and Performance group to provide a framework that ensures that there is a best practice procurement applied across all Council procurement activities in alignment with the Council’s vision, strategic priorities, and community outcomes.

IS THIS YOU?

You will be smart, and results driven with a tertiary qualification in either procurement, supply chain management, or an experienced operation management professional who is a strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
We are seeking an accomplished procurement professional who is highly regarded in a senior leadership role in a large organisation context. You will have strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills and the ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels internally and externally.
Your real strength will be your ability to inspire, lead and motivate people creating a constructive, high-performance culture while taking your team on the journey with you through change and transformation. Strong and steady leadership is the key here!
If you have a genuine passion and affinity for making a difference and contributing to Christchurch’s key procurement and contract management role that will result in a city of opportunity for us all; then we would like to hear from you.

Working for the Christchurch City Council allows you to contribute directly to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents and visitors. You will also benefit from:

• Access to training programmes, workshops, and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements - WFH, adjustable start and finish times, option to purchase extra leave.
• Collaboration - exposure to wider areas of the organisation
• Benefits - a variety of benefits for Council staff from health schemes to retail discounts.

Through collaboration, innovation, and a strong commitment to community, the council provides an environment where one’s skills and passions can shine, making it an exceptional choice for those seeking purpose and impact in their career.
Feel like you don’t meet every single requirement of the job description?
Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Christchurch City Council, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways.

• Support end to end procurement activity (Source to Contract Management) of nearly $1lb of spend in the market per year. Leading a team of 20 + people to enable Council Business Units to spend their money strategically and ensure cost containment.
• Provide direction, empower, motivate, and develop others in order to achieve team, service unit and organisational goals to secure a positive outcome for the people of Christchurch.
• Provide effective leadership of a diverse and experienced procurement team - ensuring all team members are engaged, equipped, supported in achievement of their individual and team goals.
• Take ownership of the procurement framework - develop strategic and operational plans as a framework for the development, implementation and management of best practice procurement processes, systems, and policies.
• Influence wider organisational culture and behaviours - ensuring best practice is applied across all procurement activities, in alignment with Council’s vision, strategic priorities and community outcomes.
• Be a champion of excellence at the forefront of national procurement ecosystem trends and constantly identifying global initiatives and risks that will drive better outcomes both at the Council and across the national procurement industry.
• Contribute as a high performing member of the Risk, Finance and Performance Group, supporting overall planning and implementation of operational initiatives