Procurement Systems and Compliance Lead - NESO

About the Role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

2026 continues to be an exciting year for NESO, particularly within our Procurement Centre of Excellence team, as we build on the recent implementation of our end-to-end e-procurement tool. As Procurement Systems and Compliance Lead, you will play a central role in embedding, optimising and continuously improving Ivalua, ensuring it delivers the right processes, controls and insights for the wider Procurement & Property team and the business. You will act as the intelligent customer for Ivalua, working closely with IT providers and support teams to shape its ongoing development, while also championing emerging technology, including AI bots, as part of our future roadmap.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about strong systems, robust controls, high-quality data and consistent compliance, and who can build strong stakeholder relationships while helping to shape the future of procurement technology and governance at NESO.

This role can be based from Warwick or Wokingham, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to part time, as well as flexible working arrangements.

Key Accountabilities 

• Serving as Subject Matter Expert in Ivalua for Procurement & Property, overseeing upgrades and patches to ensure process are maintained.  Additionally, collaborating with the support teams to manage and resolve any issues or amendments as required.

• Work closely with key stakeholders, including the P2P team to ensure seamless cross over activity between systems.

• Providing first-line technical and user support for the e-procurement system, ensuring continuation of service and development.

• Managing and co-ordinating the engagement with the second line technical support, ensuring effective maintenance and performance of the e-procurement system. 

• Acting as the Procurement Champion, supporting the development of new eProcurement solutions, with a focus on AI bots, to drive improved procurement efficiency, monitoring, control and performance reporting for the business.

• Driving compliance, ensuring the governance framework is embedded across Procurement and documentation is maintained.

• Supporting all internal and external audit activities, leading the execution of attestation checks to ensure compliance.

• Responsible for the maintenance of the Centre of Excellence Risk Register, ensuring risks are accurately recorded, regularly reviewed, appropriately escalated, and supported by clear mitigation actions and accountable owners.

• Undertake the Control Operator role for assigned RACM controls, ensuring timely execution of control testing and appropriate follow‑up of test outcomes.

• Responsible for the Conflict-of-Interest process, ensuring all related policies and guidance remain current, and that the procurement team is fully trained and consistently compliant with established requirements. Plus develop the process for improved automation.

• Actively reviewing and analysing procurement performance data, identifying opportunities for process improvement and making recommendations accordingly to the Head of Procurement Centre of Excellence.

• Supporting the scoping and delivery of performance improvement projects, working actively with stakeholders across procurement and the wider business to understand the potential impact of new processes and work with the project team to  plan effective implementation and adoption.

• Managing and co-ordinating the engagement with various other procurement software providers such as D&B, Moodys and Achilles, to support effective system performance, compliance and service delivery.

• Supporting the Head of Procurement Centre of Excellence with updates to procurement policies as required.  Plus, creation or updates to any required Standard operating procedures, and Terms of Reference as required.

• Ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, including PA23, UCR (Utilities Contracts Regulations), Competition Law, Fraud & Bribery and Modern Slavery, Conflict Minerals, Real living Wage in Supply Chain etc.

• Training on best practice procurement processes, as required, to stakeholders within the procurement function and across the wider NESO business.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

About You

What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. For this role, we’re looking for someone with:

• Expert knowledge of end-to-end procurement processes and operating models.

• Experience of working with e-procurement systems such as Ivalua, SAP, S4Hana, Coupa or Oracle

• Experience of working within Public Sector Procurement is desirable

• A strong interest in emerging technologies, particularly AI, and their application in procurement.

• An understanding of best-practice procurement policies, processes and systems.

• Strong analytical and reporting skills.

• Commercial awareness, with the ability to build a strong business case for change.

• Good communication and project management skills.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £50,000 - £60,00 dependent on experience and capabilityAs well as your base salary, NESO's core benefits are the essential perks and advantages that form part of your employee package. - You will receive a bonus based on company performance- 26 days annual leave as standard - A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. - Annual Enrollment to NESO Savings Plan, when you save between £20- £500 a month from your take-home pay, we will pay a 50% matching contribution.

NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your health, lifestyle and protection benefits, here's just a few available:
- Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading
- Additional Birthday Day Off
- Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts
- Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance
 

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain's energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2030.
In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always acting in the best interests of all energy users.
Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long term thing and public value.
The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future.
Your energy. Our future. Together

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

More Information

This role closes at 23:59, on the day before date shown above, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we're committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. process where everyone has the opportunity to show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds.