Flexible Working
We recognise the importance of a healthy work‑life balance and therefore offer flexible working options, including flexi‑time, part‑time, full‑time, job share and compressed hours. Although this role requires a minimum of three days per week in the office, you may work from home 1–2 days per week.
About us
MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats such as terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners – including MI6 and GCHQ – to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.
The role
As an Associate Procurement Lead, you’ll provide a responsive, efficient and professional service in line with our commercial policy. Supporting the Procurement Lead within your team and working closely with customers at all levels, you’ll assist with the delivery of goods and services, ensuring requirements are delivered on time and meet expectations. You will work with customer‑facing teams, manage relationships, develop commercial solutions and agree the future pipeline and prioritisation of the workbook. You may also support commercial delivery within category teams across Technology, Estates, People and Professional Services, and the Supply Chain Security team, or work in Commercial Operations handling low‑value procurements, policy, audit and management information.
Whichever area you’re working in, you’ll be part of a friendly, inclusive, welcoming and highly supportive team working across the Intelligence Agencies. You’ll keep internal and external partners informed with progress, updates and any issues and risks regarding a range of procurement projects. You’ll monitor and review contract performance, ensuring key performance indicators (KPIs) are met while providing sustainable cost savings and value‑added interventions. From gathering requirements and overseeing tendering, to contract implementation and management, you’ll apply best‑practice commercial principles to all you do.
In addition, you’ll task‑manage a team of your own, build their capabilities and enhance their impact through continuous development of working practices and approaches. You’ll share your enthusiasm, motivate those around you and approach tasks with positivity, adding real value to a department and contributing to the safety of the UK.
About you
You will bring your commercial acumen, knowledge of procurement processes and in‑depth understanding of procurement activities to this role. With extensive experience in a procurement and supply chain service, you’ll know how to secure value for money and deliver best practice, building rapport and developing strong working relationships with customers, suppliers and your own team.
You will also understand how to develop a commercial pipeline with consistent and repeatable management information to support prioritisation of the commercial work. You’ll demonstrate experience in areas such as development and delivery of sub‑category strategies, implementing KPIs, facilitating invitations to tender, improving the use of small to medium enterprises, increasing diversity, and delivering customer needs. You will have experience drafting and negotiating contracts, with support from colleagues in Legal and Finance, and managing significant spend and saving efficiencies.
You’ll have proven experience in at least one of the following: category management, contract management, sourcing, commercial policy and assurance, supply chain or low‑value procurement. You’ll find cost‑saving solutions, applying commercial approaches that deliver cash‑releasing savings and total cost reductions, and confidently prioritise the commercial work for the customer to meet business demands.
Your expertise will be key, and will enable you to drive those around you. You’ll act as a role model for your team, providing support and encouraging confidence through mentoring and knowledge sharing. You’ll take a positive approach to resolving issues and setbacks – analysing situations, making recommendations and improving our service to customers.
While not essential, management experience would be an asset. You should hold – or be willing to study towards – a professional commercial qualification such as Membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS) or equivalent.
We are interested in individuals who have experience contracting for Cloud or Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled services, or using AI or other Cloud‑enabled platforms in commercial delivery. Some of our roles involve working closely with the AI team to undertake projects across the business, onboarding AI with suppliers.
Training and development
No matter your experience or background, you’ll receive dedicated support when you join. We’ll work with you to build a Personal Development Plan, whether that’s through mentorship with an assigned partner or support towards gaining your MCIPS. From day one, you’ll get all the help and guidance you need to grow a rewarding career at the heart of national security. There’s a wealth of core and technical skills training available within the organisation, as well as an induction into the function and regular check‑ins with your manager. Throughout your career, you’ll be surrounded by colleagues who want you to succeed.
Rewards and benefits
* Starting salary of £56,962
* 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service, plus an additional 10.5 public and privileged holidays
* Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
* Dedicated development budget
* Interest‑free seasonal ticket loan
* Excellent pension scheme
* Cycle‑to‑work scheme
* Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on‑site coffee bars (at some locations)
* Paid parental and adoption leave
Equal Opportunities
At MI5, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word – people of different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under‑represented in our workforce such as women, people from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio‑economic backgrounds.
We’re Disability Confident
MI5 are proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Disability Confident scheme. We aim to offer a fair and proportionate number of person‑to‑person interviews to any candidate who self‑identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role, providing a ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI) to support disabled applicants. We will offer additional support throughout the recruitment process to enable candidates to do their best.
Requirements
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). A British citizenship or dual British nationality is required. The role may also involve occasional travel – approximately one day per month on average.
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