Procurement Manager

UK Research and Innovation; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Research and Innovation is seeking a Procurement Manager to join their Commercial team. This role involves managing procurement projects across various scientific disciplines, ensuring compliance and value for money while contributing to significant research initiatives. The position offers a competitive salary, a supportive team environment, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

30 days' annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days

Flexible working hours

Exceptional defined benefit pension scheme

Access to childcare vouchers and employee discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in procuring goods or services in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing procurement projects.
• Ability to review and recommend procurement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple procurement sourcing actions to deliver best value.
• Provide expert procurement advice to local end-users.
• Support end users with procurement requirements.

Skills

Customer focused

Good commercial awareness

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Education

Higher Education Level qualifications or equivalent experience

Tools

e-sourcing applications

Job description

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UK Research and Innovation

UKRI Procurement Manager

Salary: £45,272 Specialist Allowance £2,500 per annum for full member of CIPS.

Grade: UKRI Band E

Contract Type: Open Ended

Hours: Full Time

Based at: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire.

Closing Date: 2nd June 2025

Interviews: W/c 16th June 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, Scientific Facilities, Construction, and a variety of other Scientific Disciplines - plus the common goods and services that all organisations require. 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 currently available roles all sit within the Science & Technology Facilities Council.

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. 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.

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 Skills/Qualifications/Experience

(S) - Assessed at shortlisting

(I) - Assessed at interview

(S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview

Essential Criteria:

• Customer focused - committed to an ethos of an accountable, cost effective, high quality, service delivery (S&I)
• 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. (I)
• Experience of contract management (S)
• 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)
• Experience of using e-sourcing applications (I)
• Ability to interpret and review procurement terms and conditions and provide expert advice on implications of non-standard terms (I)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels (S&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

The role

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

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 additional allowance of £2,500.00 for MCIPS qualified staff
• Access to childcare vouchers, employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

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

The UKRI Commercial Directorate is also passionate about supporting our team's professional development, and is committed to:

• A structured mentoring programme for all new starters
• A variety of ongoing training opportunities delivered internally and externally, to encourage continuing professional development.
• Support (both financially and with agreed study leave) to complete MCIPS
• Providing a breadth of experience in procurement and categories of purchasing - from one-off specialist research equipment, construction, professional services, Facilities Management and scientific computing.

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to include a CV and cover letter outlining their suitability for this role.

Applicants who are unable to apply online please contact [e-mail]

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

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 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

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.