Partnerships Specialist

Join our team

• Are you able to build effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders to ensure organisational objectives are achieved?
• Do you thrive on using your people-skills to create the best outcomes?
• Can you harness spend data, MI, market knowledge and other intelligence to ensure that NEPO meets the needs of its stakeholders? 
• Are you able to understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to deliver commercial success?

Come and join NEPO as a Partnership Specialist!

What you will be doing

This role is central to delivering NEPO’s commercial ambitions, managing partnership working across NEPO’s Collaborative Procurement Work Programme. Taking ownership of the outward-facing aspects of delivery, you will leverage your people skills to develop relationships with Contracting Authorities and suppliers, ensuring delivery, satisfaction, and uptake across NEPO’s work programme.

Working on a hybrid basis from NEPO’s HQ at the Northern Design Centre in Gateshead, your role will entail:

• Developing expertise in markets relevant to NEPO and building relationships with key buyers and suppliers, as well as seeking new opportunities. 
• Actively seeking out and engaging with new contacts and opportunities.
• Ability to analyse data and market conditions to inform decisions and strategies.
• Managing contracts to ensure NEPO’s procurement solutions meet end-user requirements, provide value for money, and remain flexible for future public sector needs.
• Reviewing and developing user collateral and materials with in-house and external marketing teams to maximise campaign impact.
• Developing sector-specific target and action plans for both new business and ongoing support across the breadth of the public sector (for example local authorities, housing associations, NHS, blue light).
• Conduct market research to identify new business opportunities and potential partnerships.
• Working in line with NEPO governance requirements, utilising standardised templates, and agreed processes to produce high quality output.
• Focusing and acting on commercial opportunities within NEPO’s work programme and relevant markets.
• Growing awareness and uptake of NEPO’s procurement solutions within the public sector, and supply market. 

Please refer to the Job Profile for a full description of the role.

Essential Key Skills & Qualifications

Qualifications

• Qualified to degree level, or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline in the public sector. 

Knowledge

• Knowledge of collaborative procurement/ commissioning.
• Knowledge of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of commercial benefits realisation.
• Knowledge of supplier development.
• Knowledge of contract management and supplier relationship development.
• Knowledge of stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of achieving best value without compromising service delivery or quality. 

Experience

• Experience of working in a collaborative environment.
• Experience of developing expertise within a category area to understand markets and seek new opportunities in the public or private sector.
• Experience of working in multi- functional cross-organisational teams.
• Experience of undertaking focused and accurate analysis of complex data for a variety of audiences
• Experience of working with minimum supervision and able to manage and tackle competing priorities whilst ensuring adherence to relevant processes and legislation.
• Experience of successful contract management and development of supplier relationships.
• Experience of working under pressure, organising and prioritising a complex and varied workload.
• Experience of using good communication skills, including presentation skills and report writing to deliver clear messages, build relationships with and influence / persuade stakeholders.
• Experience of maximising commercial opportunities and thinking of new ways of working. 

Take a look at the Job Profile on North East Jobs for a full description of the role. The Job Profile also outlines the skills, experience and qualities we are looking for.

About NEPO

NEPO undertakes high-value procurement in major strategic areas of spend in partnership with North East local authorities and a range of nationwide Associate Members.

We are focussed on delivering positive outcomes for our Member Authorities, regional supply base and over 900 Associate Members from the wider public sector. In addition to delivering a collaborative procurement work programme of £850M, NEPO is responsible for the Open e-procurement platform, and the NEPO Supplier Partnership Programme of support for suppliers.

We are a forward-thinking organisation that supports personal and professional development and provides a unique opportunity to work collaboratively across the North East public sector.

NEPO employees benefit from:

• Flexible working
• Access to technology that enables agile working
• Continuing professional development, including training opportunities
• Annual leave ranging from 28 to 32 days (depending on length of service), plus public holidays
• Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Hybrid working model with an HQ in Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter
• Salary sacrifice schemes including car and bike schemes 

Important dates

The deadline for applications is Monday 28 October 2024 at 23.00.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 21 November 2024.

Shortlisted candidates will also be asked to complete an online personality test prior to interview. Please ensure that you are available to complete the online test between Thursday 31 October and Wednesday 6 November.

How to apply

Applications will only be accepted via North East Jobs.

The application process will require you to upload a CV and cover letter. Please ensure that your cover letter demonstrates why you are suitable for the role, with clear reference to the criteria listed in the Job Profile.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Michael Murray via [email protected] or telephone 0754 322 1235.