Procurement Specialist

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.

We don’t think of ourselves simply as an administrator of taxes: in terms of revenues collected, HMRC is larger than the world’s biggest multinational corporation. Every additional £1 we secure – whether through commercial savings or counter evasion measures, for example - is another £1 that can be spent on essential public services.

The importance of HMRC and its role in enabling essential public services has been reflected in the recent Spending Review settlement of approximately £7 billion per annum for the each of the next three financial years, making this an exciting time to join the Department. In joining the commercial team at HMRC you will be enabling a programme of radical transformation across HMRC, including Estates and IT, which will create the UK’s future tax administration. This includes transforming one of the largest and most complex IT landscapes in financial services.

Join HMRC’s Commercial Directorate

HMRC’s Commercial Directorate covers the whole procurement lifecycle. We are split into Pre Award (Category and Sourcing) and Commercial Contract Management and we have roles in a number of our teams.
Broadly our categories are:

• IT Applications and Infrastructure
• People & Professional Services
• Corporate Services and Property

We also have a new team - Central Commercial Activity. They will deliver centralised activity of typically simpler procurements to drive improved demand management, effective and efficient ways of working and opportunities to support improved learning and development of talent.

We are recruiting for multiple Procurement Specialist roles (Senior Executive Officer) across HMRC’s Commercial Directorate.

Our current vacancies are in Pre Award IT Applications and Infrastructure teams, Corporate Services & Property (CS&P), People & Professional Services (P&PS), Corporate Services, and IT Contract Management and Central Commercial Activity Team.

We intend to create a merit list for the next 12 months in case of more roles arising.

These roles offer a unique opportunity to shape and deliver high-value, complex commercial strategies that support HMRC’s transformation agenda and ensure value for money across a £2.5bn portfolio of annual external spend.

Job description

Your specific responsibilities will depend on which team you join but all include collaborating with internal stakeholders, implementing procurement or contract management strategies and delivering either end-to-end procurements for a range of goods and services across high-profile third-party spend areas or managing the contracts within those portfolios.

Key Responsibilities:

Pre Award:

Maintain and proactively manage a pipeline of contracts within the assigned category portfolio, ensuring timely renewals, sourcing activities, and alignment with strategic objectives.

Work closely with business stakeholders in designing fit for purpose and market-facing specifications and award criteria so that HMRC can optimise the value in the competitive marketplace.

Work closely with the supplier market and HMRC business areas to create effective category strategies.

Apply knowledge and expertise of relevant commercial approaches and routes to market.

Develop contractual documentation to support the customer’s requirements, including performance management regimes.

Manage the procurement process, including the evaluation and moderation of bids and support commercial governance where required.

Use HMRC’s e-sourcing tool to build and run sourcing events.

Ensure statements of work are drafted and executed in compliance with regulations and best practice through assurance activities to maximise cost-effectiveness.

Operate as a business partner with stakeholders to support building requirements that suppliers can understand and respond to effectively.

Lead, manage and motivate team members.

Contract Management:

Create and deliver Contract Management Strategies that fulfil business requirements and deliver value for money.

Provide advice in the development and amendment to Service Level Agreements and Key Performance Indicators and track performance against contractual obligations.

Actively managing complex contracts, ensuring performance standards are achieved, reducing risk and maximising benefit realisation. Leading or supporting in-life negotiations.

Support business stakeholders delivering benefits and savings to central government, including open book contract management.

Advise business stakeholders on the impact of commercial/contract commitments and acting as an escalation route for them on supplier performance issues, engaging legal advice as necessary.

Supporting business stakeholders to develop and maintain successful, long term, strategic relationships with our suppliers.

Lead, manage and motivate team members.

Central Commercial Activity Team:

Maintain and proactively manage a pipeline of contracts within the agreed portfolio, ensuring timely renewals and sourcing activities to align with strategic objectives. across all categories.

Delivering a high volume and ‘at pace’ pipeline of typically lower value and lower risk procurements mainly through framework call offs and mini competitions to operationalise and optimise delivery and drive innovation in our demand management of the pipeline.

Work closely with business stakeholders and pre award in designing fit for purpose and market-facing specifications and award criteria so that HMRC can optimise the value in the competitive marketplace

Manage the procurement process, including the evaluation and moderation of bids and support commercial governance where required.

Use HMRC’s e-sourcing tool to build and run sourcing events.

Working collaboratively as a team member, managing surge capacity, flexing across categories and providing leadership as required across the wider Commercial Activity Team.

Candidate Session Information

If you would like more information, we are holding an hour long Teams Call on 19/02/2026 @ 16:00 where you can meet the vacancy holder and listen to someone doing the job. This is a great opportunity to learn more about working in HMRC and the role.

If you are interested please complete the form in the link will be sent joining instructions.

Candidate Information Session - Procurement Specialist - Thursday 19th February 2026 – Fill in form

Person specification

We are looking for commercial professionals who are capable of working in a challenging and complex environment. Ideally, you’ll be experienced in delivering the end-to-end procurement and/or contract management processes within a public sector or regulated environment, have strong project management skills and a proactive, solutions-focused mindset. You will have high-level analytical and problem-solving skills, and strong written and verbal communication skills.

Essential Criteria :

• Experience in category, sourcing or contract management roles, with a track record of delivering procurements on time and to business needs and/or managing a range of contracts which deliver critical goods and services to business customers.

• Strong skills in drafting and reviewing contractual requirements and specifications.

• Experience developing and reviewing commercial terms, with a focus on stakeholder support and supplier engagement.

• Confident communicator with the ability to influence and build relationships across internal teams, suppliers, and senior stakeholders.

• Flexible and collaborative, with experience managing competing priorities and working across teams.

• Knowledge of relevant procurement legislation (e.g. PCR 2015, Procurement Act 2023), and appropriate qualifications:

• CIPS Level 4 (minimum) and working towards Level 5/6 or MCIPS/equivalent or significant relevant experience.

Transitional Sites Information

If your location preference is for the following site, it’s important to note that this is not long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window)

This site is:

• Telford Plaza, Telford - moving to Parkside Court, Telford

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Leeds Locations

Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC’s Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.

Additional Salary Information

Successful applicants may attract a non-pensionable, non-contractual allowance subject to organisational criteria, further information can be provided at interview.

Qualifications

• CIPS Level 4 (minimum) and working towards Level 5/6

• MCIPS/equivalent or significant relevant experience

Technical skills

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

• Understanding Needs and Sourcing Options
• Procurement Process
• Contract & Supplier Management.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,544, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £13,194 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRChear from our insiders or visitThinking of joining the Civil Service

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 Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

This vacancy uses GCF People Standards for the Profession at Associate Commercial Lead grade, to assess your experience and strengths. The Technical Skills being assessed for this vacancy are as follows:-

• Understanding Needs and Sourcing Options
• Procurement Process
• Contract & Supplier Management.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history, qualifications and previous experiences.
• A Personal Statement of no more than 750 words to demonstrate the Essential Criteria and Person Specification and Technical Skills as detailed within the advert.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on your Personal Statement.

At full sift your CV and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be assessed on your Technical Skills x 3 for the following :-

• Understanding Needs and Sourcing Options
• Procurement Process
• Contract & Supplier Management.

You will also be assessed on Experience based questions.

Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You’ll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:

Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.

Terms and Conditions

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK.

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.

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 : Sarah Phillips
• Email : sarah.phillips2@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk . Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.