Category Manager, ICT Procurement

FCDO Services; Hanslope; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site gym

On-site nursery

Cafeteria and restaurant

Interest-free season ticket loan

Bike loan

Job summary

FCDO Services is seeking an ICT Category Manager based at Hanslope Park with hybrid working (60% on site). The role focuses on ICT hardware/software procurement, tendering, and contract governance to deliver value for UK government projects.

You’ll translate technical requirements into clear procurement strategies, evaluate suppliers, and lead a small team. Strong communication and governance experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the Procurement Act, corporate governance and associated legislation.
• Proven experience of tendering of supplies and services.
• Practical knowledge of procurement policies, standards, processes and practices.
• Good commercial awareness and interest in technology and ICT developments.
• Decisive decision maker and problem solver.
• Comfortable working within governance requirements of a secure public sector organisation.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing plans and evaluate potential suppliers.
• Lead on lower risk, lower value or less complex tenders.
• Analyse data across goods and services to identify issues or risks and address them.
• Provide supplier relationship and service review activities.
• Collaborate with other areas of the organisation and stakeholders.
• Manage one direct report.
• Oversee the tender process from specification to evaluation and award.
• Defend the UK's security interests through procurement practices.

Skills

Procurement

Tendering

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Governance

Education

CIPS qualification

Job description

Salary: £39,865 plus a location allowance of £1,750 and excellent benefits including a Civil Service pension and generous holiday entitlement

Location: Based in Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes, with the flexibility of hybrid working (60% on site attendance) depending on business need

Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

At FCDO Services, we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Behind every modern embassy or overseas project we support, there’s a dedicated Procurement team here in the UK making it all happen. They strive to provide value for money supply chains in a compliant manner to support the organisation, FCDO and our wider market customers, shaping strategies for sustainable and ethical sourcing. And now, you've got the opportunity to join them.

Sourcing for global projects.

Balancing cost with quality.

Having everything you need to grow.

It all matters.

Develop your procurement skills when you join us on our global mission

When you join our small, close-knit and collaborative Procurement team as an ICT Category Manager, you’ll focus on our Information and Communications Technology needs and requirements – these could include hardware and software, professional services, contract renewals, new and emerging markets. You will also confidently look after all aspects of the tender process from specification to evaluation and award. You will have a knack of translating technical information which is jargon free and easy to understand.

We support a number of important government and security-based customers, so your work will be both unusual and interesting, and offer you the opportunity to develop your expertise with different procurement activities, technologies, suppliers and stakeholders. You’ll also have the chance to interact closely with other areas of our organisation, work that will help you understand our future requirements and strengthen your relationships with colleagues in other teams and functions.

Your day-to-day tasks will be extremely varied and include the development of sourcing plans, the evaluation of potential suppliers, and leading on lower risk, lower value or less complex tenders. We’ll also expect you to analyse data across a range of goods and services, identify current or potential issues or risks, and address these through personal intervention.

Making an important contribution to the effective delivery of category strategies, and providing specialist procurement advice that helps to ensure compliance with EU and UK regulations, you’ll be involved in supplier relationship and service review activities. This will include working on emerging technologies, procurement pipelines and organisational spend.

You will also be responsible for one direct report.

Use all your expertise as you help defend the UK’s security interests

To be a success in this important role you should have a strong understanding of the Procurement Act, corporate governance and associated legislation, proven experience of the tendering of supplies and services, and practical knowledge of procurement policies, standards, processes and practices.

With good commercial awareness and a strong interest in technology and developments within the Information and Communications Technology marketplace, we’ll also expect you to be a decisive decision maker and problem solver, and be comfortable working within the governance requirements of a secure public sector organisation.

Your confident communication and influencing skills will allow you to work constructively with your colleagues, senior leaders and stakeholders, and you’ll be ready to respond positively when priorities change. With excellent commercial awareness and capable of managing competing priorities while thinking on your feet and working at pace, you’ll also be an adaptable, responsive and collaborative team player. In addition, we’d prefer you to hold – or be working towards – a qualification with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.

Discover the support you need to grow your career

Working with us, you’ll help keep people, information and assets safe around the world. Its a role you can feel proud of, and we aim to make every part of your career just as rewarding. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do and all you need.

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. Its what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.