Marks Consulting Partners are currently looking for a Procurement Officer to work with one of our Local Authority clients in Essex.

What the Job Will Be Doing

• Procuring suitable temporary accommodation and private rented sector (PRS) properties to meet housing demand
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with landlords, letting agents and accommodation providers
• Negotiating rental terms and securing cost-effective accommodation for households in housing need
• Carrying out property inspections to ensure accommodation meets statutory, health and safety, and quality standards
• Managing landlord relationships and ensuring service level agreements are maintained
• Supporting homelessness prevention by increasing the supply of suitable accommodation
• Working closely with Housing Options, Temporary Accommodation and Allocations teams to source appropriate properties
• Monitoring property availability, market trends and procurement performance to maximise housing supply
• Resolving issues relating to property standards, tenancy start dates and accommodation suitability
• Maintaining accurate records, contracts and procurement activity on housing management systems
• Ensuring all procurement activity complies with housing legislation, procurement procedures and organisational policies

What You Will Need

• Experience working as a Procurement Officer, Property Procurement Officer or PRS Procurement Officer within a Local Authority or Housing Association
• Experience sourcing temporary accommodation or private rented sector properties
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills with landlords and letting agents
• Good knowledge of homelessness legislation and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• Understanding of property standards, compliance and housing health and safety requirements
• Experience carrying out property inspections and suitability assessments
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work to challenging targets
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (desirable)