POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position details

Position Title Senior Procurement Specialist

Team/Branch/Group New Zealand Government Procurement & Property/ Building, Resources

and Markets

Location Wellington

Date December 2018

Our purpose

Our purpose is to grow the New Zealand economy to provide a better standard of living for all New Zealanders. To
achieve this, we need a strong, high performing economy, where for example, people (workers, consumers and
investors) are protected and aware of their rights and obligations; and the integrity of the environment is
maintained.

As one of New Zealand’s largest government agencies, the work we do impacts the lives of all New Zealanders. We
work to increase household incomes by helping businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive,
increasing opportunities for all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities,
and by ensuring quality housing is more affordable.

This is all echoed in our Māori identity – Hikina Whakatutuki – which broadly means “lifting to make successful”.

How we work

Our aspiration is that MBIE is a great place to work where great work gets done.

We believe in harnessing the potential of our people and the diverse skills and life experiences they bring to MBIE.

Our targets are challenging and require us to work with others, and across the Ministry (making the most of our
size and scope).

Our people will need to adopt a generous disposition and actively seek out opportunities to be purposely
collaborative across MBIE. This means asking ‘why not?’ instead of ‘why?’, and leveraging off the collective that is
MBIE in the pursuit of goals that stretch right across teams, branches and groups.

We work across government, and New Zealand, in a way that enables us to expand and deepen our understanding
of businesses and markets. We use our extensive presence across New Zealand and around the world to make
and leverage domestic and global connections.

With our Crown entity partners we work collaboratively with other government agencies; local government;
businesses; industry, sector, union and employer groups; consumer groups; Māori leaders; and scientists to
develop and deliver fit-for-purpose policy, services, advice and regulation that support people, businesses,
communities and regions to be successful.

As the lead agency for providing government services for business, we are focussed on making it easier for
business to interact with government.

Our character

Shape We shape the agenda by challenging the status quo, and by generating and adopting new

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 ideas, to bring those ideas to life.

Collaborate We support each other, engage early and proactively partner in pursuit of shared goals.

Deliver We have a can do attitude, take ownership, act with purpose, urgency and discipline, take
calculated risks, celebrate success and learn as we go.

Our structure

The Ministry comprises around 3,200 staff operating in New Zealand with a further 400 staff in overseas locations.
The Ministry has seven business groups: Building, Resources and Markets; Corporate, Governance and
Information; Finance and Performance; Immigration New Zealand; Labour, Science and Enterprise; Market
Services; and the Office of the Chief Executive.
The Senior Procurement Specialist reports to the Manager Commercial Strategy & Sourcing, the Manager Supplier
Relationship Management or the Manager Advisory Services in the New Zealand Government Procurement and
Property Branch within the Building, Resources and Markets group.
The functions in this group are:
 Commerce, Consumers and Communications
 Energy and Resource Markets
 Building System Performance
 NZ Government Procurement & Property

 Business Management

Position purpose

The Senior Procurement Specialist actively and regularly engages with agencies, suppliers and government centres
of expertise to achieve the best possible procurement outcome for government, while understanding the impact
an All of Government (AoG) approach can have on market dynamics. The Senior Procurement Specialist provides
coaching and mentoring to the Procurement Specialists.

The Senior Procurement Specialist may specialise in a component of the procurement lifecycle - strategic sourcing,
supplier relationship management or building procurement capability and often has an in-depth knowledge and
experience in one discipline with a strong knowledge and understanding of the other disciplines. The role holder
may move through the procurement lifecycle components to enhance their speciality knowledge.

Where the speciality is strategic sourcing, the Senior Procurement Specialist leads AoG approaches to market
based on considered and documented procurement strategies. The role holder provides expert advice, support,
and direction on approach to market options based on in-depth analysis, market knowledge, experience and a
strategic perspective on AoG procurement matters. The Senior Procurement Specialist is responsible for
undertaking strategic category reviews and for developing strategies to minimise and manage supply market risk
and meet agency needs.

The Senior Procurement Specialist specialising in supplier relationship management drives innovation and added
value from suppliers by taking a long term view of supplier relationships, market engagement, tapping into
supplier’s expertise and capability to improve quality, exchange insights about market trends and ensure a future
focused, comprehensive, consolidated approach to supplier relationship management.

Taking personal accountability to ensure that the contractual obligations of specific contracts are delivered, the
role holder has a broad view of suppliers as partners who help NZGPP drive competitive advantages for agencies,
suppliers and government.

The Senior Procurement Specialist specialising in procurement capability development provides specialist
procurement support to New Zealand’s Public Sector by supporting and building agency procurement capability.
Influencing the earlier planning of procurement initiatives, the role holder reviews agency significant business
cases and syndicated opportunities providing constructive advice in writing and in person. The role holder
provides advisory services received from a variety of communication channels covering areas such as the

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government rules of sourcing, social procurement and syndicated procurement while identifying collaborative
procurement opportunities using information derived from the enquiries received and Annual Procurement Plans.

Working in collaboration with the Account Managers, the Team Leader Contract Administration, the Commercial
Strategy and Sourcing Manager, the Manager/s Supplier Relationship Management and the Manager Advisory
Services, the Senior Procurement Specialist works to ensure that NZGPP takes a holistic and informed approach to
strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and procurement capability development and achieves the
best possible procurement and commercial outcomes for government.

Key relationships

Internal
 Members of the NZGPP Management Team
 MBIE staff / managers within the Market Services group
 Team members of NZGPP
 Internal clients within MBIE

External
 Senior leaders in government agencies
 Government agency procurement / property teams
 Suppliers
 Industry Advisory Groups

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.

Key accountability or
Indicators of success
deliverable

Leading procurement  The direction set and implemented by the Senior Procurement Specialist
approaches to market for an approach to market is based on considered and documented
procurement strategies and robust category reviews and delivers the
desired / anticipated benefits and outcomes

 Robust, targeted, support, review and feedback is provided on the

development of possible tender processes, evaluation methodologies,
market approaches, planning and award of procurement opportunities

 Expert advice, support, and direction on approach to market options is

provided that is based on in-depth analysis, market knowledge, experience
and a strategic perspective of AoG procurement matters

 A robust, in-depth understanding of the supplier market is demonstrated in

various categories and associated industries

 Market approaches and strategies are developed in conjunction with input

from suppliers and stakeholders

 Strategic category / procurement reviews are undertaken and strategies

developed that minimise and manage supply market risk and meet agency
needs

Drives innovation and added  The Senior Procurement Specialist takes the lead and ensures active and
value with a focus on regular engagement occurs with agencies and suppliers that achieves the
excellence in delivery best possible commercial outcome for government and suppliers

 Supplier relationships and contracts are well managed and drive

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Key accountability or
deliverable
Enhancing procurement
capability across government
Share extensive commercial
and procurement expertise
with internal and external
stakeholders
Effective stakeholder &
relationship management
Indicators of success
innovation, added value and benefit realisation for government
 The contractual obligations of the New Zealand Government Procurement
& Property Branch (NZGPP), government agencies, and suppliers are
delivered
 The uplift and usage of All of Government contracts and collaborative
procurement approaches is maximised by eligible government agencies
 A strategic, holistic and informed approach is taken to Supplier
Relationship Management in collaboration with other teams in NZGPP
 In-depth insight is provided to the Commercial Strategy and Sourcing team
to inform category reviews
 Structured, considered procurement advice is provided on significant
business cases, syndicated initiatives and other requests for procurement
advice either in person or in writing
 Mentoring and coaching is provided to procurement specialists
 Advisory requests are handled in a timely and professional manner with
ownership accepted to see the advisory matter through to conclusion
 Opportunities are identified to influence earlier planning of procurement
initiatives and collaborative procurement approaches
 Significant Service Contracts, Procurement Capability Indexes and Annual
Procurement Plans are reviewed and the information used to encourage
strategic procurement within agencies and across the wider government
sector
 Briefings and presentations to public sector agencies are performed to a
high standard that represents NZGPP views and protects its reputation in
any external interactions
 Complex and challenging commercial or procurement situations are
interpreted, solutions identified and appropriate actions implemented
 Stakeholders proactively engage with the role holder for advice and
support, demonstrating the role holder as a trusted and respected 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 Procurement Specialists within NZGPP
through coaching, shadowing and mentoring
 Seeks out opportunities to build and maintain effective working
relationships with other MBIE managers and staff in order to transfer
knowledge and learning to the wider organisation
 Cooperative, partnering relationships with NZGPP’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
 Stakeholders including senior managers in government agencies are
engaged in a professional manner that provides a strong level of confidence
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Key accountability or
Indicators of success
deliverable

 NZGPP’s views are represented and its reputation protected in any external
interactions

Delivery of quality outcomes  Procurement activity aligns with the Government Rules of Sourcing,
procurement principles and frameworks

 Regular and appropriate engagement occurs with the market, agencies and
suppliers and the best possible commercial outcomes for government
agencies are achieved

 Expert, robust guidance is provided to government agencies that is

considered, pragmatic, innovative and consistent and which meets or
exceeds agency requirements

 Government agencies are assisted with their sourcing and procurement

requirements and the New Zealand Government Procurement and
Property Branch is viewed by government agencies as consistent and
adding value to their business

Safety and wellbeing
Manages own personal health
and safety, and takes
appropriate action to deal
with workplace hazards,
accidents and incidents
 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

Competencies
Cultivates Shape the agenda, creating new and better ways for the organisation to be successful, by
Innovation  Coming up with useful ideas that are new, better or unique
 Challenging the status quo
 Introducing new ways of looking at problems
 Generating and adopting new and creative ideas, and putting them into
practice
 Encouraging diverse thinking to promote and nurture innovation
Collaborates Support others, building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet
shared objectives, by
 Working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external
stakeholder groups to achieve shared objectives
 Balancing competing interests and priorities appropriately and in line with
MBIE’s priorities
 Identifying, engaging early and partnering with relevant stakeholders to get
work done
 Crediting others for their contributions and accomplishments
 Gaining trust and support of others.
 Addressing behaviours that do not align with our culture
 Seeking and respecting the views and opinions of others
 Providing timely and helpful information to others across the organisation
Customer Focus Build strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions, by
 Gaining insights into customer needs
 Delivering quality, accurate, timely service and customer focussed solutions
 Identifying opportunities that benefit the customer and will improve service
delivery

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  Building and delivering solutions that meet customer expectations
 Establishing and maintaining effective customer relationships
 Pro-actively partnering in pursuit of shared goals.
 Actively seeking and responding to customer feedback
Action Oriented Take on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline, by
 Readily taking ownership and action on challenges, without unnecessary
planning, and being accountable for the results
 Identifying and seizing new opportunities
 Displaying a can-do attitude in good and bad times, and celebrating success
 Stepping up to manage tough situations and encouraging my colleagues to do
the same
Decision Quality Make good and timely decisions that keep the organisation moving forward, by
 Making sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information
 Relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgement
to make valid and reliable decisions
 Considering all relevant factors and using appropriate decision-making criteria
and principles, taking calculated risks where required
 Recognising when a quick 80% solution will suffice, and when it will not
 Analysing information to make effective decisions in order to improve
performance
Organisational Role models the standards of Integrity and Conduct for the State Services Contributes to
commitment and the development of, and helps promote and builds commitment to MBIE’s vision, mission,
public service values and services, by
 Willingly undertaking any duty required within the context of the position
 Managing own personal health and safety, and takes appropriate action to deal
with workplace hazards, accidents and incidents
 Understanding Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) principles and the
application of these to MBIE
 Complying with all legislative requirements and good employer obligations

Personal specifications

Skills/Experience

 Considerable procurement / commercial experience within government, a regulatory environment or the

private sector
 Demonstrated ability to critically analyse complex commercial and procurement situations and to
recommend and design robust strategies and solutions
 Experience in delivering major/significant procurement projects to scope, time and budget and achieving
successful procurement outcomes.
 Experienced in managing contractual processes - evidenced by robust contract documentation and sound
understanding of contract law
 Experience in developing category strategies, implementing and managing approaches to market
 Considerable experience in cooperative, partnering relationships with key stakeholders or suppliers
driving innovation, added value and benefit realisation
 Significant experience in influencing and negotiating with stakeholders, suppliers, and senior managers
 Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated by credibility, personal or collaborative influence, managing
expectations and targeted persuasion
 Demonstrated ability to lead the development and implementation of strategy plans, stakeholder
engagement plans, approaches to market and procurement plans
 High degree of political nous and a working knowledge of the machinery of government
 Considerable experience in dealing with change in a complex and dynamic environment

Qualifications

MCIPS, tertiary qualification, (Business, Law, Accounting, Commerce) or commensurate experience in

procurement and/or the commercial sector

Requirements

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 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

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