Deputy Head of Regional Procurement SEO, Africa Procurement Hub at British High Commission

The British Government is an equal opportunity employer that promotes diversity and inclusion. Applications are welcomed from candidates of all backgrounds. The organisation promotes flexible and family friendly working arrangements where operational and security requirements permit.

The Deputy Head of Regional Procurement will support procurement and commercial operations across the Africa region. The role reports to the Head of Hub and provides procurement oversight across British Embassies, High Commissions, and related offices. The position involves managing procurement lifecycle activities, ensuring compliance with global policies and UK procurement regulations, and supporting delivery of value for money across the regional network.

The role is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office operations and corporate services structure.

Leadership

• Provide line management and coordination of the procurement team
• Manage conflict resolution and promote effective team communication
• Provide support and guidance to team members on procurement requirements and tender compliance
• Provide cover for the Head of Hub during periods of absence

Delivering Quality Service

• Coordinate daily procurement activities and ensure compliance with procurement policies
• Monitor procurement performance through KPIs and monthly reporting
• Support project and contract pipelines using the FCDO eProcurement platform
• Support governance and approval processes for procurement activities
• Lead high value and complex procurement projects

Achieving Commercial Outcomes

• Support development of category and commercial plans
• Draft commercial cases for procurement activities within scope
• Support implementation of category strategies and ensure alignment with local market requirements
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Promote commercial policy awareness and best practices

Collaborating and Partnering

• Provide commercial advice and assurance to regional stakeholders
• Coordinate procurement solutions with senior stakeholders and government partners
• Perform additional duties as required

Delivering at Pace

• Monitor procurement performance and ensure workload prioritisation
• Maintain consistency in procurement processes and reporting standards
• Resolve complex procurement issues
• Provide advice and oversight on procurement documentation and compliance

Resources Managed

• Direct line management of three HEO Procurement Managers
• Oversight responsibility for two EO Procurement Leads and one AO Procurement Administrator

Essential

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or a related field
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Commercial and data analysis capability
• Experience managing complex commercial procurement and leading teams
• Strong management and coordination skills
• Experience working in regional or international procurement environments
• Experience managing organisational change and improvement initiatives
• Team leadership experience
• Coaching and mentoring experience
• Experience influencing internal and external stakeholders

Desirable

• Experience working in multinational environments across multiple time zones
• Contract management experience
• MCIPS or CPSM certification or studying towards relevant professional certification or MBA
• Project management experience

Required Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the official application portal.

Additional Information

• Applications must reflect the candidate’s personal experience and achievements
• Use of AI tools is limited to formatting and keyword support only
• The organisation does not request payment for job applications
• Candidates must have legal authorisation to work in the country of employment or demonstrate eligibility to obtain work permits
• Successful candidates are responsible for relocation arrangements and related costs
• Reference checks and security clearance will be conducted
• Unsuccessful but appointable candidates may be placed on a reserve list for up to 12 months
• Candidates are advised to monitor their application profile regularly for updates