Senior Procurement & Project Lead

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Tathall End; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is looking for a skilled procurement professional to align policies with legal standards and support various projects. The role involves advising stakeholders, managing ad hoc projects, and ensuring effective procurement processes. Candidates should have MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience, strong communication skills, and flexible project management abilities. Offering a competitive salary, generous benefits, and hybrid working arrangements, this position is for those looking to make an impact in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Civil Service pension

Training and development opportunities

On-site gym

Interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes

Qualifications

• Extensive procurement policy experience involving senior stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in interpreting and advising on procurement legislation.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Ensure procurement policies align with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Develop performance measurement frameworks for procurement effectiveness.
• Provide advice and support to stakeholders.

Skills

MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience

Procurement policy experience

Interpersonal and communication skills

Project management skills

Commercial awareness

Job description

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 Share your skills, expertise and knowledge in this significant new role Join our close knit, inclusive and supportive Procurement team in this brand new role and it will be your task to focus on ensuring our policies and processes align with the latest legal and regulatory requirements. Working across the team and our wider organisation as you share your knowledge and expertise, you’ll have the opportunity to mould the role as you come up with innovative new ideas that improve the way we operate. This is an extremely varied role - you’ll focus on a number of ad hoc projects involving areas such as commercial and ISO standards, security and supply changes, sustainability and modern slavery, working and cooperating with colleagues and networking with other government departments. We’ll also expect you to provide expert advice and support to stakeholders, ensure there is commercial knowledge across the business, and develop performance measurement frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness of our procurement and contract management. Your additional tasks will include overseeing and updating the procurement area of our intranet, and providing the high quality education and information necessary to ensure internal customers are aware of the latest policies. Use all your team working skills as you help defend the UK's security interests To be a success in this significant senior role you’ll have the confidence to work on your own initiative as you make this role your own, and collaborate and learn from established members of the team. Proactive, positive and flexible, you should be capable of interpreting and advising on the latest procurement legislation and government policies, while your superb project management and organisational skills will allow you to work well with colleagues at all levels of our organisation.

Responsibilities

• Ensure procurement policies and processes align with the latest legal and regulatory requirements.
• Work across the team and the wider organisation sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Mould the role through innovative ideas to improve operations.
• Manage ad hoc projects covering commercial and ISO standards, security and supply changes, sustainability and modern slavery.
• Provide expert advice and support to stakeholders, ensuring commercial knowledge across the business.
• Develop performance measurement frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness of procurement and contract management.
• Oversee and update the procurement area of the intranet.
• Deliver high‑quality education and information to internal customers to keep them aware of the latest policies.
• Defend the UK's security interests as part of the procurement function.

Qualifications and Experience

• MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience.
• Extensive procurement policy experience involving senior stakeholder engagement.
• Experience and ability to interpret and provide advice on procurement legislation.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with staff at all grades.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.

Behavioural and Technical Assessment

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Technical Skills

• Commercial Awareness
• MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience
• Extensive procurement policy experience involving senior stakeholder engagement
• Experience and ability to interpret and provide advice on procurement legislation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with staff at all grades.
• Strong project management and organisational skills

Security Clearance

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is a security check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Recruitment & Application Process

Resumes and personal statements will not be part of the assessment; they will provide insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include: no personal identifying details; career history with key responsibilities; skills and experience; achievements; qualifications.

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role. Candidates will only be sifted on answers to the job specific questions outlined in the application form. Successful candidates will be invited to an MS Teams or face‑to‑face interview. At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical skills and behaviours. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Salary and Benefits

£46,224 - £47,813 plus up to £7,000 allowances depending on qualifications, and a £1,750 location allowance.

Benefits include competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, Civil Service pension, training and development opportunities, on‑site gym, nursery, café, restaurant, interest‑free loans on season tickets and bikes.

Location and Working

Based in Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes with hybrid working flexibility. Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park.

Equity and Inclusion

The FCDO Services is a Disability Confident employer, recognised as a Carer Confident workplace, and promotes diversity and inclusion.

Closing Date

13th January 2026