Karen Kemp has over 26 years of experience as a commercial professional in the public sector, specializing in procurement. She has a proven track record of delivering complex, high-value procurements up to £5 billion on time and on budget. Her areas of expertise include public sector procurements, stakeholder management, and supplier relationship management. She is skilled in communication, judgment, attention to detail, and coaching others. Currently she works as a Commercial Performance Manager for the Department of Work and Pensions, providing oversight of £3 billion in third-party expenditures.

1. Karen Kemp MCIPs Commercial Professional
26 Thirstin Road, Honley, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 6JG
Tel: 07713182203
eMail: kemp376@btinternet.com
 Areas of Expertise
 Public Sector Procurements
 Stakeholder Management
 Customer Relationship
Management
 Supplier Relationship
Management
 Understanding and use of
Bravo/Award eProcurement
solutions
 Key Skills and
Competencies
 Strong oral and written
communication skills
 Excellent judgement and
decision making
 Attention to detail
 Coaching
 Personal Summary
 A hardworking, experienced commercial professional with a
record of delivering complex, high profile, high value (up to
C£5billion) procurements over an 18 year period
 Possessing extensive procurement knowledge and
experience, consistently operating at higher grade, acting as a
role model and go to person
 Possessing a track record of achievements across categories
such as employment, print and logistics
 A proven track record of effectively managing and leading
other procurement specialists in order to meet tight deadlines
on complex and challenging procurement exercises
 Vast experience of successfully dealing with submissions and
briefings for Ministers, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and
Finance Director General (FDG)
 Consistently used experience, knowledge and lessons
learned to develop, test and implement new approaches and
leaner processes
 Over 26 years’ experience as an established Civil Servant.
Experience includes staff management, benefit administration
as well as project and commercial work
 Work Experience – Department for Work and Pensions
Performance Management and Director’s Office – 19 May 2014-31 May 2016
Role – Commercial Performance Manager. Analysis of commercial performance. Maintaining
accountability for substantial multi £million procurement projects.
Key Achievements include providing assurance to CCO regarding the propriety and value for money of
over £3billion 3rd
Party expenditure. Advice and guidance to frontline Category Management Teams on a
range of commercial topics, e.g. Procurement Policy and Bravo eProcurement platform. Providing clear
concise briefings on commercial issues to CCO, FDG and Ministers.
Performance and Improvement Team – March 2012-16 May 2014
Role – Commercial Solutions Manager. Providing support to the Purchase to Pay commissioning
function, on behalf of CCO so that payment procedures are optimised.

2. Key Achievements include championing the adoption of Bravo eProcurement platform. Working with
Category Management Teams providing subject matter expertise to enable them to analyse and optimise
payment routes. Ensuring that all DWP 3rd
Party expenditure has been enacted via compliant channels.
Employment Category Team– March 2007- February 2012
Role – Sourcing Manager. Purchasing provision to enable the Department to achieve core business
objective of getting unemployed customers in to work.
Key Achievements include delivering high profile procurement exercises including Flexible New Deal,
Employment Related Frameworks and the Work Programme to aggressive deadlines against a sensitive
and complex policy agenda. Leading teams of procurement professionals ensuring that their work was
delivered according to Projects timetable and quality procurement standards.
End to End CategoryManagement – October 2005 – March 2007
Role – End to End CategoryManager Document Handling. Full End to End Category Management of
critical Postal, Courier and Franking Machine Contracts for the Department.
Key Achievements include market risk assurance of emerging new entrants and their opportunities/risks for
the Departments operations. Letting first DWP Down Stream Access contract saving approx. costs of £ on
2nd
Class Mail. Supply Chain management and analysis to deliver ongoing savings through out the life of
the Contract. Analysis and challenge of rogue spend in order to ensure compliance and deliver savings.
Jobcentre Procurement and Contract Management – November 1997 – October 2005
Role – Contracting Officer. Purchasing provision to enable the Department to achieve core business
objective of getting unemployed customers back in to work.
Key Achievements include involvement in high value, commercially sensitive procurements, particularly the
first round of New Deal, with the emphasis on market engagement and market creation. Handling sensitive
issues, e.g. TUPE.
 Professional
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply – MCIPS by the exam route qualified 2006
 Education
Sociology A Level 1997
9 O Levels 1978
 Interests and Hobbies
I enjoy cinema, theatre and live music. I’m a keen knitter/crocheter. I enjoy pottering about in the garden
and love making gluten free cakes and puddings.