View Vacancy - Head of Regional Procurement Hub - Mexico City

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)
RCSH (Regional Corporate Service Hubs)

Main purpose of job:

Based in Mexico the job holder will have a critical role across a regional network of office locations for all procurement activity within the Americas Region, leading a team of procurement leads (the regional procurement hub) based in both Mexico and the US, working closely with Commercial teams in the UK. The hubs are responsible for delivery of procurement services across the regional network, ensuring compliance to FCDO global policy and also UK procurement regulations.

The job holder will be responsible for ensuring that procurement processes operate smoothly and consistently within the region in line with Commercial global policy and building relationships with the key regional suppliers whilst seeking opportunity areas to drive better value for money for the FCDO.

They will work closely with a wide variety of internal stakeholders across multiple geographic locations, which will give the successful applicant an excellent overview of the FCDO and insight into the work of different departments across the network.

Key aspects will be leading to identify pipeline of activity, development of category strategy for key areas of spend in region and working with category teams on global strategy development, whilst also ensuring delivery of the day to day procurement activity and management of risk.

Due to the remote management aspect of the role the job holder will also require strong communication, interpersonal and supervisory skills, setting objectives, undertaking reviews, taking responsibility for staff learning and development as well as overall hub savings and performance delivery. When possible, there will be opportunities to travel between the hub locations, driving motivation and enthusiasm across all hub staff. Based in the Mexico Embassy the role requires an independent self-starter able to work effectively across a distributed team with line management for the role provided from the UK. 

The FCDO has a regional structure for Finance, Procurement and HR across the whole network and the role will have pastoral care responsibilities for other Hub staff at the Mexico Post and play an active part in Mexico Network corporate life, for example by taking a crisis plan role and being a member of the Board of Management. 

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Reporting to the Head of Regional Procurement Hubs in the UK manage the Regional Procurement Teams based in Washington, Miami and Mexico City (7 staff total with majority of the team based in Mexico) as well as working with stakeholders and other procurement teams across the regional network leading, developing and co-ordinating delivery of procurement solutions which meet customer requirements and achieve value for money for the FCDO and HM Government.
  • Work with customers to identify, specify and deliver against Post and Regional requirements for the full range of Goods, Works and Services.
  • Work closely with Corporate Service Managers (CSMs) at the UK’s Embassies and Consulates across the region for requirements valued at £25K-£122k and, where appropriate, procurements above this value. Developing a pipeline of requirements in order to identify strategic procurement opportunities and forecast resourcing requirements.
  • Leading and supporting the team to manage the contract tender process for various procurement/contract-related goods, services or works 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 procurements meet quality, legal, audit, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office requirements.  All aligned to the global processes and utilising the specified E-Procurement application ensuring data quality and completeness.
  • Leading the team to develop regional category strategies including development of regional market research and sourcing of potential suppliers. Contributing to global category development with local expertise and knowledge of spend, markets, and environments.
  • Providing advice on contract management process and advising on supplier relationship management. Generally supporting to develop the contract management capability in the FCDO and key stakeholders in region. Discuss and resolve contractual disputes, taking appropriate action to protect the FCDO’s interest.
  • Work with stakeholders within the region to support staff in low value procurement activity including optimisation of suppliers by challenging assumptions, quantifying the need and providing advice and guidance.
  • Coordinate with the global transactional procurement team as the regional representative of procurement process owner. Review and approve regional purchase orders (POs) between £25K to £122K.
  • Manage, implement and periodically review local procurement processes and procedures to meet UK FCDO procurement guidance working with the procurement policy teams in the UK to develop and standardise new policies and processes to ensure compliance and effectiveness across the region.
  • Secure savings through applying strategic sourcing principle, measured against targets set on an annual basis.
  • Reporting on key performance indicators and progress on a monthly basis on hub performance, risks and issues.
  • Working with the UK capability teams development of commercial capability of regionally based staff working with or having responsibility for procurement, identifying development/training needs and solutions.
  • Building/maintaining an inclusive and positive environment for hub staff.
  • As a member of the Mexico Network senior leadership team, help make the Network a great place to work through an active corporate contribution.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line management of 2 X Procurement Managers, 5 X Procurement Leads.

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).
  • 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.
  • 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 and Spanish &/or Portuguese.
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others
14 August 2022
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Permanent
38
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Mexico
Mexico City
British Embassy
1
MXN
$ 95,520.00 monthly
26 September 2022

Candidates must be able to live and work in Mexico in their own right.  The successful candidate will be subject to a security clearance and professional reference checks.

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. 

Learning and development opportunities:

  • Continual professional development through CIPS certification up to MCIPS / or CPSM – Multiple Options.
  • Foundation Level Contract Management Training - Government Commercial Office.

 

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package.  This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.  All staff at the British Embassy and its Consulates in Mexico are expected to work towards the UK mission statement of Building a UK/Mexico partnership, which makes the world and us more prosperous and secure, and to embody the Embassy’s agreed values of Honesty, Respect, Inclusion and Professionalism.

Working patterns:

There may be requirement from time to time for early start times to ensure effective engagement with UK teams and other Hub teams on different time zones. Travel will be required (circa 10%).

Flexible working can be considered, a mix between office/home based working is currently practice but increased presence in the office will be expected.

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.