Strategic Procurement Business Partner

Company Description
By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.
Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.
As we work towards our mission and goals, UKAEA has devised values (Innovative, Committed, Trusted and Collaborative) that capture the spirit of how we work.

Job Description*
Who are we looking for?*
RAICo Programme, providing all procurement advice and support to the RAICo programme, ensures the growth and success of UKAEA. RAICo Programme funding is £21M with a minimum of 50% identified for supply chain activities. To ensure that these fundings are used within the timeframes allocated requires dedicated resource allocation to RAICo and the typical contract values of individual projects will be in the order of £0.4M. You will need to be a seasoned procurement expert with an excellent knowledge of delivering public sector procurement to this value whilst ensuring that government protocol and reporting is adhered to. You will also have an active involvement in managing the KPIs on all Strategic contracts supporting the CPMs on all commercial aspects. You will report to the Strategic Procurement Manager and will work closely with the RAICo Programme Manager.
You will be directly accountable for leading, advising and representing the RAICo Collaboration on all aspects of procurement activities and responsible for defining and implementing the procurement strategy for the RAICo programme, capturing this within the RAICo Annual Plan. You will provide representation at RAICo Boards for presentation and review of proposed strategies and take full responsibility for compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.
You will provide leadership & influence the direction of UKAEA. You may lead a team; authorise major project milestones & manage large projects. You could be a lead technical expert, possibly on policy creation with a significant contribution to the overall capability in the relevant field.
**Key Responsibilities**:

- Full responsibility for flexing additional procurement resource when necessary to meet constantly changing strategic deadlines and to ensure the delivery of organisational and RAICo objectives.
- Communicate effectively, actively engage with teamwork ethos, strong morale, and strong working relationships.
- Address and resolve conflict directly and constructively within the team and customers, including Senior Managers, Directors, and RAICo stakeholders.
- Prime procurement and commercial responsibility for ALL projects within the RAICo Programme.
- Identify and implement all commercial impacts of new/existing Commercial proposals and take full responsibility and accountability and inform the HOP of all novel and contentious issues.
- Implement contract management processes to ensure measurable performance against the requirements throughout the contract life cycle.
- Work with the Engineering teams to scope and capture procurement requirements for individual RAICo projects and programmes.
- Coordinate efforts at all levels with other members of the RAICo collaboration, to ensure alignment of objectives and outcomes.
- Have the skills, knowledge, and experience to understand, influence, drive and negotiate with internal and external customers.

**Budget Responsibilities**:

- Supporting control of procurement costs within agreed budgets.
- Leading negotiations in respect placing high value / high complexity contracts and contract variations to support all projects and overall UKAEA budgets.
- £15M signing authority to commit UKAEA in commercial contracts.

Qualifications*
Essential Criteria & Qualifications: *
- MCIPS qualified
- Experience of Public Sector Procurement and knowledge of OJEU.
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to negotiate at the highest levels with suppliers
- Commercially astute and customer focused
- Excellent negotiation skills with some understanding of NEC Form of Contract
- Possess strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to influence at senior levels
- Relevant expertise and experience to act as the lead expert for complex/critical Procurement and Commercial issues and influence both internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience of supporting the needs and expectations of collaborations / consortiums and their stakeholders.

Additional Information
Our comprehensive benefits package includes a vibrant **culture** committed to being fully **inclusive**, an **Employee Assistance Programme** and trained Mental Health