Senior Commercial Officer - Infrastructure and Buildings categories
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Apply before Midday on Monday 4th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Are you passionate about delivering value for money to customers? Have you got experience of working in a project delivery environment?
If so, we’d like to hear from you!
Defra Group Commercial wish to appoint 8x Senior Commercial Officers (otherwise known as Senior Buyer) within the Infrastructure and Buildings Categories to support and lead Commercial delivery of medium to high value and risk projects (typically £50k to £50m), procurements and contract/ supplier management within a market facing category team across the full commercial life cycle.
As a Senior Commercial Officer, you will report to a Commercial Manager (Grade 7). You will work with customers from Defra to ensure value for money for the taxpayer while assisting delivery of Defra’s objectives and corporate targets. You will award and monitor medium value, medium and high-risk contracts in accordance with Defra's commercial policies and procedures.
The roles will provide strategic support to ensure our commercial models help project teams build and maintain flood defences and other assets in the most cost-effective way. You will provide expert advice to the business on commercial issues, governance and operational support to the team. You will engage with colleagues across the country, building their commercial network both internally and through the wider Defra network and Government Bodies.
Job description
Please note that further detail is provided within the Candidate Information pack
This is a combined recruitment process designed to fill 8 roles.
Please specify in your application which of the roles you are applying for and note that we will consider you for multiple roles if you instruct us to do so. If you are applying for multiple roles, please state your order of preference should you be successful in multiple applications.
Roles as follows:
2x ‘Hub’ roles, 1 based in Warrington, 1 in Birmingham.
These 2 roles primarily involve letting call-off contracts from Environment Agency owned and managed frameworks. Occasional open market tendering will also be required. These roles will be contractually based in Warrington or Birmingham as appropriate.
1x role to support Thames Estuary phase 2
This role involves providing strategic support to a Commercial Manager in the delivery of a major programme of works providing flood defence on the River Thames. This role can be based at any of the locations listed above, but the successful candidate is expected to work from a central London office once per week.
2x National roles
These 2 roles primarily involve letting national contracts and frameworks, as well as managing commercial aspects of the Infrastructure frameworks. These roles can be based at any of the locations stated above.
2x roles to support the Science Estate site
These roles involve providing whole life cycle commercial support to facilitate the upkeep and planned development of the Animal and Plant Health Agency site in New Haw. This could involve call off contracts from a Defra owned or Other Government Department framework or open tenders via other routes to market. These roles are based out of the APHA site at New Haw which attracts the London salary, and you are expected to be located at the site at least once a week as part of your minimum 60% time in the office.
1x role to support the Buildings office team
The role involves letting and managing contracts related to development and maintenance of the Defra estate. This role can be based at any of the locations listed above.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who are building their commercial experience. We want you to be able to challenge and influence across complex and varied customers as well as develop innovative solutions to challenges. You will excel in building networks and see good relationships as a key part of your expertise.
It is important for you to feel rewarded by having provided a high-quality professional service with measurable outcomes. Finally, you will enjoy building a positive team spirit and supporting your team to deliver expert outcomes that are valued by your customers.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Alongside your salary of £41,220 (£44,500 if role is based in London), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provides access to a generous pension scheme. Your pension builds quickly when you add your member contribution to the generous employer’s contribution. For example, if you earn between £23,101 and £45,500, you will contribute 5.45% of your salary and your employer will contribute 28.97%, meaning for every £1 you contribute, your employer will contribute almost £5. Learn more here.
- CIPS award winning Learning and development programme tailored to your role. Read more about Defra’s recent success here.
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you are asked to complete a 500-word Personal Statement and a CV.
The Personal Statement and CV will be given a combined score.
For the Personal Statement, you should use 250 words to describe your previous work history and relevant experience, and how this will be applied in your new role should you be successful, and 250 words describing your key attributes against the Leadership behaviour. You will need to be able to demonstrate that your experience covers the experience listed.
Sift
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. The indicative programme is below but please note that these dates may be subject to change. You will be informed at the earliest opportunity if any changes are required.
- Deadline for submission of applications – 12 noon on 4th November.
- Shortlisted applicants will be advised on 8th November.
- Interviews to be held during weeks commencing 18th November, 25th November and 2nd December.
- Moderation will take place during week commencing 9th December.
- Results will be announced week commencing 9th December.
Interview
If successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an interview where you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Strengths listed, and Experience.
A presentation may be included as part of the interview.
Interviews to be held via MS Teams.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Higher Security Clearance
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to New Haw, Addlestone will be subject to a higher level of clearance (CTC) because of the security requirements for that location, other locations do not require CTC clearance. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Ben Rawlings
- Email : ben.rawlings@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission.
