Job Title: Assistant Procurement Officer
Department: Finance
Salary: £25,299 - £29,911 per annum
Job Type: Full-time (35 hours per week), Permanent
The role of the Assistant Procurement Officer is to assist in the promotion and implementation of a Procurement Strategy that supports the College in the successful delivery of its Strategic Objectives, whilst also discharging its statutory responsibilities to Funding Bodies and other Government Agencies.
The role will be to primarily support The Procurement Officer in the delivery of the Procurement Plan whilst also assisting, as required with the to day activity of the Procurement & Transactions Team. There will be a key focus on financial controls and ensuring that the Financial Regulations are adhered to across all aspects of delivery. It is expected that the successful candidate will either be qualified to CIPS level 3 or demonstrate that they are currently studying or have a willingness to study to obtain the required qualification.
The role holder will need to work closely with the rest of the Finance team in order to ensure consistency and best practice is developed and maintained across the function, proactively driving the ongoing improvement of business practices and performance across the team. They will work co-operatively and positively with all internal departments and external contacts, providing excellent service, support, and advice where applicable.
Responsible to: Procurement & Transactions Manager
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To assist in all aspects of tendering including drafting/issue of documents, evaluation and award
- To issue invitations to quote and to evaluate responses
- To develop Service Level Agreements with key suppliers
- To negotiate with suppliers to achieve best possible sustainable outcome for the college
- To establish and maintain strong and honest relationships with suppliers
- To maintain links with staff in the faculties and other business support areas to enhance the service provided to all service users
- To develop market knowledge for key supply areas
- To attend contract review meetings with internal customers and suppliers
- To maintain register of contracts/agreements
- To create/amend standing data for customers/suppliers as required
- Purchase order processing
- Reconciliation of credit card & rail statements
- To investigate and respond to queries and issues raised
- To operate College systems and update records as required e.g. Open Accounts, ProSolution etc
- Production of and maintenance of work instructions for all key tasks undertaken
- Provision of accurate and timely management information as required
- To operate as part of a team and to provide cover for other team members, as necessary
- To provide awareness training to colleagues and other Group employees as required
- To be a gatekeeper for the AskFinance email inbox
Generic duties:
- To contribute fully to the mission and values statement of the College Group ensuring its effective implementation in all aspects of College life
- To take initiative-taking responsibility for Health & Safety to ensure that a safe working environment and safe working practices are always maintained
- To comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
- To comply with Financial Regulations and external legislation such as the Modern Slavery Act
- To support cross college activities as required particularly the key enrolment and invigilation periods
- To demonstrate flexibility and openness to change
Essential Criteria:
- Achievement of 5 G.C.S.E's Grade A-C or equivalent
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- High level of people skills and acts with integrity and sells with a high level of ethics
- Ability to use own initiative and be self-motivated
- Good computer literacy and general IT Skills
- An ability to work effectively with people across a wide range of levels and responsibilities
- Excellent attention to detail
- Experience of working with customers or volunteering or working in a team
Desirable Criteria:
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CIPS Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations or Equivalent*
- Salary of post will be qualification dependant
Please Note
This role may close earlier than the advertised deadline if we receive sufficient applications. Early submission is strongly encouraged.
Why Join The City of Liverpool College?
As a valued member of our College community, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
Here are some of the benefits available to you:
Generous holiday allowance
Up to 30 days annual holiday allowance, plus 1 wellbeing day. You’ll also benefit from 5 to 7 days statutory closure and 2 further days closure at Easter.
Pension Scheme
You'll be part of the Aviva pension scheme, with contributions of up to 10%.
Employee Benefits Platform
As part of your role, you’ll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform, a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and everyday savings. You’ll be able to access discounts at major supermarkets, fashion and lifestyle retailers, tech stores, travel providers, and more. You’ll also benefit from the Cycle to Work Scheme, cinema and leisure discounts and tech and home appliance discounts, with the option of spreading the cost through salary sacrifice. The platform is part of our commitment to supporting you in every aspect of your working life – and beyond.
Health and Wellbeing
As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing, all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a completely confidential support service available 24/7, 365 days a year. Whether you’re facing personal challenges, looking for advice, or simply need someone to talk to, Health Assured is here to help. Through Health Assured, you can access a 24/7 confidential helpline, face to face, online or telephone counselling, as well as structured support for a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, relationships, bereavement, legal and financial concerns.
You'll also have access to the online wellbeing portal, a secure, user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources, health assessments, articles, and guidance covering emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, and to the Wisdom App, which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools, meditation guides, fitness videos, and self-help modules
as well as daily wellbeing tips.
Medicash Scheme
Access to Medicash health plans – supporting you and your family with enhanced access to treatment, wellbeing services, and expert care whenever you need it. We also offer free flu vaccinations to help keep you feeling your best all year round.
Life Assurance
We offer life assurance to give you and your family added peace of mind — with a benefit of up to three times your annual salary payable in the event of death in service.
Travel
We offer interest-free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail. That means you can enjoy the savings of up to two months' free travel—without having to cover the full cost upfront. It’s all about making your commute more affordable and less stressful.
Flexible Working
We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employee's work-life balance.
Professional Development
We’re passionate about helping you thrive, offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunities—designed to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and accelerate your career.
College Benefits
Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons, and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.
About The City of Liverpool College
The City of Liverpool College is a leading education provider for almost 12,000 students across the Liverpool City Region, from ages 16 and up.
Our passion for nurturing talent and personal approach to teaching makes sure all our students are fully equipped to realise their potential and be empowered to live out their career ambitions.
We believe in opportunity for all and offer access to both academic and vocational courses. From GCSE to degree level, our students achieve some of the highest exam results in the region.
As a recognised leader in skills and education, we are proud to have been named the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce 2024 Skills Provider of the Year, a testament to our deep-rooted commitment to delivering outstanding education that meets the needs of our students and the regional economy. We are also a proud member of the Chartered Institution for Further Education, reinforcing our position as a centre of excellence within the sector. Our recent Ofsted inspection rated us ‘Outstanding’ for Adult Provision and Personal Development, highlighting our dedication to providing life-changing education that empowers learners at every stage of their journey.
Our Mission
To provide high quality skills and education by delivering opportunities for growth to all people and businesses of the Liverpool City Region.
Our Goals
- Deliver world class skills in business
- Provide an outstanding learning and student experience
- Develop the talent for sustainable employment
Safeguarding Our Students
The City of Liverpool College is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare our learners, and all staff will require an Enhanced DBS check.
Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Career?
Join a dynamic team shaping the future of education in the Liverpool City Region. With over 600 dedicated staff, five campuses, hundreds of courses, and more than 10,000 students, we're proud to be a leader in learning and innovation. Ready to make an impact? Apply now and become part of our journey.
