My name is Victoria and I have been at Essex County Council for just under a year. I previously worked for 10 years as a buyer within the automotive industry. Whilst I loved the job, I felt it was the right time in my career, and my personal life, to move on and find a role that would enable me to grow and develop.
When I heard about the opportunity for the position of Procurement Officer I was really excited to apply as I had heard that the Council was a great place to work and I felt that its values aligned with my own. I am passionate about sustainability and social value and I feel motivated knowing that the work I do helps the residents of Essex.
In my first role as a Procurement Officer I assisted with various sourcing projects across different departments, ranging from Customer Services (Library and Coroners) to non-core indirect (sourcing goods and services for internal departments).
During my time at ECC I have started my Level 4 qualification of CIPs and have completed an Achilles Public Procurement Course. This course was extremely interesting and useful as it provided comprehensive training on public procurement legislation. The Council really encourages personal development and supports its staff to be the best they can be.
After 9 months as a Procurement Officer I applied for the role of Assistant Manager within my team. I am now managing several multi-million pound contracts as well as tendering new contracts to ensure not only continuity of service but also to achieve value for money and making sure suppliers and contracts are delivering on the Council’s key commitments. The range of work is extremely varied and no contract or sourcing project is ever the same which is not only exciting but allows me to grow and learn every day.
As well as these significant developments in my career, in the short period I have been at the council I am moreover delighted by the supported team culture, collaboration and opportunity to work with peers across different functions.
If you are interested in a career in procurement, then please find out current vacancies here.
If you have any question about opportunities at Essex County Council, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
