Commercial Procurement Manager

UK Atomic Energy Authority Group; Culham; Remote; GBP 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary up to £56,317

MCIPS development support

7% corporate performance bonus

Final salary pension scheme with 21.5%

25 days annual leave + 2.5 days

Site facilities: gym, restaurants, etc

Flexible working options

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority is seeking a commercial professional to lead IT procurements within its Commercial team. You will deliver end-to-end commercial support for major projects, ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and value for money.

You will advise senior stakeholders, manage tender processes, and mentor team members while championing effective supplier relationships and governance across the organisation.

Qualifications

• MCIPS qualification or actively studying towards it.
• Significant experience in public sector procurement and UK frameworks.
• Experience leading complex, high-value procurements from strategy to award.
• Strong commercial and procurement strategy knowledge across categories.
• Experience negotiating complex contracts; NEC knowledge desirable.
• Ability to advise senior stakeholders and manage multiple activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex procurement activities, with a focus on IT.
• Deliver end-to-end commercial support for major projects aligned to milestones.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies delivering value for money.
• Manage tendering activities: pre-qualification, evaluation, negotiation and award.
• Monitor supplier performance against cost, quality and timescales.
• Provide commercial guidance to managers and senior stakeholders.
• Identify process improvements and practical commercial solutions.
• Mentor junior Commercial team members and support development.
• Build relationships with internal customers and external suppliers.
• Ensure compliance with public sector legislation and governance.

Skills

MCIPS qualification

Public sector procurement

Stakeholder management

Procurement strategy

Contract negotiation

IT procurement

NEC contracts

Job description

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our worldbadly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industryand research organisations to achieveground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the gridby developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the job

Join UKAEA’s Commercial team and play a key role in delivering major procurement activity that supports the UK’s fusion energy programme. Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will lead complex IT procurements, provide commercial expertise across the organisation, and help ensure projects are delivered compliantly and efficiently. This is an excellent opportunity to apply your public sector procurement expertise while contributing to one of the UK’s most ambitious scientific programmes.

What You’ll be Doing

• Lead and manage complex procurement activities, with a particular focus on IT
• Deliver end-to-end commercial support for major projects, ensuring procurement activity aligns with project milestones and the Procurement Act 2023.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies that deliver value for money and support organisational objectives.
• Manage tendering activities, including supplier pre-qualification, tender evaluation, contract negotiation and award.
• Monitor supplier and contract performance, ensuring delivery against agreed cost, quality and timescale objectives.
• Provide commercial advice and guidance to managers and senior stakeholders across UKAEA.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes and recommend practical solutions to enhance commercial performance.
• Mentor and support members of the Commercial team, contributing to their development and the delivery of a high-quality procurement service.
• Build effective relationships with internal customers and external suppliers to achieve successful commercial outcomes.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with relevant public sector legislation and governance requirements.

What You’ll Bring

• MCIPS qualification or actively studying towards it.
• Significant experience in public sector procurement, including knowledge of UK public procurement legislation and frameworks.
• Experience leading complex, high-value procurement exercises from strategy through to contract award and management.
• Strong commercial and procurement strategy knowledge across a range of procurement categories.
• Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements, with knowledge of NEC contracts desirable.
• Ability to provide expert commercial advice to senior stakeholders and manage multiple procurement activities simultaneously.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually 3 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here ) and highlights include:

• A salary of up to £56,317 subject to MCIPS qualification
• Funding available to support your CIPS development journey
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave, 2.5 privilege days and 8 Bank Holidays
• 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Onsite facilities includinggym, restaurants, coffee shops and sports facilities
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity,inclusionand accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.

Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help youparticipatefairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates.

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made onmeritand further information can be found here .

£56,317 (inclusive of £5,000 if MCIPS qualified) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme,details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporatebonus schemeup to7%and aRelocationallowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working optionsincluding family friendly policies.
• Employee Assistance Programmeand trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• A vibrantculturecommitted to equality and being fullyinclusive

Browse some of our current job vacancies below.

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs.

UKAEA leads the way in realising fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for groundbreaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovation, Commitment, Trust, and Collaboration.