Head of Procurement

Job summary

Head of Procurement

Salary: £75,055 - £82,400 plus a location allowance of £1,750 and excellent benefits
Location: Based in Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes with the flexibility of hybrid working depending on business need
Free shuttle bus is available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Job description

Behind every modern embassy or overseas project we support, there’s a dedicated Procurement team here in the UK making it all happen. They strive to provide value for money supply chains in a compliant manner to support the organisation, FCDO and our wider market customers, shaping strategies for sustainable and ethical sourcing. And now, you've got the opportunity to join them.

Sourcing for global projects.

Balancing cost with quality.

Having everything you need to grow.

It all matters.

Lead a strategically focussed procurement function

The Head of Procurement role has evolved at FCDO Services, with increased strategic responsibility across customer needs and supply chain considerations, market development and value generation. Join us, and you’ll shape the direction of a strategically focussed procurement function that delivers value for money while achieving long-term organisational objectives.

With accountability for all procurement activities across the organisation, including high-value, high-risk and complex procurements, you’ll drive the improvement and transformation of policies and systems. Developing a forward-looking procurement model and commercial strategy, you’ll enhance efficiency while ensuring robust governance and risk management.

Our work covers a broad range of activities, including supporting estates work for FCDO buildings in UK and overseas locations. So, you’ll be responsible for providing strong leadership direction and performance management across multi-functional and geographically dispersed operations. You’ll also lead the expansion of our overseas procurement activity, developing scalable operating models and strengthening organisational capability.

Extend your influence as you work to defend the UK’s global interests

MCIPS qualified, or with equivalent experience, you’ll bring the ability to set strategy, governance and assurance frameworks and provide authoritative advice on high-risk issues. With proven ability to lead and influence decision-making at senior executive level, you’ll bring experience of delivering organisational outcomes through others. You’re confident operating with a high degree of autonomy to manage supplier relationships, complex procurement activity and associated risks. And, with strong working knowledge of UK procurement regulations, Government commercial standards and corporate governance, you should also be able to interpret external trends and shape strategies in response to changing organisational and market conditions. Experience of operating across international or overseas procurement environmentsis also desirable.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

Working with us you’ll help keep people, information, and assets safe around the world. It’s a role you can feel proud of; and we aim to make every part of your career just as rewarding. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, good holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Want to see your future team’s work in action? Step into our Virtual Embassy and select a guide to take you round to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help. Explore the embassy now at virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Closing date: 18th October 2026

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Person specification

Essential:

• MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience
• Extensive experience of leading a strategically focused procurement function, including the setting of strategy, governance, and assurance frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead and influence at senior/executive level, including providing authoritative advice on complex and high-risk issues
• Extensive procurement experience in managing complex procurement activity, managing supplier relationships, developing strategic solutions, knowledge of supply chains for goods, services and works, and managing associated risks.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering organisational outcomes through others.
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy, providing authoritative advice to senior leadership and influencing organisational decision-making.
• Strong working knowledge and understanding of UK procurement regulations, Government commercial standards and corporate governance.
• Ability to interpret external trends and shape strategies in response to changing organisational and market conditions

Qualifications

MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Extensive experience of leading a strategically focused procurement function, including the setting of strategy, governance, and assurance frameworks
• Extensive procurement experience in managing complex procurement activity, managing supplier relationships, developing strategic solutions, knowledge of supply chains for goods, services and works, and managing associated risks.
• Ability to interpret external trends and shape strategies in response to changing organisational and market condition
• MCIPS qualification or equivalent experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,055, FCDO Services contributes £21,743 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension
• A leave allowance of 25 days per annum
• 9 days per annum public and privilege days

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific/technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

• no personal identifying details
• career history with key responsibilities
• achievements
• qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

Those that are successful will be invited to a Face to face interview.

At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical/job specific skills and behaviours.

The candidate will need to complete a presentation along with the interview questions.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk
• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact FCDOServices.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from FCDO Services, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For more information, please visit their website.

Attachments

Candidate Pack- Head of Procurement - Copy Opens in new window (pdf, 2066kB)