Procurement Manager

About us

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like 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 a Procurement Manager, you’ll provide a responsive, efficient and professional service in line with our commercial policy. You’ll assist with the delivery of goods and services and ensure projects are delivered on time and in‑line with requirements. You’ll work closely with customers at all levels while providing support to the Associate Commercial Lead within your team. You could be working with our customer facing teams, managing relationships, developing commercial solutions and agreeing the future pipeline and prioritisation of the workbook. Or, you might be supporting commercial delivery within category teams across Technology, Estates, People and Professional Services, and Supply Chain Security. We also have roles in Commercial Operations, where you’ll be responsible for 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.

Day‑to‑day, you’ll keep internal and external partners informed with status updates on a range of procurement projects. You’ll create and manage contracts as well as monitor and review their performance, ensuring key performance indicators are met. From gathering requirements and overseeing tendering to contract implementation, you’ll identify substantial cost savings and value‑added interventions. In short, you’ll apply best practice commercial principles to all you do. Plus, you’ll task manage a small team of people, building their capabilities and enhancing their impact through the continuous development of working practices and approaches. You’ll share your enthusiasm and motivate those around you. In doing so, you’ll add value to a department making a genuine contribution to the safety of the UK.

The role offers a great balance of on‑site collaboration and flexible working. A minimum of three days per week in the office is required, with the option to work from home on other days where business needs allow. Some posts and opportunities to take on a broader range of responsibilities across the organisation may require up to five days a week on site. The role may also involve occasional travel to other locations. As an inclusive organisation we welcome applications from people seeking flexible working patterns.

About you

You’ll bring commercial acumen, customer focus and knowledge of procurement processes to this role. With your experience of working in a procurement and supply chain service, you’ll know how to secure value for money and deliver best practice. This will be supported by your ability to build rapport and develop strong working relationships with customers, suppliers, and your own team. You’ll identify solutions and bring enthusiasm, as well as an understanding of the security implications of what we do. You’ll have experience in at least one of the following: contract management, sourcing, commercial policy and assurance, supply chain or low value procurement and invoicing. Additionally, you might also have experience of managing a supplier, or working in a role that requires purchasing, bill management, or drafting and managing contracts. We’ll look to you to find cost‑saving solutions, so you’ll have knowledge of category management approaches that deliver cash‑releasing savings and total cost reductions. Plus, you’ll be confident prioritising the commercial workbook for the customer delivery of business as usual. Your expertise will be key, and so will your ability to drive those around you. You’ll be a role model for your team, providing support and encouraging confidence through mentoring and knowledge sharing. And you’ll take a positive approach to resolving issues and setbacks, analysing situations, making recommendations and improving our service to customers. Additionally, you’ll hold, or be willing to study towards, a professional commercial qualification such as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) Level 4 (or equivalent).

While not essential to the role, we are interested to hear from individuals who have experience of contracting for Cloud or Artificial Intelligence enabled services or experience 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. If you don’t already hold one, with our encouragement, you’ll study towards a professional commercial qualification such as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) Level 4 (or a business equivalent). We’ll work with you to build your own progression plan, including mentorship with an assigned partner. Plus, you’ll be working in a culture committed to your development. There’s a wealth of core and technical skills training available within the organisation, as well as an induction into the function when you start and regular check‑ins with your manager. In short, you won’t be on your own – throughout your career, you’ll be surrounded by colleagues who want you to succeed.

Rewards and benefits

You’ll receive a starting salary of between £47,677 (London) or £45,331 (Cheltenham, Manchester and Buckinghamshire) plus other benefits including:

• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service, and an additional 10.5 public and privilege holidays
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• Dedicated development budget
• Interest‑free season ticket loan
• 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: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neuro‑divergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under‑represented in our workforce such as women, those 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. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, 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. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI).