About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Strategic Procurement Buyer and a Transformation Procurement and Supplier Management Lead to join our procurement team.   

The Procurement Team is growing and we are advertising two roles that span the Procurement and Transformation teams. Both roles are of the same grade. One role is focusing on strategic procurement buyer activity within the team’s existing and programme work. The second role is concentrating on transformational procurement activity and supplier management. You will be asked to inform us which role you would like to apply for during the application process.

The UK Hydrographic Office is a Trading Fund of the UKHO. It is in a unique position: combining central government requirements with commercial customers.

It is expected that the individuals will be in the office at least 3 days a week. Initially the 3 days attended must coincide with the individuals Line Manager and other team members for training purposes. These days are expected to be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, though this may vary.

Please note our Policy on informal hybrid working (arrangements available as agreed with the line manager) applies within the UK, and does not extend to working overseas.

Job description

Strategic Procurement Buyer:

The Strategic Procurement Buyer role will join the existing Procurement Team, established as a key department within the UKHO. The Procurement team supports the organisation’s strategic direction. This role will manage the organisation’s more complex and strategic requirements; ensuring its customers are at the forefront of its actions. 

The role will lead a broad range of requirements and be responsible for delivering business as usual renewals as well as new / project requirements. The role will lead procurement activities from inception to completion and associated contract management duties through the lifecycle. 

Areas of the organisation you’ll be responsible for include (at present): Estates (the UKHO currently has several high-profile construction related contracts in progress or about to commence); portfolio and programme Team support, contributing directly to our Business Plan activities; and international maritime requirements. Please note these contract categories will change in-line with the UKHO’s annual Business Plan. 

The role will ensure strategic direction is maintained and have a close understanding of business drivers, fostering strong relationships across UKHO and its suppliers to deliver tangible outcomes. 

The role will also lead on strategic procurement sustainability and environmental considerations, working with the internal Sustainability Team and external government bodies. 

You will be a capable leader who is a good communicator and is able to quickly build collaborative relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. There will be a need to be able to solve problems, find innovative solutions and think differently. 

The UKHO offers excellent training and support opportunities through its Learning and Development packages. 

 

Transformation Procurement and Supplier Management Lead:

This role will work alongside the UKHO Transformation team to deliver the required commercial elements delivering new and exciting technologies to the organisation. You will work alongside the Head of Technology Supplier and Contract management to deliver strategic contracts with key suppliers to enable the UKHO to deliver its transformation. 

You will be involved in procuring new and innovative contracts, challenging the way we do things now. Seeking inventive and creative ways to bring in new technologies and suppliers on board, ensuring that they deliver against their contract obligations. There will be a focus on reducing cost from the organisation, improving efficiencies and implementing new  ways of working both internally and externally with our partners. 

The role offers a great opportunity to engage with the senior management team and to help shape the future of the UKHO.

The role will be key in the successful delivery of the UKHO transformation journey and developing our strategic management capability. 

You will be a capable leader who is a good communicator and is able to quickly build collaborative relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. There will be a need to be able to solve problems, find innovative solutions and think differently. 

The UKHO offers excellent training and support opportunities through its Learning and Development packages.

Person specification

• Sound understanding of public procurement regulations.
• CIPS Level 4, or relevant public sector procurement experience and a willingness to achieve CIPS Level 5 qualification within 2 years of start date.
• Good communicator with an ability to see the bigger picture.
• Strong analytical skills to support cost analysis
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,645, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £12,324 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply: 

Please send a copy of your anonymised CV demonstrating your relevant experience to the role (see below) by clicking "Apply Now" at the bottom of this page. You will also have up to 500 words to demonstrate how you meet the experience criteria outlined below.

You will be asked to inform us of which role you would like to apply for during the application process (or indicate that you are applying for both). The criteria below are the same regardless of which role you wish to apply for.  

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: Sunday 7th April 2024
• Shortlisting: week commencing 15th April 2024
• Interviews: week commencing 22nd April 2024

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. 

Pre-sift criteria:

All applicants CVs will first be assessed against the below criteria.  Only those that pass this criteria will have their applications assessed against the full sift criteria. Please ensure your CV demonstrates the following:

• CIPS Level 4, or demonstrable relevant public sector procurement experience 

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:  

All applications are processed anonymously. Your CV and personal statement will be short-listed against the following criteria: 

Experience:

• Experience of managing high value / complex public sector procurement activity.
• Demonstrable evidence of working in an environment where the Public Contracts Regulations apply.
• Ability to work with business stakeholders to meet their requirements 

Interview Criteria: 

You will be interviewed against the following criteria: 

Experience:

• Experience of managing high value / complex public sector procurement activity using the Public Contracts Regulations
• Experience of supplier management / strategic procurement within the Public Sector.
• Ability to work with business stakeholders to meet their requirements 
• Strong prioritisation and workload management skills
• Ability to work as part of functional and cross functional teams

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 Process:  

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)

The appointments will be made in merit order for each role. These roles will also have separate reserves list that will each be kept for 6 months.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks.  Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

BPSS – non reserved
This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and is open to UK, British Commonwealth, and European Economic Area nationals. Successful applicants will be required to pass the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and will therefore need to provide evidence if they have resided outside of the UK for a period of 6 months or longer within the last 3 years. This is not a bar to employment, but a successful applicant will be required to provide sufficient evidence to allow the UKHO to conduct meaningful background checks. Please contact the recruitment team on the email address below if you have any concerns regarding this.

Eligibility

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.