Interim Procurement Officer, Public Health team

6 Months - On going

Hybrid - 2 days in County Hall, Dorchester * Neg depending on experience.

Up to £500 a day

Inside IR35

Background

The Public Health team at Dorset Council work very closely with the Public Health team at BCP Council and have many shared contracts. Most of these contracts are currently hosted by Dorset Council on behalf of both local authorities. The disaggregation of the former pan-Dorset public Health team in April 2025 has increased the complexity of commissioning arrangements and generated additional procurement work.

We have identified a need for additional procurement capacity to help manage the high volume of contract changes and new contracts that are required. Some work will be led by Dorset Council with other projects led by BCP Council. Work required in the next 12 months includes:

• Support for the project to reprocure of the pan-Dorset sexual health contract for implementation in April 2027 (being led by BCP Council)
• Preparatory work to reprocure the Children and Young People Public Health service (current contract ends Sept 2027)
• Health improvement services projects - AI text messaging, NRT supply, Vape supply, digital platform and IT infrastructure, community weight management services, digital health checks.

Most, but not all contracts are subject to the regulations of the Provider Selection Regime.

Purpose of role

To work closely with commissioning leads from both Dorset Council and BCP Council to provide additional procurement capacity within the Public Health team.

To ensure that key procurement activities being led by Dorset Council are delivered on time and are effective, efficient, compliant and meet the needs of the two local authorities.

To fulfil a bridging role with procurement colleagues within the Dorset Council central procurement team to ensure that all appropriate governance requirements are met for each individual project.

To build internal organisational experience of using the Provider Selection Regime.

To ensure that all spend on goods and services delivers best value for Dorset residents, including the enhancing the opportunity for positive impact on social value measures.

Supervision

Reporting to: Consultant in Public Health / Head of Programmes

Matrix management through the Dorset Council Procurement team (Senior Procurement Officer, Greg Jackson).

Essential Criteria

1. CIPS Foundation level 4 or equivalent experience.
2. Detailed knowledge of both the Procurement Act and the Provider Selection Regime and experience of procurement projects using both in a public sector setting.
3. Ability to lead end-to-end procurements and operate confidently within local authority governance.
4. Experience of leading on complex, high risk procurement projects in excess of £500k.
5. Experience of working in local authority setting and understanding of corporate governance arrangements and processes in this setting.
6. Understanding of contract law.
7. Knowledge of public sector procurement best practice.
8. Knowledge of project management.
9. Ability to apply strategic procurement processes, tools and techniques and an understanding of how to select and apply them to best effect.
10. Knowledge and experience of procurement in the context of Public Health mandated services (desirable).
11. Strong communication skills.

Length of contract

6 months initially with potential for extension dependant on performance and impact of role.

Connect2Dorset is a trading style of Dorset & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Dorset Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Dorset is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.