Senior Procurement and Contracts Business Partner - Fixed Term

Southampton

Job Summary

Are you experienced in procurement and contracts?

Do you current knowledge of Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023?

Would you like the opportunity to implement a Commercial Business Partnering approach?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.   

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.   

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.  

Joining Our Department Comes With Many Benefits, Including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday

Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at MCA.

Job Description

Join us to deliver an expert, compliant procurement and contract management function that supports the government’s wider agenda. You’ll drive value for money through strong governance, innovative procurement approaches, and effective change‑focused advice. Working closely with DfT Procurement and supporting the Group Operating Model, you’ll help shape category management and strengthen the MCA approach to common goods and services. This role is key to ensuring efficient, strategic, and forward‑looking procurement across the organisation.

Your Responsibilities Will Include, But Aren’t Limited To:

• Provision of strategic procurement advice challenging existing arrangements and specification definition where appropriate while also setting out individual strategies/plans for high impact/value business critical requirements.
• Implement a Commercial Business Partnering approach for you designated Directorate area that supports the commercial lifecycle model for all the goods and services.

Co-ordinate Procurement and Contract management activity with that of operational stakeholders to ensure congruence with Agency policy, process and strategic intent ensuring that drives value out of procurement and contract management activity.

Ensure that Contract Management Plans are established for all above threshold or business critical contracts.

Giving advice to the wider Agency on procurement issues and ensuring that contract managers receive appropriate levels of expert advice and support.

Ensure compliance with procurement legislation and government initiatives for example in the use of centralised frameworks and transparency.

Work with DfT Procurement Staff on Department Category management and supporting the Group Operating model concept.

Apply appropriate governance of procurement by production and use of clear guidelines and review.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile.Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Join us to deliver an expert, compliant procurement and contract management function that supports the government’s wider agenda. You’ll drive value for money through strong governance, innovative procurement approaches, and effective change‑focused advice. Working closely with DfT Procurement and supporting the Group Operating Model, you’ll help shape category management and strengthen the MCA approach to common goods and services. This role is key to ensuring efficient, strategic, and forward‑looking procurement across the organisation.

Your Responsibilities Will Include, But Aren’t Limited To:

Apply appropriate governance of procurement by production and use of clear guidelines and review.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile.Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Required Experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Qualified to MCIPS or working towards/willing to and/or significant experience in a senior procurement management role
• Ability to demonstrate capacity to influence strategic thinking at a senior level.
• Current knowledge of Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Procurement Act 2023 and Government best practice.
• Procurement and Contracts Management experience.
• Experience of liaising with stakeholders of varying seniority levels
  
  

Additional Information

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis to complete a finite piece of work.

For permanent Civil Servants, this role is only available on loan, so you must have your home departments approval to return to them at the end of the loan before you apply. There is no opportunity for a permanent Civil Servant

to take on this role as a fixed term appointment. OGD applicants will be appointed on an inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan. Internal candidates will return to their previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance.

If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.

There could be the potential of extension up to 2 years or permanency, subject to the role being available (and for those coming across on loan, your home departments agreement)

Working Hours, Office Attendance And Travel Requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60%

of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace

Communicating and Influencing

Making Effective Decisions

Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge of premarket engagement, understanding how a market works and the impact on effective service and VFM. Able to provide advice and guidance on drivers.- Procurement Framework – Level 3
• Understanding and implementation of commercial drivers and procurement policy objectives applying them in sourcing projects and operations. - Procurement Framework – Level 3
• Mobilising the contract and identifying the level of contract management activity required - Procurement Framework – Level 3
  
  

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Maritime and Coastguard Agency contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).

8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.

Access to the staff discount portal.

Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.

Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.

24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

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.

How To Apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The Selection Process For This Role Will Be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – You Will Be Asked To Provide a CV (unlimited Wordcount) And Personal Statement (1000-word Count). Please Provide Evidence Of Your Experience Of The Following:

• Ability to demonstrate capacity to influence strategic thinking at a senior level.
• Current knowledge of Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Procurement Act 2023 and Government best practice.
• Procurement and Contracts Management experience.
• Experience of liaising with stakeholders of varying seniority levels.
  
  

The sift will take place week commencing 23rd February 2026

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture

Technical – Knowledge of premarket engagement, understanding how a market works and the impact on effective service and VFM. Able to provide advice and guidance on drivers.- Procurement Framework – Level 3. Understanding and implementation of commercial drivers and procurement policy objectives applying them in sourcing projects and operations. - Procurement Framework – Level 3. Mobilising the contract and identifying the level of contract management activity required - Procurement Framework – Level 3

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Technical Skill: Understanding and implementation of commercial drivers and procurement policy objectives applying them in sourcing projects and operations. - Procurement Framework – Level 3. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

Your Technical Skills will be assessed against the Commercial Skills and Competency Framework, which can be found here.

The interviews will take place week commencing 9th March 2026.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Southampton office. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

All External Applicants And Current Employees Of Accredited Non-departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) Will Be Required To Undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check Is a Review Of Your Publicly Available Online Activity, Typically Across Platforms Like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, And Others. The Purpose Is To Identify Any Public Posts Or Content That Could Raise Concerns For Employers, Such As:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or

acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public.

Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture.

If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

Feedback

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

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.

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).

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

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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 : Richard Skeats
• Email : richard.skeats@mcga.gov.uk
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
  
  

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission