Supply Chain Assurance Specialist

Company: National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
Apply for the Supply Chain Assurance Specialist
Location: Teddington
Job Description:

Our world-leading Time & Frequency department is seeking a Supply Chain Assurance Specialist with proven expertise in Public Procurement and Supplier Assurance.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join the global authority in precision timing at a defining moment for UK digital infrastructure.

Backed by a government investment of £180 million in the National Timing Centre (NTC) programme, we are developing a world‑first resilient time distribution capability that will provide industry with a robust complement to satellite systems.

Key Responsibilities

  • Coordinate and deliver supply chain assurance activity across relevant suppliers, procurements, and contracts.
  • Analyse supplier information and apply specialist knowledge to assess supplier capability, capacity, resilience, and risk as part of procurement and contract assurance activity.
  • Support supplier selection processes by reviewing, evaluating, and assessing information provided against public sector selection criteria.
  • Provide clear advice and guidance to internal stakeholders on supplier assurance, risk, compliance, and due diligence requirements.
  • Ensure assurance activity is undertaken in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and wider public sector procurement principles.
  • Review and assess supplier information relating to financial standing, technical capability, modern slavery, business continuity, cyber security, and other relevant assurance areas.
  • Identify supply chain risks, coordinate proportionate assurance responses, and recommend practical mitigations and controls.
  • Maintain accurate assurance records, audit trails, and management reporting information.
  • Work closely with procurement, supply chain, operational, legal, and security teams to support robust supplier governance.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of supplier assurance processes, templates, controls, and reporting.
  • Support consistent and proportionate application of assurance standards across the supplier lifecycle.

This role will require you to work in a hybrid, settling with expected 2/3 days at our Teddington site.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have the following skills, experience, and qualifications:

  • Experience working in a public sector, regulated, or high‑assurance environment.
  • Experience in procurement and/or supply chain.
  • Experience of undertaking supplier due diligence, assurance, risk assessment, or supply chain review activity.
  • Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
  • Able to work independently and manage priorities effectively.
  • Self‑motivated with a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Able to build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers.

Essential Technical Skills

  • Good understanding of the Procurement Act 2023.
  • Good understanding of public sector selection criteria and how these are applied in supplier selection and assurance activity.
  • Knowledge of supplier resilience, business continuity, cyber assurance, or information security assurance.
  • Experience supporting contract management or supplier performance governance.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

However, to work in this role in the Time and Frequency department, you will need to have an SC clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance.

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Posted: May 17th, 2026