Senior Commercial Officer - Contract Manager
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 21st October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The role is within Defra's Supplier Relationship Management and Contract Management (SRMCM) Team which provides expertise to define best practice standards for contract and supplier management for Defra group. The team manages the Long-Term Services Agreement (LTSA) framework with Fera Science Ltd, a high-value framework providing strategic research and diagnostic services to government, including on plant and insect health, environmental studies, sustainability and food security.
You will manage the LTSA framework, ensuring it continues to deliver excellent services on its nine call-off contracts, including to quality, cost and time. You will help manage the transition to new contracts following expiry of the LTSA in March 2025, embedding the new ways of working and a successful handover. For brevity, reference to the LTSA in this advert includes the replacement contracts.
You will help shape and strengthen relationships with Fera, LTSA governance and help Defra deliver ambitious goals. This will include working with senior stakeholders to ensure contract risks are clearly understood, owned and managed at the highest level.
Job description
The Senior Commercial Officer will report to the Grade 7 SRMCM Commercial Manager.
You will lead framework management activities for the LTSA, working closely with the supplier and stakeholders from across Defra and wider government to monitor and ensure delivery to time, cost and quality. You will ensure that all performance metrics are provided on time, assess them with the call-off customers, and ensure that any issues are resolved to their satisfaction. You will co-ordinate quarterly KPI reporting to Cabinet Office for the LTSA.
You will manage the LTSA governance arrangements at operational and strategic levels. You will arrange and either chair or support relevant meetings, ensuring they continue to deliver on their remit and create value for attendees. Where necessary, you will update the governance arrangements in consultation with Defra and Fera.
You will oversee and manage risks on the LTSA, ensuring they are being identified, owned, and managed throughout the framework’s life. You will escalate these where necessary, working with senior leaders to ensure service continuity.
You will deliver Value for Money throughout the life of the LTSA. You will monitor framework pricing, potentially including a variety of pricing strategies (fixed, firm, open book, etc), ensure the contract rates are being complied with, and agreeing updates where needed. You will identify opportunities for continuous improvement with the customers and Fera and ensure these are delivered.
You will oversee the commissioning process to agree new activities by Fera, working with customers to ensure suitable statements of requirements, and that Fera’s proposals are optimal. You will work with a range of stakeholders from across Defra group (including Natural England, Environment Agency and the Animal and Plant Health Agency) to educate them on the services offered under the LTSA.
You will manage the transition from LTSA to new contracting arrangements following LTSA expiry. You will lead contract initiation activities, establishing new ways of working, governance and reporting.
Finally, you will engage with DgC Colleagues, building your Commercial network both internally and through the wider Defra group and other Government bodies. You will use your expertise to develop and promote contract management best practice, working with customers, colleagues and suppliers.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who have contract management experience and wish to continue developing their experience on a strategic, high-value framework. You will excel at building networks and see good relationships as a key part of your expertise. Finally, you will enjoy building a positive team spirit and supporting Defra group team to deliver expert outcomes that are valued by your customers. In previous roles we expect you will have:
- Managed contracts in accordance with best practice, ensuring delivery to time, quality and cost.
- Formed positive working relationships with colleagues, customers and suppliers including influencing and challenging to gain the best outcome.
- Given day-to-day advice on contract management practices, providing guidance and insights to manage and develop key supplier relationships.
- Presented conclusions and made recommendations evidenced by analysed information including financial information.
- Proactively identified risks and managed plans to mitigate.
- Attended and chaired meetings to oversee delivery, including setting agendas, leading on items and recording actions and decisions.
- Worked within regulatory frameworks, ideally including the Public Contracting Regulations, complying with relevant policies and processes and promoted those standards in the way you work.
- Delivered improved ways of working, business change or efficiency.
- Used procurement or contract management IT systems and applications.
- Invested in your own development which might have included keeping up to date on legislation, best practice or developing industry knowledge. Hold or be prepared to study towards CIPS level 5 qualifications.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £39,439, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs offers you:
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
The Experience and Civil Service Behaviours essential to this post are found in the attached job advert. These will be tested at sift and interview as described in the advert.
Application Process
Please submit your tailored CV demonstrating how you meet the experience detailed above with a 250-word behaviour statement which should explain how your work experience to date has demonstrated your ability to Communicate with and Influence others.
Sift
The sift is based on an assessment of your CV and 250-word statement. Candidates who pass the sift will progress to interview.
Sift results are expected to be released w/c 28 October.
Interview
If you are successful at application stage and pass the sift, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed against the Experience and Civil Service Behaviours for this role.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
At the interview you will be asked for your location preference.
Interviews are expected to take place in the weeks commencing 04 November and/or 11 November.
Interviews will take place using video conferencing (Microsoft Teams) and will typically last for 45 minutes.
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.
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.
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 London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. 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.
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.
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 submit your application, you should contact stephen.lawlor@defra.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section when completing your application to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access when attending at an office, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any of the documentation for this role, please contact the email address in the Reasonable Adjustment section.
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 : Stephen Lawlor
- Email : stephen.lawlor@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.
