Procurement and Contracts Manager

Procurement and Contracts Manager

- £44,075 – £51,356 per year
- Permanent
- Full time x 37 hours with a range of flexibilities, including hybrid working, aligned to our Worksmart arrangements based at our main office in Honiton

About the role

This is a new role within East Devon District Council at an extremely busy and exciting time for the organisation. If you’re someone who thrives on challenge, wants to make a difference and add value, and who takes real pride in seeing the impact of your work across a whole organisation, then this could be the role for you.

We’re looking for an experienced, hands‑on Procurement and Contracts Manager to help shape the future of our procurement service within the Governance Directorate. Working closely with senior leaders, service managers and external partners, you will lead and develop a corporate procurement function that delivers compliant, efficient and value‑for‑money outcomes across the Council.

You will take responsibility for the full procurement lifecycle — from strategic planning and market engagement through to contract award and performance management — providing expert advice, guidance and challenge to colleagues to ensure procurement activity supports organisational priorities and delivers social value for our communities.

You’ll be responsible for

• Leading, developing and embedding a professional, customer‑focused procurement service across the Council
• Providing clear expert advice on procurement strategy, contract management, and compliance with public sector procurement legislation and internal Contract Procedure Rules
• Leading complex and high‑value procurement exercises, including tenders, frameworks and collaborative procurements
• Managing procurement governance, ensuring robust processes, audit readiness and continuous improvement
• Working closely with services to develop procurement plans that deliver best value, social value and risk management
• Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers and partner organisations
• Supporting organisational change and championing innovation, sustainability and ethical procurement

About you

This role is ideal for someone with a strong professional background in public sector procurement who enjoys working in a strategic yet hands‑on way. You’ll be confident balancing compliance with pragmatism, able to influence senior stakeholders, and comfortable operating in a complex, fast‑moving environment.

You’ll be organised, calm under pressure and solutions‑focused, with a strong commitment to delivering value for money while supporting services to achieve their objectives.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience of working within a procurement or commercial role, ideally within the public sector
• Strong working knowledge of public procurement legislation and best practice
• Experience of contract management and supplier performance management
• Strong analytical and commercial skills, with the ability to identify risk, opportunity and value
• Experience of managing or contributing to service improvement and change
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

• CIPS qualification (or working towards) or equivalent professional experience
• Experience of social value, sustainability or ethical procurement frameworks
• Experience of collaborative or regional procurement arrangements

About us

East Devon District Council is a forward‑thinking organisation that puts people and communities at the heart of everything it does. Our recent Local Government Association Peer Challenge highlighted that “EDDC is a great place to work, with engaged staff and members” — and we couldn’t agree more.

You’ll be joining an organisation that values collaboration, wellbeing and flexibility, with a strong hybrid Worksmart approach and a genuine commitment to learning and development. This is an opportunity to make a real organisational impact while being supported to do your best work.

For more about working for East Devon District Council, visit https://eastdevon.gov.uk/careers/working-at-eddc/

For an informal discussion, please contact James Docherty, Assistant Director, Legal & Governance on 07709 720714 or email james.docherty@eastdevon.gov.uk.

To apply online, please visit https://jobs.eastdevon.gov.uk/itliveeddc_webrecruitment/wrd/run/etrec179gf.open?WVID=4869826SR6&LANG=USA&VACANCY_ID=630418CVKl.

Closing date: midnight on Sunday, 16th May 2026

Interviews will be held during week commencing 1st June 2026

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