Procurement Officer

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)