Procurement Officer

-; Okehampton; Hybrid; GBP 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental research organization based in the UK is seeking a Procurement Officer to support procurement activities. The position entails providing expertise, advising on procurement policies, and engaging with various stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, commercial awareness, and proficiency in Word & Excel. This role offers competitive salary, flexible working conditions, and numerous benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and generous leave.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

30 days' annual leave

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Ability to deal with stakeholders' questions and queries.
• Experience in a commercial or procurement environment is desirable.
• Willingness to work towards MCIPS certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide local expertise and support for procurement tasks.
• Advise on regulations and controls.
• Keep end-users informed about procurement policies.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer focus

Commercial awareness

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Word and Excel proficiency

Education

Good general education and qualifications

Tools

E-sourcing applications

Job description

Job Description

Salary: £37,841 per annum

Band: UKRI Band D

Contract Type: Open ended

Hours: Full-time (flexible working available)

Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire & Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxon (Min 2 days per week in the office, hybrid working available)

Closing Date: 4th January 2026

About the role

UK Research & Innovation, has a mission to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good. An important part of this mission is procuring the goods, services, and partners critical to achieving these aims. If you are interested in contributing and helping to shape the UK's world class research and innovation system to benefit lives, then UKRI has an exciting opportunity for a procurement professional to join the team supporting UKRI in all its procurement activities!

As a Procurement Officer, 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 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.

Your responsibilities

• Provide local expertise and support to end-users to undertake a range of procurement tasks (varying in both value and complexity) including sourcing and contracting;
• Provide of advice on all aspects of regulations and controls;
• To keep local end-users up to date with UKRI procurement policy and best practice in public procurement;
• Act as initial contact and escalation route to the local Procurement Manager or Commercial Business Partner;
• Support the development of local procurement and contract management skill

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

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

• Have a good general education and qualifications; (S).
• Be customer focused, able to deal with key stakeholder questions and queries; (S&I).
• Have good interpersonal and communication skills; (S&I).
• Have good commercial awareness; (I).
• Have an understanding of the context and meaning of terms and conditions; (I).
• Have a good level of skills with Word & Excel and it is desirable to have used e-sourcing applications. (S&I).
• Some experience in a commercial or procurement environment is desirable along with a willingness to work towards MCIPS (S&I).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.
• Plus, many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [e-mail].

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact [e-mail].

About Us

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world‑leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world‑class research, skills and business‑led 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 applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. 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.

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.