JOB SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a Procurement Lead to join our Commercial Function within the Digital & Technology group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 7-8 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP. Our Canary Wharf and South Mimms sites are only available as contractual work locations to existing employees of the MHRA. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. We are open to requests for flexible working. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.
We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Our successful candidate will have:

• Experience of procurement in either in the public, utilities or NfP sector.
• Evidence of developing, implementing, and administering purchasing strategies and drafting contracts that require analysis, comparison, and assessment.
• Successful negotiation and issue resolution and advising and supporting stakeholders
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end public contract regulated lifecycle and core principles in particular the respective responsibilities of procurement and wider stakeholder group involvement in key projects and programmes, understanding the market procurement and tender administration with a good grasp of contract management principles.
• Understanding and experience of Public Contracts Regulations 2025 and the Procurement Act 2023
• Good understanding of complex policies and guidance and being able to interpret, explain and apply them to senior stakeholders to support decision making.
• Experience of high value systems and software procurement requirement.

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!

INTERVIEW – ASSESSING BEHAVIOUR, EXPERIENCE AND STRENGTH CRITERIA.

Closing date: 27 July 2025
Shortlisting date: From 28 July 2025
Interview date: W/C 04 August 2025
Candidates will be contacted within a week of the sift and the interviews completed to inform them of the outcome.
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check as well as animal rights and pro-life activism checks. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:

• Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
• Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
• Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
• Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Any move to the MHRA 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. Determine your eligibility here.
Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk.
In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should firstly contact Florentina Oyelami, Head of Talent Acquisition, Florentina.Oyelami@mhra.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
info@csc.gov.uk
Civil Service Commission
Room G/8
1 Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for 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

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

The position for Procurement Lead reporting to the Head of Commercial delivers across a set of ambitious and exciting commercial challenges. The key activities are to engage with the business achieve their goals through management of MHRA’s commercial relationships and the commercial pipeline, driving value for money and value creation whilst managing commercial risk effectively.
The Procurement Lead will typically lead on the end-to-end Procurement lifecycle activities including managing and administering tenders in line with the Agency procurement policy whilst also supporting good contract management across the Agency and providing high quality advice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Engaging with stakeholders at all levels and working in partnership with Agency divisions to develop and execute strategies for sourcing requirements in line with the Agency procurement policy and category strategy.
• Actively manage the category procurement pipeline by ensuring awareness of incoming projects and impending contracts expiring over the short / medium and long term and engaging with contract owners to develop and implement strategies.
• Deliver robust and compliant contracts that demonstrate value for money, maximise the return on investment, manage risk appropriately and deliver improved performance, seeking alternative commercial and service delivery models as appropriate.
• Provide support and advice for the stakeholder community and promote procurement excellence, and good contract management whilst actively challenging inappropriate processes or bad practice to aid compliance,
• Maintain accurate record keeping and administration of commercial activities in particular the e-sourcing/contract management platform, the technology pipeline and meeting our statutory transparency obligations.

Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:

• Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
• Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
• Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
• Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required