Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager
Join to apply for the Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager role at Diamond Light Source.
About the role
Primarily based onsite at Diamond Light Source, Harwell, Oxfordshire; limited home working may be available.
About Diamond Light Source
Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates beams of light from infra-red to X-rays used for academic and industry research across disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.
Role overview
We now have an opportunity for a Procurement and Contracts Manager to join our small procurement team during Diamond’s Diamond-II upgrade programme (£500m). The Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager will ensure timely delivery of contracts and work with Technical and Scientific teams to select appropriate procurement tendering routes.
Key responsibilities
* Line management of team members, providing professional leadership, support, motivation and development.
* Managing high value / complex procurements from tender through to contract completion.
* Managing supplier relationships to ensure performance aligns with expectations and to resolve disputes to meet Diamond’s objectives.
* Reporting to Senior Management on supplier progress and developing strategies to address issues.
* Preparing and issuing invitations to tender (EU and UK), evaluating bids, analysing, negotiating, placing contracts and de-briefing suppliers in line with European Legislation and company requirements.
* Providing professional advice to staff to ensure purchase orders, contracts and agreements are commercially viable and legally compliant.
This role may involve occasional international travel to visit suppliers.
About you / Qualifications
The successful candidate will be Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply qualified (or similar professional qualification), working towards this, or demonstrate extensive equivalent experience. You will have experience of Procurement in the UK Public sector with knowledge of the UK Public Procurement regulations, with further commercial experience desirable.
* Line management skills and experience.
* An established track record managing high value / complex procurements from tender through to contract completion in a technically challenging environment.
* Knowledge of different procurement routes and experience of selecting the most advantageous.
* The ability to analyse and feedback on supplier performance to inform future procurement decisions.
* The ability to provide professional procurement advice to Diamond staff.
You will need excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and presentation skills with the ability to influence and build relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
Benefits
Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 26 days annual leave plus Christmas closure, public holidays, 2 annual volunteering days and flexible working hours. We also offer an excellent defined benefit pension scheme. On-site amenities include a nursery, cafes, a restaurant and sports and leisure facilities. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.
To Apply
Please use the online application process to apply and tell us why you believe you are suitable for this role.
Closing date
Closing date: 21 September 2025. Interviews will take place on site at Diamond Light Source on 6 October 2025.
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