Procurement Manager at the British Antarctic Survey (UKRI)
Salary: £38,969 – £43,300 per annum (Depending on experience)
Grade: E
Contract Type: Open-Ended
Hours: Full Time
Based at: Cambridge
A new and exciting opportunity for a procurement professional at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) site in Cambridge!
The organisation
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Its skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through its extensive logistic capability and know how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs.
BAS is an institute of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), itself part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a non-departmental public body, bringing together the functions of the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK, and Research England, seeking to maximise value from government’s investment in research and innovation of over £6bn per annum.
Procurement
BAS spend is complex and accounts for almost 10% of UKRI’s total spend of more than £520m per annum. Scientific access to the polar regions requires an operational infrastructure, including research stations, ships and aircraft, to provide the facilities and level of safety required in these remote and hostile parts of the planet. BAS buys a wide range of complex and sometimes unique products and services including equipment, technical services and infrastructure to support a range of end-users and sites including some which are shared with other organisations. The organisation works in partnership with a shared services centre which supports contracting for common goods and services.
The UKRI Commercial Function provides a wide range of commercial support to the whole organisation but 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 Role
We are currently recruiting a range of procurement and commercial professionals to support an exciting expansion of the wider UKRI in-house commercial group. The new BAS Commercial Business Partner role, working in coordination with similar roles in other UKRI groups, will lead the development and management of the function for BAS, which will be incredibly interesting and challenging.
The role is part of a UKRI three-fold expansion in commercial capacity and skills across the organisation. With a strategic and “professional” reporting line to the UKRI Head of Commercial this role will maintain a strong operational responsibility to the BAS senior management team.
The role will be responsible for:
- Provision of assurance to the BAS senior team that its procurement are effective whilst adhering to policy and regulation;
- Development of BAS procurement practice and commercial strategy;
- Acting as a focal point for internal stakeholders;
- Support and development of the commercial capabilities of staff and keeping the BAS up-to-date with best practice in public procurement;
- Provision of direction on market engagement, commercial routes, terms and conditions, supplier performance, procurement planning and commercial governance;
- Engaging collaboratively within the organisation to provide expert advice and direction on aspects of regulations and controls, including from Cabinet Office and BEIS;
- Development of internal Contract Management skill;
- Supplier relationship management activity associated with strategically critical suppliers; and
- Ensuring close relationships and practical working relationships with external stakeholders including the wider UKRI commercial function, the current shared service organisation and, in some cases, BEIS Commercial group.
About You
You will
- Be educated in a commercial discipline and probably be MCIPs qualified;
- Have experience of managing teams and end-user requirements effectively;
- Have a track record of delivering large procurement projects in a public sector environment;
- Be experienced in commercial risk identification, management and mitigation;
- Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels; and
- Have a high degree of commercial awareness and be financially astute.
UK Research and Innovation offers a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas shut down, flexible working hours, an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme, and social and sporting activities and societies.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to include a CV and cover letter outlining their suitability for this role.
Applications are handled by UK SBS; to apply please click the apply button. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.
The closing date for applications is 23rd August 2020.
