View Vacancy - Regional Procurement Lead (multiple cities available)

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)
Procurement

Main purpose of job:

To work as part of the Regional Procurement Team that sits within the FCDO Commercial Directorate; working with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders on all aspects of Procurement delivery, review, monitoring and reporting. Assist the Regional Procurement Hub Manager in day-to-day delivery.

FCDO Commercial takes responsibility for the acquisition of all goods and services required by the organisation whether bought at home in the UK or at one of our 260 office locations around the world. We do this by directly managing high value procurement activities, creating, and implementing the policies and procedures for everything else.

The FCDO has a regional structure for Finance, Procurement and HR across the whole network, realising cost reductions and global spend savings, whilst keeping quality high by reforming the way we manage procurement across the network.

The Procurement Operating Model requires procurement expertise in the regional organisation structure. Providing expert service to our global network of locations whilst retaining the ability to deliver efficiently on behalf of several locations and maintain links with the central procurement function in the UK. Procurement is a delivery partner to the FCDO business, providing advice and expertise to the business across the procurement lifecycle though to a shared responsibility for the successful delivery of larger procurement projects.

The Regional Procurement Lead will support the Regional Procurement Head and the Procurement Manager in the US delivering procurement services across the regional network of office locations. In addition to delivering regional procurement projects, you will be responsible for ensuring that procurement processes operate smoothly and consistently within the region and build relationships with the key regional suppliers. You will be forecasting requirements for goods and services across category areas and proactively researching suppliers who help the FCDO to meet its VFM objective. You will work closely with a wide variety of internal customers; helping to identify, specify and meet their requirements.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• Regional Procurement Delivery (above £25K): To assist the Regional Procurement manager in DC in leading procurements from a group of Posts, responsible for end-to-end procurement process. From the tender of various procurement/contract-related goods, services or work projects, including sourcing of suppliers, input and agreement of specification, preparation of tender documentation, liaison and coordination with suppliers to clarify requirements, coordination and evaluation of bids, seek appropriate approval, direct negotiation, agreement of contracts and management and closure of contracts, ensuring that they meet legal, audit, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office requirements.

• Identifying Regional Opportunities: To work closely with colleagues at UK’s Embassies and Consulates in the region and Procurement Category Teams in the UK to deliver Procurement activity to a standardised process, proactively seeking opportunities to buy efficiently through common procurement routes or approaches to market. 

• Supplier Relationship Management: To review, report and manage contract and framework use in the region, to act as the Supplier Relationship Manager where appropriate for regional suppliers including resolution of contractual disputes, taking appropriate action to protect the FCDO’s interest.

• Support Regional Procurement Managers: To work closely with the Regional Procurement Manager helping to deliver the in region strategy, help develop category strategies, delivering regional objectives.

 This role provides an excellent opportunity to learn about project management skills as well as to advance your commercial expertise. There is scope for gaining experience in a number of areas of the procurement process and there could be the opportunity to obtain relevant professional qualifications (Chartered Institute of Procurement) and skills as a procurement lead. Your skills will not only have currency in the FCDO (both in the UK and overseas), but will also enable you to further a career in a number of areas elsewhere in the public or private sector.

 This is a challenging role and is suited to a dynamic, self-starter who is proactive with a proven track record in procurement. We are looking for someone who is confident and can solve problems and launch themselves into new tasks with energy and enthusiasm. You will be working as a part of the Regional Procurement Hub and with a wide range of people from different backgrounds, including other government departments.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent

 

Other skills / experience / qualifications:

Graduate calibre and/or qualified by experience, ideally with relevant post-graduate or professional qualification (e.g. holds or is studying towards CIPS- CPSM).

Experience:

  • Minimum 2-4 years relevant experience of sourcing or buying Goods, Services and Works for an International organisation or with a regional presence.  
  • Proven track record of working to deadlines and meeting targets and some experience of project management and delivery.
  • Flexibility, willingness and ability to adapt to change.
  • Developing as a persuasive presenter, facilitator and negotiator with the ability to influence to support the achievement of FCDO Commercial objectives.
  • Able to monitor external sources of data and intelligence and to pro-actively share relevant information with others in and across the global procurement organisation where relevant.
  • Excellent working knowledge of MS Office, Internet, e-mail applications etc.
  • Focuses on expected impact and results and responds positively to feedback;
  • Promotes teamwork and shows conflict resolution skills;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates oral and written communication skills in English
  • Supports the team in building strong relationships with stakeholders and external actors;
  • High interpersonal skills, and ability to remain calm, in control and good attitude under pressure;
  • Ability to prioritize assignments and requirements, and multitask as needed;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Demonstrates skills to liaise and work with varied stakeholders especially technical experts.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

  • Previous experience with both Oracle Software and online procurement system
  • Demonstrates oral and written communication skills in Spanish or Portuguese
31 January 2021
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New York, Washington
British Embassy
1
USD
Washington $72,661; Atlanta $66,277; Boston $72,661; Miami $66,277; New York $78,090. Salaries listed are gross.
22 March 2021

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.    

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.
Staff recruited locally are subject to terms and conditions of service in accordance with US, state, and/or local employment law.
Individuals who are not a US taxpaying citizen will be paid a net salary based on a simulated US tax status.
Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

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.