View Vacancy - Deputy Head of Procurement Hub (LTU23.142)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Commercial Diplomacy, Procurement

Based in Vilnius and reporting to the Head of Hub, the jobholder will provide procurement/commercial expertise to the Europe and EECA regional procurement hub based in Vilnius, Lithuania.  The jobholder will have a line management and coordination role, with responsibility for the procurement life cycle across the regional network including Embassies, High Commissions and posts, ensuring compliance to FCDO global policy and UK procurement regulations.

The jobholder will provide guidance and support to stakeholders through management of the Hubs on daily procurement activities and the most complex procurement requirements. Increasing commercial influence of procurement and commercial improvements across the region to deliver Value for Money (VfM) and alignment to transparency initiatives for the FCDO.

The jobholder will work closely with the heads of hub, to establish the hubs service offering and working with the wider team to implement across the region.  Building key relationships with stakeholders at Post they will be influential in work planning and risk mitigation leading to continuous improvement to the delivery of an efficient service. 

Part of this role will include building relationships with the UK and wider hubs network to collaborate on workstreams to proactively seek opportunities to drive efficiencies globally. 

Alignment and input into the UK category strategies ensuring local knowledge is captured and used to influence where required. 

Through strong management skills the job holder will have responsibility for the management of the team, effective work planning and efficient resource allocation will be required to ensure the team provide a quality service across the region. They will provide support and coordination of the team’s activities ensuring trust is built through encouragement and empowerment. 

The job holder will be self-starter, requiring emotional intelligence with a solution orientated mindset.  

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Line management and coordination responsibilities of the team, ensuring effective leadership to include work and resource planning enabling the team to provide a high-quality service;
  • Provide support and coordination of the team’s daily activities to ensure all procurement/commercial outputs are compliant;
  • Development of team though supporting L&D learning opportunities, ensuring trust is built through encouragement and empowerment;
  • Creativity and innovation will be required when developing and implementing service requirements for complex procurements to ensure value for money is achieved;
  • Provide input to category plans where necessary and ensure engagement in business cases and lead on the drafting on the commercial case for all planned in scope procurements or commercial activity requiring FCDO Commercial engagement in the area under your remit;
  • Influencing and alignment to category strategies development from the UK, ensuring hubs expertise of local markets is embedded, fit for purpose and included;
  • Work with the Head of Hub to develop, maintain and leverage effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders;
  • Actively work with stakeholders to review the range of commercial opportunities available to them and raise awareness and understanding of Commercial policy and best practice;
  • Proactively engage with stakeholders across the region to provide commercial advice, direction and assurance on all commercial issues;
  • Use judgement, interpretation and co-ordination to ensure that the solutions developed and delivered are acceptable to senior stakeholders and, when applicable, partners across government;
  • Use judgement, interpretation and coordination to ensure effective solution resolution of risk and issues at both transactional and strategic level, escalating to the Head of Hub as required;
  • Ensure continuity and consistency of approach across the hub from project to project, using required tools, systems and processes to guide commercial activity and produce high quality commercial management information, sharing best practice with the wider hubs network;
  • Support the pipeline of projects and contracts using the FCDO eProcurement platform to enable accurate and timely reporting;
  • Provide input to category plans where necessary and ensure engagement in business cases and lead on the drafting on the commercial case for all planned in scope procurements or commercial activity requiring FCDO Commercial engagement in the area under your remit;
  • Resolve complex issues, including those that are perceived to be novel and contentious;
  • Provide management, support and advice to other members of the team to develop business requirements and viable solutions and provide oversight and assurance of tender documentation and procurement compliance; 
  • Manage internal governance controls and support team in progressing through the respective assurance, governance and approvals processes;
  • Providing cover for the Head of Hub during periods of leave/absence;
  • Ad-hoc duties as required.

Essential on arrival:

  • Commercial Technical Skills - Previous experience in leading on complex commercial situations and leading teams to deliver great commercial outcomes (demonstrable line management experience);
  • Management and coordination skills;
  • Working Internationally - Previous experience in working in a procurement capacity which is regional/international and beyond domestic market;
  • Managing Change and Improvements - Evidence of the ability to identify potential improvements and successfully manage changes that deliver beneficial commercial outcomes;
  • Team management;
  • Developing Self and Others - Experience in coaching and mentoring to build capability at all levels of a commercial function, including a team and direct reports;
  • Communicating and Influencing - Proven experience in influencing internal and external stakeholders;
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field; MCIPS or CPSM (or studying towards) or relevant certification or MBA;
  • Extensive English language (C1 level).
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others
27 March 2023
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Permanent
35h net/week
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Lithuania
Vilnius
British Embassy
1
EUR
EUR base salary 4,703 (gross) non-negotiable #
2 May 2023

This is a full-time, permanent contract of 35 net hours per week,

The start date for the position is as soon as possible, subject to the availability of the candidate and the length of the recruitment process. 

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Lithuania. The British Embassy does not sponsor for work permits. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Vilnius are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Lithuanian employment law.

We offer:

  • A base salary and, in addition, sports allowance that is paid on top of the base salary.
  • Generous private medical insurance scheme.
  • A strong focus on learning and development, including support for developing English language skills.
  • The opportunity to work in an international environment, gaining skills relevant to work in shared services centres and international organisations.
  • Learning and development opportunities.
  • 35 hour working week with a focus on work-life balance, with the potential for some homeworking.
  • 22 annual leave + additional public holidays.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Lithuania and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

FCDO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCDO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

* Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.