Principal Procurement Specialist

Tēnei Tūranga - About the role

The Principal Procurement Specialist is a specialist position in the New Zealand Government Procurement Branch (NZGP).  The Principal Procurement Specialist brings their considerable sourcing expertise, business acumen and perspective and provides strategic procurement advice and subject matter direction on complex procurement and commercial matters.  The role holder ensures that NZGP takes a holistic and informed approach to strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and procurement capability development and achieves the best possible commercial outcomes for government while enhancing the implementation of procurement functional leadership.

The Principal Procurement Specialist is a source of knowledge and guidance for the Procurement Specialists and Senior Procurement Specialists and actively and regularly engages in coaching and mentoring of other team members. 

The Principal Procurement Specialist has expert knowledge and understanding of all components of the sourcing lifecycle and is actively engaged in the delivery.  The role holder provides exceptional, expert, considered, pragmatic advice on approach to market options based on in-depth analysis and experience and supports holistic strategic category reviews, which consider both current and future market direction.

The role holder is committed to continuous improvement and promotes effective integration, planning and co-ordination of procurement activity across the Branch.

Ngā Herenga - Requirements of the role

Skills/Experience

• Considerable sourcing and commercial experience within government, a regulatory environment or the private sector with a proven track record of pragmatic problem solving
• Superior ability to critically analyse complex commercial and procurement situations and to recommend and design robust strategies and solutions
• Considerable experience in delivering major/significant procurement projects to scope, time and budget and achieving successful procurement outcomes. Demonstrable experience of managing significant programmes of work
• Very strong understanding and experience in managing contracts
• Superior communication skills both written and oral
• Superior relationship management skills at senior levels within organisations
• High degree of political nous and a working knowledge of the machinery of government
• Considerable experience in developing, mentoring and coaching staff less technically competent in achieving their potential
• Significant experience in influencing and negotiating with stakeholders, suppliers, and senior managers and driving innovation, added value and benefit realisation
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; demonstrated by credibility, personal or collaborative influence, managing expectations and targeted persuasion
• Considerable experience in dealing with change in a complex and dynamic environment

Qualifications

• MCIPS, tertiary qualification, (Business, Law, Accounting, Commerce) or considerable experience in procurement and/or the commercial sector

Personal specifications

• The ability to gain and maintain a national security clearance to LEVEL Confidential
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand

Takohanga Tuhinga o mua - Key accountabilities and deliverables

Responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Ministry responds to changing needs. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.

Delivery of quality solutions that contribute to the goals of NZGP

• Strategic procurement advice and subject matter direction on complex procurement and commercial matters is provided
• A holistic and informed approach is taken to strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and procurement capability development which achieves the best possible procurement and commercial outcomes for government while enhancing the implementation of procurement functional leadership
• Demonstrated examples of influencing the earlier planning of procurement initiatives, agency significant business cases and syndicated opportunities
• Demonstrated expert knowledge and business acumen in all components of the procurement lifecycle - strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and building procurement capability
• Exceptional, expert, considered, pragmatic advice is provided on approach to market options based on in-depth analysis and experience
• Able to ‘test the thinking’ of suggested procurement or commercial approaches and to add value by applying a commercial lens and offering alternative solutions
• Holistic strategic category reviews are undertaken which consider both current and future market direction
• NZGP is provided with insights about market trends which ensures a future focused, comprehensive, consolidated approach to supplier relationship management
• Examples are available of continuous improvement and the promotion of effective integration, planning and co-ordination of procurement activity across the Branch

Share extensive commercial and procurement expertise with internal and external stakeholders

• Stakeholders proactively engage with the role holder who is respected and acknowledged for the expert advice, direction and support they provide. The role holder is viewed as a senior trusted advisor
• Active steps are taken to support the development and enhancement of commercial acumen and procurement capability across government including building the skills of the (Senior) Procurement Specialists within NZGP through coaching, shadowing and mentoring
• Complex and challenging commercial or procurement situations are interpreted, solutions identified and appropriate actions implemented
• Actively engages across NZGP and MBIE building and maintaining effective working relationships in order to transfer knowledge and learning to the wider organisation
• A demonstrated commitment to building capability within the procurement profession

Effective stakeholder & relationship management

• Cooperative, partnering relationships with NZGP’s key stakeholders are developed and maintained using highly developed influencing, negotiation and collaboration skills and experience
• Conflicts are effectively managed by focussing on meeting customers’ needs and identifying opportunities for resolution
• Expert advice and guidance is provided to enable the resolution of complex procurement and commercial matters
• Stakeholders including Ministers and senior managers in government agencies are engaged in a pragmatic and professional manner that provides a strong level of confidence in both the role holder and NZGP
• NZGP and whole-of-Ministry views are represented and the Branch and the Ministry’s reputation is protected in all external interactions.

Wellbeing, Health & Safety

• Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives
• Ensures own and others safety at all times
• Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting
• Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion
• Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū - Your place in the Ministry

The Ministry comprises around 4,300 staff operating in New Zealand with a further 500 staff in overseas locations. 

The Ministry has eight business groups: Building, Resources and Markets; Corporate, Governance and Information; Finance and Performance; Immigration New Zealand; Labour, Science and Enterprise; Market Services; the Provincial Development Unit (PDU) and Strategic Policy and Programmes.

The Senior Procurement Specialist reports to the Manager Commercial Strategy & Sourcing in the New Zealand Government Procurement the Building, Resources and Markets group.

More information about MBIE’s structure(external link)

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Ngā matatau – Our competencies

Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.

Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.

Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.

Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.

Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.

Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission