Main purpose of job

Based in Mexico City, the Regional Procurement Manager will support the Deputy Head of Regional Procurement in managing the operations across the Americas region. As part of the Regional Procurement Team, the role works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective planning, delivery and oversight.

FCDO Commercial takes responsibility for the acquisition of all goods and services required by the organisation whether bought in the UK or at one of our 260 office locations around the world.  

The FCDO has a regional structure for Finance, Procurement and HR across the whole network, realising cost reductions and global spend savings, whilst keeping quality high by reforming the way we manage procurement across the network.

The Procurement Operating Model requires procurement expertise within the regional organizational structure. It aims to provide expert services to a global network of locations while ensuring efficient delivery on behalf of multiple sites and maintaining connections with the central procurement function in the UK. Procurement acts as a delivery partner to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, offering advice and expertise throughout the procurement lifecycle and sharing responsibility for the successful execution of larger procurement projects.

The Regional Procurement Manager will support the Regional Procurement Deputy Head to lead and provide support across multiple countries in the Americas, manage supplier relationships, oversee regional procurement projects, and contribute to delivering cost-effective, high-quality services.

The role also plays a key part in aligning with the global procurement strategy, ensuring compliance, driving efficiencies and supporting the professional development of the team.

This is a strategic and hands-on role that requires strong leadership, communication and problem solving-skills. The ideal candidate will be proactive, collaborative and comfortable working in a fast-paced multicultural environment. 

Roles and responsibilities

This role will require the jobholder to work independently on a day-to-day basis, setting goals and targets that align with the wider team. The jobholder will need to be able to solve problems by weighing up a number of choices that balance the needs of operational efficiency, customer service and procurement policy and in doing so will be making operational decisions.

1.    Procurement Delivery and Oversight (50%)

• Oversee procurement planning, tendering and contract management
• Ensure compliance with policies and VFM objectives
• Provide guidance and support for below threshold projects and lead on above threshold projects
• Collaborate with customers, identifying requirements and the need to buy, understanding the market capacity and dynamics, guidance the end-to-end procurement process and route to market
• Requirements valued £115,000 and above with support from the commercial team in the UK
• Ensure procurements are carried out in accordance with commercial policy, managing risks and assuring value for money
• Support the Deputy Head in delivering the regional strategy, setting targets, tracking performance and reporting outcomes
• Monitor supplier performance, market research and sourcing strategies

2.    Team and Operational Management (25%)

• Lead and support procurement leads across the region
• Ensure daily operations run smoothly with effective work planning, performance management and issue resolution
• Identify development needs and coordinate related training to strengthen capability across the team
• Work closely with the HEO Regional Procurement Manager in Washington, DC in identifying opportunities for standardisation, continuous process improvements and balancing workloads of team members
• Coordination of transactional processes P2P, GTPC
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers

3.    Managing Performance (25%)

• Manage accurate pipelines data and information; KPI’s and SLA delivery and ensuring regional savings are captured and reported
• Review and manage the Strategic Procurement Plan for the region
• Monitor supplier performance
• Be the initial escalation point when customers do not feel they are receiving a satisfactory service
• Ensure alignment with business needs
• Provide reports related to:
  • Team workloads and project priorities- dashboards
  • SMF, GPC activity
  • E-sourcing tracker and projects notices
  • Contract Database
  • Procurement Hub activity and pipeline tracker
  • Yearly spend, forecast and travel budgets
• Support audits, contribute to cross-functional initiatives and carry out duties as required to meet the business and region needs

• Minimum of 4 years procurement experience
• Bachelor’s degree or qualified by experience, ideally with relevant post-graduate or professional qualification (e.g. holds or is studying towards CIPS or CPSM)
• Commercial technical skills – previous experience in leading on complex commercial situations to deliver positive commercial outcomes
• Management and coordination skills
• Working Internationally – Previous experience in working in a procurement capacity which is regional/international and beyond domestic market
• Experience managing change and improvements
• Teamwork
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience in project management
• Excellent stakeholder management
• Strong organisational skills
• Proficiency with programmes such as Microsoft Excel, Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, Power BI, etc.
• Budget management experience
• Legal status to live and work in Mexico in your own right, from time of Application
• fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish