Support Services Group jobs

Procurement Manager (Government Equivalent: Commercial Practitioner)

Locations: Central London, Cheltenham, Central Manchester or Buckinghamshire

Salary: London: £47,677. Cheltenham/Manchester/Buckinghamshire: £45,331

Flexible working: we recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance, which is why we offer flexible working options including flexitime, part-time, full-time, job share and compressed hours. Please note this role requires a minimum of three days per week in the office, with flexibility to work from home one to two days per week. There will also be a requirement to travel to other locations as needed.

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

As our Procurement Manager, you’ll provide a responsive and efficient service in line with our commercial policy. As you create and manage contracts with internal and external partners, gather requirements and oversee tendering, you’ll identify substantial cost savings and value-added interventions. In short, you’ll apply best practice commercial principles to all you do.

Supporting on delivery across a range of departments, you’ll also task manage a small team, building their capabilities and enhancing their impact through the continuous development of working practices and approaches. You’ll share your enthusiasm and motivate those around you. In doing so, you’ll add value to a department making a genuine contribution to the safety of the UK.

You’ll have worked in procurement and supply chain service and have experience in at least one of the following: contract management, sourcing, commercial policy and assurance, low value procurement or invoicing. You’ll also hold, or be willing to work towards, a professional commercial qualification such as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) Level 4 (or equivalent).

Your commercial acumen, customer focus, and ability to build strong working relationships with suppliers and your own team will all be vital. And since we’ll be looking to you for cost-saving solutions, you’ll need knowledge of category management approaches that deliver cash releasing savings and total cost reductions.

You’ll also be a role model for your team, providing support and encouraging confidence through mentoring and knowledge sharing. And you’ll take a positive approach to resolving issues and setbacks, analysing situations, making recommendations and improving our service to customers.

From the moment you join, you’ll receive dedicated support. We’re committed to your development, so if you don’t already hold one, with our encouragement, you’ll study towards a professional commercial qualification. We’ll work with you to build your own progression plan, including mentorship with an assigned partner. And we’ll give you access to a wealth of core and technical skills training, along with an induction when you start and regular check-ins with your manager.

At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website: www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/diversity

To find out more about this role, and to apply, please visit our website.

To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply at the age of 17 years, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Full eligibility details can be found on our website: www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs

Pay: £45,331.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bereavement leave
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Flexitime
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cheltenham