UKRI Procurement Manager

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

UK Research and Innovation

Salary: £39,748 - £44,166 per annum (dependent on skills and experience), Specialist Allowance £2,500 per annum with CIPS Qualification.
Grade: UKRI E
Contract Type: Open Ended
Hours: Full Time
Based at: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire; Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire (Hybrid working arrangements available for all locations). Please state your desired location in your application.

Closing Date: 14th June 2023

UKRI Procurement Manager

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 exciting opportunities for procurement professionals to join our Commercial team in delivering first class procurement services to the organisation!

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, Scientific Facilities, Construction, and a variety of other Scientific Disciplines. 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 is a non-departmental public body, bringing together the functions of the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK, and Research England and seeks to maximise value from government's investment in research and innovation of over £6bn per annum.

The Procurement Manager roles support several different Research Councils sitting within UKRI at various sites.

The Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

The Science & Technology Facilities Council has a mission to deliver world-leading national and international research and innovation capabilities and, through those, discover the secrets of the universe. Major research and innovation campuses at Harwell, Daresbury and research facilities across the UK support fundamental research in Particle Physics, Technology, space science and many other areas.

The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), in Harwell Oxfordshire, pioneers work in areas including particle physics, scientific computing, laser development, space research, and technology which addresses some of the important challenges facing society.

STFC buys a wide variety of complex and sometimes unique products and services including equipment, technical services and infrastructure to support a range of end-users.

The Medical Research Council (MRC)

The Medical Research Council (MRC) has a mission to improve human health through world-class medical research, from fundamental science to early clinical trials and preventive medicine. This is an opportunity to work with some world class scientists and researchers delivering innovative projects at t he MRC Laboratory of Molecular Sciences (LMS), to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine, find better ways to treat and prevent disease and to advance the health of people worldwide .

Corporate Services (Multiple Councils)

Based in Swindon, the Corporate Services procurement team work with a diverse group of internal end users from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Innovate UK (IUK) and Research England (RE).

These Councils work on a huge variety of scientific programmes and projects, and as a result procurements can include Research & Development (R&D) and Consultancy & Professional Services in particular (C&PS), as well as many other products and services.

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
• Experience of procuring highly technical products and services in a complex organisation
• Experience and knowledge of public procurement including PCR regulations and related processes
• Experience of contract and supplier management
• Experience of procurement risk identification, management and mitigation
• Able to provide leadership on the creation of clear and relevant tender evaluation models
• Ability to explain technical procurement procedures and provide training and advice to a wide audience
• Good commercial awareness and a confident negotiator
• Skilled in the production of procurement documents
• Experience of using e-sourcing applications
• Ability to interpret procurement terms and conditions to ensure suitability
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels

Desirable Criteria

• MCIPs qualified or working towards
• Higher Education Level qualifications
• Substantial experience in a procurement role in a technical organisation
• Supervisory experience in a public sector environment
• Experience in Scientific related projects

The role

Purpose of the role

• To provide expertise and support to end-users to undertake a range of medium value complex procurement tasks including sourcing and contracting
• 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 public 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
• 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

What we can offer

UK Research and Innovation offers a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes:

• 30 days' annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days,
• flexible working hours
• exceptional defined benefit pension scheme
• Christmas shut down
• an RRA for MCIPS qualified staff
• access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

We currently operate a flexible hybrid working arrangement, allowing staff to work two days a week from home.

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ' How we support EDI in the workforce '.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.