Procurement Manager

UK Research and Innovation 

Salary: £43,116 to £47,076 per annum (dependent on skills and experience) + Specialist Allowance £2,500 per annum for full member of CIPS. 
Hours: Full time 
Contract Type: Open Ended. 
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire. (Hybrid working available - minimum 2 days a week in the office.)

Closing Date: Sunday 5th January 2025

Interviews:  Week Commencing 21st January 2025

Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape cutting edge scientific research that can make a difference to all our lives? UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) has multiple interesting opportunities for procurement professionals to join our Commercial team in delivering first class procurement services to the organisation!

UKRI Commercial is looking to build upon the past few years of growth and success and looks to develop further to ensure we continue to provide excellent commercial support to the organisation and support its continuous ambitious objectives. This is also at the time when the Procurement Act is bringing significant changes to the regulations that govern UK procurement, so it is an exciting time for UKRI Commercial! It also means that we are looking for people who may not necessarily have the level of public procurement experience we would usually look for, as we will all be learning the new Regulations together! 

As a Procurement Manager, you will be joining an established, supportive team and will be involved in a wide variety of projects ranging from Research & Development, Professional Services, and Data and Technology. You will have the opportunity to shape commercial strategy, develop your own skills & experience, and contribute to projects that may have wide-ranging positive impacts for all. 

UKRI buys a wide variety of complex and sometimes unique products and services including equipment, professional services and infrastructure to support a range of end-users. The UKRI Commercial Function provides a range of commercial support to the whole organisation. The majority of its effort is focussed on the management of the whole procurement cycle including planning, sourcing and contract management in a compliant manner while providing value for money.

The Procurement Manager roles support several different Research Councils sitting within UKRI at various sites. The currently available roles all sit within the Corporate Team in Swindon.

Purpose of the role

• To provide expertise and  ability  to undertake a range of medium value complex procurements including sourcing and contracting
• Support end users with, and during, their procurement requirements
• Provision of expert advice on all aspects of regulations and controls and representing UKRI’s risk appetite in procurement decisions
• To keep local end users up-to-date with best practice in procurement
• Act as initial contact and escalation route to the Commercial Business Partner
• Support the development of local procurement and contract management skill.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Undertake multiple procurement sourcing/contracting actions as required using the most appropriate route to market to deliver best value and compliance
• Provide expert procurement advice to local end-users including when procurement should be directed to the shared service centre
• Provide direction on local procurement issues as they arise, making decisions that will lead to added value for UKRI
• Involvement in local commercial assurance, planning and in-house Contract Management
• Confidently use relevant procurement systems to enable effective sourcing and contract management to deliver value for UKRI. Build collaborative relationships with local stakeholders, acting as initial escalation point for key decision making and medium value contract sign-off
• Use tools/techniques to assess relevant supply market, risks, level of competition, trends and new opportunities to inform market understanding
• Use MI and datasets to facilitate local commercial decision making and planning
• Maintain up to date project case folders for performance management and audit purposes
• Act as a role model of commercial professionalism within area of responsibility

Who are we looking for?

The UKRI Commercial Function provides a range of commercial support to the whole organisation. The majority of its effort is focussed on the management of the whole procurement cycle including planning, sourcing and contract management in a compliant manner while providing value for money.

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic individual who enjoys bringing their skills and experience to all procurement projects they undertake. This role will manage a highly varied mix of stakeholders, and confidence & professional credibility are vital to ensure your presence and involvement is positively felt throughout the procurement lifecycle.   

Essential Criteria:

• Customer focused – committed to an ethos of an accountable, cost effective, high quality, service delivery (S)
• Experience of procuring goods or services in a regulated environment (S & I)
• Demonstrable experience of managing your own procurement projects from market engagement through to contract award (S & I)
• Experience of contract management (S & I)
• Ability to review and recommend the most appropriate procurement strategy and to provide leadership on the creation of clear and relevant tender evaluation models, alongside ability to produce high quality procurement/tender documentation (S & I)
• Good commercial awareness (S & I)
• Experience of using e-sourcing applications (S & I)
• Ability to interpret and review procurement terms and conditions and provide expert advice on implications of non-standard terms (S & I)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels (I)

Desirable Criteria

• Experience and knowledge of public procurement including PCR regulations and related processes
• MCIPs qualified or willing to work  towards
• Ability to explain technical procurement procedures and provide training and advice to a wide audience
• Higher Education Level qualifications or equivalent suitable experience
•  Experience in a procurement role in a technical organisation
• Supervisory or line management experience

          (S) – Assessed at shortlisting, (I) – Assessed at interview, (S&I) – Assessed at both shortlisting and interview