Procurement & Contract Management Business Partner

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is already a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. But it’s where we go next that makes things really interesting. In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring. That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you.

Are you a commercially minded procurement professional who enjoys building strong relationships, influencing decisions and delivering real value? The National Archives is looking for a Procurement & Contract Management Business Partner to support key directorates, lead on procurement and contract management activity, and help ensure we achieve the best possible outcomes from our commercial arrangements. Based at Kew, this is an exciting opportunity to join an organisation with a unique public purpose, where integrity, possibilities and people are at the heart of how we work.

We’re looking for someone with strong commercial awareness, sound judgement and the confidence to influence decisions, with the ability to lead and motivate others. If you are motivated by meaningful public service, enjoy improving the way organisations buy and manage services, and want to make a visible impact in a collaborative environment, we would love to hear from you.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

Application Process:

• Interviews will be held on-site
• We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words

Selection for interview will be based on the 4 essential criteria shown below so please ensure that your application demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

• Has, or is working towards, a recognised Procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS) or similar level of demonstrable experience.
• Familiarity with the Procurement Act 2023 and its practical application, including the use of the ‘findatender’ platform.
• Familiarity with Government Commercial Agency/Crown Commercial Service frameworks and their practical application, including experience of reviewing, amending and concluding commercial contract terms.
• Some experience of using a variety of procurement and commercial techniques to achieve high quality commercial outcomes - such as competitive negotiation.

In the event of a high volume of applications we will conduct an initial sift based on the following essential criteria:

• Familiarity with the Procurement Act 2023 and its practical application, including the use of the ‘findatender’ platform.
• Familiarity with Government Commercial Agency/Crown Commercial Service frameworks and their practical application, including experience of reviewing, amending and concluding commercial contract terms.

All of the essential criteria in the job description below will be assessed at the interview stage.

Job Purpose:

To act as the Procurement & Contract Management team's Business Partner for nominated Directorates. The post-holder will take responsibility as the team's day-to-day subject expert in both disciplines for the nominated Directorates, advising, influencing and delivering best practice. The post-holder will also support The National Archives' commercial team to achieve maximum value from its income generating activities. This is a critical role in ensuring that The National Archives gets the most out of its commercial contracts and procurement exercises.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Build and develop strong relationships across the organisation, working together to achieve the best commercial outcomes.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and challenge to colleagues at all levels.
• Lead and manage the procurement and contract management aspects of agreed projects, identifying the most appropriate routes to market and ensuring that all products and services represent good value for money.
• Ensure that there is transparency of process and a comprehensive audit trail for all activities, compliant with best practice and public procurement regulations.
• Negotiate effectively with a range of groups, including third party suppliers, and facilitate high quality outcomes.
• Maintain awareness of the wider procurement and contract management environment, recommending and implementing improvements to The National Archives' practices which will bring about additional effectiveness and/or efficiencies.
• Direct impact on project budgets in excess of £100,000.

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment. Display Screen Equipment user.

Essential criteria:

• Has, or is working towards, a recognised Procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS) or similar level of demonstrable experience.
• Familiarity with the Procurement Act 2023 and its practical application, including the use of the ‘findatender’ platform.
• Familiarity with Government Commercial Agency/Crown Commercial Service frameworks and their practical application, including experience of reviewing, amending and concluding commercial contract terms.
• Some experience of using a variety of procurement and commercial techniques to achieve high quality commercial outcomes - such as competitive negotiation.
• Some experience of using persuasive negotiating techniques with colleagues and commercial suppliers to ensure best value for money products and services.
• Some experience in influencing project budgets in excess of £100K.
• Some experience in leading and motivating multi-disciplined teams who in the main will not be under your line management responsibility.
• Excellent commercial awareness.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

Benefits:

Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per calendar year (rising to 25 after the first year, and incrementally to 30 days after six years) and 10½ days public and privilege holidays per annum.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare.

Reasonable adjustments:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Security:

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard 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), 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 can be found on the Civil Service website.

Contact point for applicants:

Name: The National Archives Recruitment Team

Email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk