Category Manager- ICT

• Job grade: Higher Executive Officer
• Contract type: Permanent
• Business area: FCDO Services - Business Services
• Type of role: Procurement and Contracts Management
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Number of jobs available: 1

Location

Hanslope, South East England, MK19 7BH

About the job

Job summary

At FCDO Services, we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Job description

Behind every modern embassy or overseas project we support, there’s a dedicated Procurement team here in the UK making it all happen. They strive to provide value for money supply chains in a compliant manner to support the organisation, FCDO and our wider market customers, shaping strategies for sustainable and ethical sourcing. And now, you've got the opportunity to join them.

Sourcing for global projects.Balancing cost with quality.Having everything you need to grow. It all matters.

Develop your procurement skills when you join us on our global mission

When you join our small, close-knit and collaborative Procurement team as an ICT Category Manager, you’ll focus on our Information and Communications Technology needs and requirements – these could include hardware and software, professional services, contract renewals, new and emerging markets. You will also confidently look after all aspects of the tender process from specification to evaluation and award. You will have a knack of translating technical information which is jargon free and easy to understand.

We support a number of important government and security-based customers, so your work will be both unusual and interesting, and offer you the opportunity to develop your expertise with different procurement activities, technologies, suppliers and stakeholders. You’ll also have the chance to interact closely with other areas of our organisation, work that will help you understand our future requirements and strengthen your relationships with colleagues in other teams and functions.

Your day-to-day tasks will be extremely varied and include the development of sourcing plans, the evaluation of potential suppliers, and leading on lower risk, lower value or less complex tenders. We’ll also expect you to analyse data across a range of goods and services, identify current or potential issues or risks, and address these through personal intervention.

Making an important contribution to the effective delivery of category strategies, and providing specialist procurement advice that helps to ensure compliance with EU and UK regulations, you’ll be involved in supplier relationship and service review activities. This will include working on emerging technologies, procurement pipelines and organisational spend.

You will also be responsible for one direct report.

Use all your expertise as you help defend the UK’s security interests

To be a success in this important role you should have a strong understanding of the Procurement Act, corporate governance and associated legislation, proven experience of the tendering of supplies and services, and practical knowledge of procurement policies, standards, processes and practices.

With good commercial awareness and a strong interest in technology and developments within the Information and Communications Technology marketplace, we’ll also expect you to be a decisive decision maker and problem solver, and be comfortable working within the governance requirements of a secure public sector organisation.

Your confident communication and influencing skills will allow you to work constructively with your colleagues, senior leaders and stakeholders, and you’ll be ready to respond positively when priorities change. With excellent commercial awareness and capable of managing competing priorities while thinking on your feet and working at pace, you’ll also be an adaptable, responsive and collaborative team player. In addition, we’d prefer you to hold – or be working towards – a qualification with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.

Discover the support you need to grow your career

Working with us, you’ll help keep people, information and assets safe around the world. It’s a role you can feel proud of, and we aim to make every part of your career just as rewarding. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do and all you need.

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Security Check (SC) clearance. You can find out more about vetting at fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Closing date 22/11/2026

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Person specification

• Recent experience of working in a procurement environment and substantial experience in tendering of supplies and services.
• Working knowledge of procurement policies, standards, processes and practices.
• Relevant data analysis and decision-making.
• Knowledge of EU/UK procurement regulations and corporate governance.
• Adaptable communication and influencing skills

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions

• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Commercial Awareness

• Recent experience of working in a procurement environment and substantial experience in tendering of supplies and services.

• Working knowledge of procurement policies, standards, processes and practices

• Knowledge of EU/UK procurement regulations and corporate governance

• Adaptable communication and influencing skills

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Recent experience of working in a procurement environment and substantial experience in tendering of supplies and services.

• Working knowledge of procurement policies, standards, processes and practices

• Knowledge of EU/UK procurement regulations and corporate governance

• Adaptable communication and influencing skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,865, FCDO Services contributes
£11,548 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension
• A leave allowance of 25 days per annum
• 9 days per annum public and privilege days

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific/technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

• no personal identifying details
• career history with key responsibilities
• achievements
• qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

Those that are successful will be invited to a Face to face interview.

At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical/job specific skills and behaviours.

The candidate will need to complete a presentation along with the interview questions.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the

Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window)
and the

Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk
• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact FCDOServices.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk in the first instance.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from FCDO Services, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For more information, please visit their website.

Attachments

Candidate pack - Category Manager- ICT Opens in new window (pdf, 1857kB)

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