Senior Procurement Business Partner in Cardiff

The Procurement Business Partner plays a pivotal role in enabling Ofgem to deliver value for money, manage risk effectively and comply fully with public sector procurement requirements. Embedded within a Directorate, the post holder will act as a trusted strategic partner to Directors and senior leaders, providing end‑to‑end procurement and commercial support across the full lifecycle of third‑party spend. Working collaboratively with fellow Procurement Business Partners, Finance Business Partners and wider Corporate Services colleagues, the role is responsible for shaping and delivering a multi‑year, rolling procurement plan that aligns to Directorate priorities and Ofgem’s overall business objectives.

The post holder will lead on procurement and contract planning, oversee tender activity in line with Cabinet Office controls, and ensure robust governance, reporting and compliance with Managing Public Money. A key focus of the role is strengthening contract and supplier relationship management, including holding suppliers to account through structured governance and supporting contract managers across Ofgem through training, guidance and ongoing advice. The Procurement Business Partner will provide high‑quality management information and insight to support effective decision‑making, monitor in‑year and forecast spend, and identify opportunities to improve value for money and commercial outcomes.

This role requires strong commercial judgement, the confidence to provide constructive challenge, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders while building relationships founded on trust and credibility. With opportunities to contribute to the development of procurement policy, systems and continuous improvement initiatives, this 12‑month fixed‑term post offers a chance to make a tangible impact on Ofgem’s commercial capability and delivery.

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and helps ensure we can best represent the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome - as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.

• Alongside other Directorate PBPs, provide professional procurement advice and assist the Head of Procurement to provide a framework that enables Directorates to ensure the department meets any and all public sector requirements, achieve best value and effectively manage risk for third‑party spend.
• Manage monthly and quarterly processes to track in year and forecast spend, performance and deliverables against agreed contracts.
• Help maintain the procurement pipeline and contract register to help support and deliver all commercial reporting requirements.
• Play a key role in the implementation and improvements of commercial systems for Ofgem.
• Assist with the implementation and embedding of supplier relationship management and Contract Management processes in Ofgem in compliance with CM Standards and commercial best practice.
• Lead financial contract governance, hold suppliers to account through contract governance meetings.
• Provide accurate and timely management information to support effective decision making.
• Manage consistent commercial policies and procurement processes across Ofgem in line with Managing Public Money and ensuring compliance requirements with Cabinet Office and Ofgem spending rules.
• Manage procurement tenders and controls in line with Cabinet Office procurement policy notes.
• Ensure compliance and reporting for Cabinet Office spend controls for consultancy and commercial.

• Engage and influence stakeholders across Ofgem so that they support the commercial strategy and visibly commit to its successful implementation.
• Take personal responsibility; challenge and hold stakeholders to account, create an environment that acts as a catalyst for continuous improvement; help to develop innovative commercial solutions to meet Ofgem’s objectives and increase efficiency whilst operating with a high degree of technical competence.
• Identify appropriate solutions / options via financial analysis to support Ofgem and Directorates to address procurement and commercial risks as well as provide insight on VFM.
• Ensure contracts are legally compliant, minimising risk in terms of challenge and impact on the business.
• Support to lead, develop and motivate procurement advisors and officers to ensure that capacity and skills are sufficient to deliver against current and future objectives.

• Monitor contract performance against plan and ensure that robust procurement and commercial practice is embedded in day to day activities and provide insight and supportive challenge to the business.
• Attend relevant Directorate meetings on a regular basis to provide support and advice in real time.
• Work effectively with senior stakeholders, senior colleagues, members of Corporate Services, DESNZ and their partner organisations to support provision of procurement and commercial services and advice.

• Multi-year, rolling procurement plan at Directorate level and contribution to rolling Ofgem business planning.
• Procurement and contract management training to all Ofgem contract managers as a minimum and ongoing procurement and commercial awareness and education.
• Robust procurement planning and month and quarterly contract deliverable and spend tracking.
• Accurate timely MI working with FBPs.
• Provision of procurement guidance and Regulation and advice to wider Ofgem stakeholders.

• CIPS Level 4 qualified, or working towards full membership, or able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience, with substantial experience of running procurement tenders independently.
• Strong understanding of Government Commercial and best practice procurement policies and procedures, particularly in relation to tendering for professional services, or equivalent professional experience demonstrating comparable knowledge and skills.
• Experience of contract and supplier relationship management, including supporting non procurement and commercial colleagues to manage contractual arrangements effectively.
• Experience of developing procurement policy or practice, including embedding improvements or changes into a procurement or commercial service.
• Ability to build and maintain professional, effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, supported by excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to plan, prioritise and manage workloads to deliver results within agreed timescales.
• Experience of working with the Procurement Act 2023 and a good working knowledge of the legal aspects of contract law.

• We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together.

• We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: You will also be asked to prepare presentation. Full details of the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview.