SKA-Low Procurement Manager

You will bring a strong combination of commercial acumen, strategic insight, and leadership, ensuring that every contract, partnership, and procurement activity aligns with SKAO’s mission, values and Procurement Policy and Manual. You will oversee the end-to-end procurement of various contracts, both high and low value and complexity, ensuring compliance, transparency, and demonstrable value for money.

The role plays a key part in managing SKAO’s external stakeholders, with key contact points being the SKAO Member countries’ Industry Liaison Officers, government departments and major government funded research bodies. SKAO’s procurement practices must take into account the social and economic return to its Member countries. The ideal candidate would therefore have experience within procurement for large-scale science or research infrastructure projects, or significant international engineering or construction projects involving government funding.

SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.

There may be occasions where this role requires work across different time zones, and in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the SKAO Procurement Team in Australia, with responsibility for overall team performance, work allocation, coaching and development, including direct line management of a small team.
• Lead initiatives to develop and enhance the SKAO procurement function, including the development and maintenance of procurement policies, embedding sustainability across the global procurement lifecycle, strengthening local supplier participation, and improving procurement processes, reporting tools, culture, and ways of working.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, including research funding bodies, government agencies, and partner research institutions, to develop and deliver effective procurement strategies and plans.
• Provide expert procurement advice and guidance to support informed decision-making, resolve issues efficiently, and ensure all activities meet legal, regulatory, quality, and value-for-money requirements.
• Lead end-to-end procurement activities for contracts of varying value and complexity, including developing procurement timelines, identifying commercial risks and mitigation strategies, and managing procurement procedures in accordance with the SKAO Procurement Manual.
• Develop and edit specific contracts and agreements between the SKA and its supplier organisations, usually within a reasonably well-defined framework or with standard provisions. This often involves using standard SKAO Purchase Order Terms and Conditions templates, as well as NEC4 templates with specific Z clauses as needed.
• Lead contract negotiations and support project managers to resolve contract management issues arising post-award.
• Develop and present attractive procurement award recommendations to the SKAO's Procurement Subcommittee and In-Kind Review Subcommittee.
• Represent the SKAO procurement function at senior-level international meetings.
• Produce regular and ad hoc procurement reports on key performance indicators such as spend, sustainability, and local supplier participation, providing analysis, insights, and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Ensure local procurement is carried out in compliance with the SKAO Procurement Policy and associated procedure notes, and represent Procurement Services locally in matters related to tendering for high value contracts for goods, services and works.
• Managing local insurance policies and claims as required.

Mandatory Experience

• Demonstrated leadership and direct line-management experience, with a strong track record of developing, coaching, and improving team performance.
• MCIPS Professional Accreditation or working towards the completion of.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Business Management, Procurement, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience demonstrating a strong background in procurement.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the credibility and professionalism to engage, collaborate and influence a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver procurement outcomes within challenging timescales and organisational objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, constructively challenge and influence stakeholders in high-pressure and time-critical procurement situations, balancing compliance, risk, and requirements to deliver compliant procurement outcomes within tight timescales whilst maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
• Extensive experience leading a broad range of low to high-value and low to high complexity tenders and successful completion of commercial and contractual negotiations.
• Experience promoting procurement best practice, including identifying opportunities to improve processes, implement more efficient ways of working, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Desirable Knowledge

• Knowledge or experience of NEC4 suite of contracts.
• Knowledge or experience of Insurance policies such as Motor Fleet.
• Familiarity with the landscape of major science research infrastructure projects and organisations, their processes, challenges, and the novel solutions that are often applied, such as in-kind contributions and fair work return.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement

SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory’s agenda.

Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background.

Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants.

Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.

SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.

The “How to Apply” information contained within the SKA Observatory recruitment portal provides more detail regarding our application and selection approach.