Commercial Lead
Government Commercial Function
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 20th October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
We are seeking two Commercial Leads
Role One:
The first professional will join the DSIT Grants Team, in a role supporting The Digital Infrastructure Directorate. Building on the 5G Testbeds and Trials (5GTT) Programme, established to stimulate market development and deployment of 5G technology and infrastructure in the UK. As part of the Future Networks Programme team (FNP) in the Digital Infrastructure Directorate, this is a high-profile policy area within DSIT with close political, parliamentary and media interest that sits at the heart of the Government’s productivity, security and international policy ambitions. For example, the Open Networks Programme was launched to build a more competitive, dynamic and diverse telecoms equipment supply chain in the UK - specifically bringing open network technology to the market more quickly, effectively and sustainably. This will give you a fantastic, unparalleled opportunity to be at the heart of a team established to pursue a range of actions via R&D investment.
The Role Holder will be line managed within the DSIT Commercial Grants team within the DSIT Commercial Directorate but will work predominantly as part of the Future Network Programmes team to support it commercially.
Role Two:
The second professional will join the Digital Telecoms and Technologies Commercial Team. The category supports key DSIT activity from CDDO, to Security and Online Harms, to Cyber and The AI Safety Institute. Commercial Leads benefit from a broad portfolio of commercial activity and experiences from enabling very hard to reach broadband across the UK to supporting the enablement of the Security on Online Harms legislation protecting some of the most vulnerable in society.
The DSIT Commercial and Grants Team are responsible for supporting DSIT Policy and digital colleagues to deliver high profile and exciting initiatives UK Wide, from setting up policies promoting investment to protecting national security, to teams deliver grants and commercial arrangements that enable innovative and exciting policy outcomes.
These roles support high profile policy areas within DSIT with close political, parliamentary and media interest that sits at the heart of the Government’s productivity, security and international policy ambitions. The work of each team combines policy, delivery and strategic thinking skills. The role holders will be line managed within the Commercial Business Partner team within the DSIT Commercial Directorate, but will work predominantly as part of the category teams to lead commercial activity.
Job description
Are you seeking a new and exciting challenge and an opportunity to make a real difference to so many? In this role you will gain a unique perspective across entire Portfolios. You will be required to lead the commercial support for all projects in each of the programmes, working alongside other G7 Commercial Leads.
The DSIT Commercial and Grants team is a diverse and supportive working environment, category teams include specialists in project delivery, commercial, finance, legal, analysis, technology and policy. We have high engagement with ministers and senior stakeholders within government (central and local) and externally with key market vendors in the digital, telecoms and technology sectors.
In your role as Commercial Lead, you will own the end-to-end lifecycle for your category, reporting to a group Head of Commercial in the DSIT Commercial Directorate, you will work closely with the Head of Business Operations, with line management opportunities. Your role will include providing expert advice to policy and programme development colleagues in the delivery of grant & commercial interventions, and programme delivery in the management of grant & commercial relationships. In addition, you will provide support to develop the programme’s approach to its contract requirements, sourcing, procurement and contract management (including, but not limited to, programme evaluation, research, standards and financial assurance).
Locations:
The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.
Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.
This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.
Person specification
- Lead the end-to-end delivery of commercial requirements within a defined category, covering both grants and contract relationships, both in approach to market and the management of existing commercial relationships.
- You will provide the link between the programme and the DSIT Commercial Directorate. Providing support to policy colleagues in your assigned category defining their approach to market and working to ensure timely execution of procurement activities in line with DSIT and Cabinet Office policies, processes, regulations and legislation.
- You will promote DSIT values, plan and oversee the professional development and training of any staff you may be responsible for. Set high performance expectations, developing the capability of all those you activity manage, valuing difference to deliver results, inspiring people and creating a shared sense of purpose across the Department.
- As part of the Commercial Directorate, you will ensure you are responsive to business needs whilst effectively managing business and commercial risks, and ensure the programme is responsive to deliver these requirements.
- Assist with the implementation and embedding of supplier relationship management and Contract Management processes in the department.
- Support the wider policy teams in the development of business cases with specific consideration to the commercial approach to delivering a programme of innovation interventions to deliver the government’s digital, telecoms and technology policy programmes.
Skills and Experience Needed:
- Working knowledge of Grants lifecycle, and the Government Grants Functional Standard.
- End to end commercial lifecycle experience.
- Sound knowledge of Public Sector Commercial and Procurement policies and procedures, PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.
- Significant experience in utilising CCS Frameworks to enable policy outcomes.
- A demonstrable track record of delivering value for money across both works and technology categories.
- Proficient procurement professional with relevant applied and/or theoretical knowledge, in management process development and implementation, category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship development and performance management, specification, report and recommendation writing.
- Practical experience of managing varied procurement operations working in a corporate procurement environment ideally subject to public procurement law.
- Experience of managing goods and services procurements and leading contract negotiations.
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills plus a track record of leadership, setting strategic goals, and driving commercial and procurement activities.
- Demonstrable experience of operating in a senior environment and delivering results, notably securing value for money, including experience of procurement planning, management and business processes.
- Experience of research and development processes, procedures, issues and risks.
- Evidence of your commitment to personal development.
- Ability to operate with autonomy, working flexibly and innovatively with policy colleagues across all of our work areas.
- Experience of building professional, dynamic relationships across the organisations and with stakeholders.
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Risk Mindset - Identifies risks to delivery, as well as risks relating to fraud, works with stakeholders to minimise, manage or eliminate risks. Communicate these risks effectively and clearly
- Manages Complexity - Ability to run multiple, concurrent and complex initiatives; keeping projects on track, and briefing on key issues, developments and plans to senior stakeholders
- Market Insight - A good working knowledge of the technology sector (particularly telecommunications); digital, data and technology products and services; and the supply market
- Builds Relationships - Evidence of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders, through compelling messaging, collaborative working and effective delivery of commitments
- Procurement Process - An understanding of the key differences between procurements and grants, and working knowledge of Grants lifecycle and the Government Grants Functional Standard
Benefits
As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.
For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 4th November 2024 and will require a full day's attendance.
If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.
Details of schemes available are attached in the advert.
For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in the attached candidate pack.
Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the attached Candidate Pack.
Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.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 : Ashlene Doherty
- Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
