Associate Governance and Assurance Lead

As an Associate Governance and Assurance Lead, you'll help embed a culture of strong governance and accountability by:

• Supporting the implementation and continuous improvement of procurement governance and assurance frameworks across Commercial and Procurement Services.
• Providing expert advice and guidance to procurement colleagues and budget holders on governance requirements, compliance and procurement best practice.
• Reviewing procurement business cases, reports and commercial documentation, identifying risks and preparing briefings for governance and decision-making forums.
• Managing the procurement assurance pipeline, coordinating governance activities and ensuring assurance processes are delivered efficiently.
• Supporting the identification, assessment and mitigation of procurement and commercial risks, ensuring appropriate escalation where required.
• Developing practical guidance, toolkits and resources that promote consistent application of governance and assurance standards.
• Leading and developing team members while driving continuous improvement through assurance findings and lessons learned.
  
  We're looking for someone with strong analytical skills, excellent judgement and a thorough understanding of procurement governance. You'll bring:
• Experience working within a procurement, commercial or governance environment, with a strong understanding of the end-to-end procurement lifecycle.
• Experience supporting governance, assurance, compliance or risk management activities within a regulated environment.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to review complex information, identify risks and provide clear, practical recommendations.
• Excellent written communication skills, producing high-quality reports, briefings and governance documentation.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, building trusted relationships and providing confident advice across the organisation.
• Experience interpreting procurement legislation, governance frameworks and organisational policies to support compliant decision-making.
• A commitment to continuous professional development, with a willingness to work towards a Level 5 CIPS Diploma if not already achieved.
  
  Are you an experienced procurement or governance professional with a passion for assurance, compliance and continuous improvement? Birmingham City Council is looking for an Associate Governance and Assurance Lead to join our newly established Commercial and Procurement Services.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in strengthening governance across one of the UK's largest local authority procurement functions. You'll help ensure procurement activity is compliant, transparent and aligned with legislation, supporting colleagues to manage risk effectively while delivering ethical, value-driven procurement that benefits Birmingham's residents., Working for Birmingham City Council is more than just a job; it's about making life better for the 1 million plus people who live and work in the city., The Council is a fantastic place to work. You will find an organisation that is both challenging and supportive; with a leadership impatiently adventurous in its pursuit of excellence. There is a clear vision which is ensuring that the Council is working for communities today and building for tomorrow, we focus our resources on five key priorities:
• A Prosperous Birmingham: through a focus on inclusive economic growth, tackling unemployment, attracting inward investment, and maximising the benefits of the Commonwealth Games.
• An Inclusive Birmingham: through a focus on tackling poverty and inequality, empowering citizens, promoting diversity and civic pride, and supporting and enabling all children and young people to thrive.
• A Safe Birmingham: through a focus on making the city safer, safeguarding vulnerable citizens, increasing affordable housing, and tackling homelessness.
• A Healthy Birmingham: through a focus on tackling health inequalities, encouraging physical activity and healthy living, supporting mental health, and improving outcomes for adults with disabilities and older people.
• A Green Birmingham: through a focus on street cleanliness, improving air quality, continuing the route to net zero, and becoming a city of nature.
We see the Council's role as providing strategic leadership - that's being able to visualise a new future for the city and equipping others to share our vision. We want to ensure the provision of services for all, so we can support those least able to support themselves by working with partners and putting citizens and neighbourhoods at the heart of our decision-making. We are always looking for people who put the customer at the centre of their approach, with a commitment to excellence to help us achieve our vision. We will support you to develop and thrive in your role, building a pathway for long-term success, with lots of development opportunities, such as apprenticeships.

At Birmingham City Council, you'll help build a modern governance and assurance function that underpins one of Europe's largest Commercial and Procurement Services. In return, we offer:
• The opportunity to influence procurement governance and assurance across a large, diverse and complex organisation.
• A collaborative and forward-thinking team committed to integrity, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to develop your expertise in procurement governance, risk management and commercial assurance.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities where service needs allow.
• A competitive Local Government Pension Scheme and generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to a wide range of employee wellbeing initiatives and staff benefits.
• A rewarding career where your expertise will strengthen governance, improve commercial decision-making and help deliver better outcomes for Birmingham's residents.
Please upload your up-to-date CV via the attachments part of your application, this is required for shortlisting. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV attached Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application., In return, we offer you excellent terms and conditions, generous annual leave, a great pension scheme, well-being support, annual travel passes and discounts at a number of city centre establishments.