Procurement Manager

EMBL-EBI

Hinxton, near Cambridge, United Kingdom

Staff Category: Staff Member
Contract Duration: 3 years
Grading: 5
Closing Date: 17 April 2016
Reference Number: EBI_00698

Job Description

We are looking for a Procurement Manager to manage a programme of large scale technical procurements as part of the European Bioinformatics Institute's (EMBL-EBI) strategic project management office located at the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK.

The programme includes projects funded by the UK Government to support EMBL-EBI’s IT infrastructure alongside EU collaborations, Helix Nebula, and direct EMBL procurements.

The UK’s Large Facilities Capital Fund (LFCF) project, running until 2019, supports the required storage, networking, and compute infrastructure for EMBL-EBI’s public biological databases and services. The project is now developing a cloud procurement pilot to assess the viability and value that cloud services could bring to this infrastructure. All procurements within this project are run via OJEU compliant public procurement frameworks.

Helix Nebula is a pioneering partnership between IT cloud providers and three of Europe’s leading research centres, CERN, EMBL and ESA in order to provide computing capacity and services that elastically meet big science’s growing demand for computing power.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Management of public procurement activities via multiple public frameworks;
• Ensuring efficient and 'value for money' procurements, using mini-competitions, on-line auctions and e-tendering;
• Ensuring compliance to OJEU regulations for suitable procurements;
• Liaison with EMBL legal team for the development of individual 'call-off' terms and conditions;
• Developing tender documentation for innovative systems with the technical teams;
• Managing the procurement process for large scale cloud procurement, including developing tender documentation alongside reviewing and shaping contract terms;
• Advising on wider EMBL-EBI procurement of external services;
• Production of 'best practice' procurement documentation for both EU and EMBL procurement routes;
• Assistance in development of EMBL-EBI key performance indicators for procurement tracking and reporting methods;
• Assistance in developing the EMBL-EBI Business Continuity Plan, especially technical and procurement areas;
• Ensuring good communications between the administrative and technical cluster throughout the diverse procurements;
• Any other relevant procurement duties arising.

The Procurement Manager will be required to provide holiday and sickness cover for the Framework Manager. This will include the management of mini competitions, from gathering technical requirements to contract and organising arrangements for delivery.

About working at EMBL-EBI

At EMBL-EBI, we help scientists realise the potential of 'big data' in biology by enabling them to exploit complex information to make discoveries that benefit mankind. Working for EMBL-EBI gives you an opportunity to apply your skills and energy for the greater good. If you’ve ever visited the campus you’ll have experienced first-hand our friendly, collegial and supportive atmosphere, set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside.

As part of EMBL, we are a non-profit, intergovernmental organisation funded by 21 member states and two associate member states and proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK, and our 600 staff are engineers, technicians, scientists and other professionals from all over the world.

Qualifications and Experience

We are looking for someone with at least 5 years of procurement experience, with an excellent understanding of OJEU procurement and technical infrastructures.

In particular:

• Broad demonstrable public procurement experience;
• Relevant knowledge of technical infrastructures;
• Excellent contract and negotiation skills;
• Capable of working under own initiative;
• Enjoyment of collaborative working with personal persistence to ensure achievement;
• Ability to constructively challenge ways of working and get support to change;
• Excellent verbal and written skills.

Benefits

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme and health insurance, and family-related benefits where applicable.

Application Instructions

Please apply online through www.embl.org/jobs.

Additional Information

Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.

Applications are welcome from all nationalities - visa information will be discussed in more depth with applicants selected for interview.

Applications will close at 23:00 GMT on the date listed above.