Contracts and Procurement Manager

Job Introduction

About us

Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue (LFR) is a  community-focused service dedicated to protecting lives, property, and the environment across Lincolnshire. As part of Lincolnshire County Council, we are committed to delivering high-quality services through collaboration, innovation, and professionalism. Our Operational Support Team plays a crucial role in supporting frontline operations ensuring that our people have access to the right equipment, services, and infrastructure. Joining this team means becoming part of a supportive and forward-thinking environment where your work directly contributes to public safety and service excellence.

About the role

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Contracts & Procurement Manager to lead the development and delivery of commercial and contractual arrangements that support LFR’s strategic goals. In this role, you will manage a diverse portfolio of contracts, including emergency fleet, operational equipment, PPE, and uniform, ensuring compliance with UK Public Contract Regulations and internal financial policies.

You will be responsible for leading and developing the Contracts and Stores team, building strategic partnerships with suppliers, and driving continuous improvement in procurement practices. The role involves overseeing contract performance, managing budgets, and ensuring procurement activities are ethical, sustainable, and aligned with LFR’s core values. You will also play a key role in health and safety compliance, quality assurance, and performance monitoring, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the service. This is a fixed term contract for 12 months.

About you

You will be a qualified procurement professional (ideally MCIPS) with at least five years of experience in procurement and contract management. You will bring strong financial management skills, including experience in budget preparation, monitoring, and supplier negotiation. Your ability to lead and develop a team in a multi-disciplinary environment will be essential, as will your excellent interpersonal, organisational, and negotiation skills.

You will hold a solid understanding of public sector procurement, risk management, and partnership working. A commercial mindset, combined with a commitment to ethical and inclusive procurement practices, is key. You should be confident managing complex workloads, thinking analytically, and delivering high-quality outcomes under pressure. A current driving licence and the ability to travel across locations are also essential for this role.

About the Process

Application:

In the personal statement section of the application - please provide a written statement (maximum 2,000 words) that demonstrates your suitability for the role of Contracts and Procurement Manager.

• Please ensure your response is structured, clear and stays within the 2,000 word limit.
• Focus on providing specific examples and outcomes.
• Your statement will be assessed alongside your application to determine progression to the next stage of the selection process.

Selection Process:

Following the sift, those successful applicants will be invited to carry out an interview on week commencing 1st September.

Please be advised that the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 now includes the requirement for Fire and Rescue Service employees to have a standard DBS check as a minimum. This legislation change applies to all Fire Services across the country and the process aims to help safeguard colleagues and communities.

As a service we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application. Interviews WC: 1st September

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. 

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 12 months for equal positions.

A Smarter Working Employer

We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.