AMS PSR

On behalf of Met Office we are looking for a Commercial Procurement Officer (Inside IR35) for an 11 month contract based remotely (some attendance in Exeter as and will required will be expected) Please note: Active SC clearance is essential for this role.

The role:

The Commercial Procurement Officer will play a key role within the Commercial Function, supporting grant defrayment and ensuring robust management across the commercial lifecycle. The postholder will deliver professional procurement and commercial advice, ensuring all commercial activities, contracts, and partnerships are legally, ethically, and commercially compliant. They will also support the flow-down of terms from prime contracts into business customer agreements, embedding best practice and assurance throughout the organisation.

As a Commercial Procurement Officer your main responsibilities will be: 

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to identify, define, and agree current and future commercial needs, aligning with organisational strategy.
• Provide expert advice on commercial risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure effective risk management.
• Lead the end-to-end procurement process, including: 
  1. Market engagement and analysis.
  2. Market shaping and supplier relationship development.
  3. Contract strategy selection and drafting.
  4. Development of tender/bid documentation and bidder packs.
  5. Evaluation of proposals and clarification of specifications.
  6. Negotiation of terms and conditions where appropriate.
• Use e-sourcing, e-tendering, and other digital tools to support procurement and contract management activities.
• Develop and implement procurement and grant defrayment strategies for new and existing funding streams.
• Ensure commercial assurance practices and frameworks are consistently applied across all stages of the commercial lifecycle.
• Promote compliance with grant standards, procurement regulations, and internal policies.
• Build strong working relationships and ensure effective communication with colleagues, suppliers, and stakeholders to enable sound commercial decision-making.

Essential Criteria

• SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance. 
• Proven experience in procurement, contract management, or commercial roles within a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of the commercial lifecycle and best practice in procurement and grant defrayment.
• Demonstrable knowledge of relevant procurement legislation, policies, and frameworks.
• Ability to evaluate commercial risks and apply appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Experience of leading end-to-end procurement processes, including drafting documentation, evaluation, and negotiation.
• Competence in the use of e-sourcing and e-tendering platforms.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build trust.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Professional procurement/commercial qualification (e.g., CIPS or equivalent).
• Experience of working with grant funding and/or defrayment processes.
• Knowledge of government or public sector procurement regulations and assurance frameworks.
• Track record of developing and embedding procurement strategies in support of organisational objectives.
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders across varied projects and funding streams.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Met Office guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following “this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.