Deputy Director, Commercial Specialist
Government Commercial Function
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 14th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Complex Transactions (CTT) is an award winning, diverse team of commercial experts who bring a wealth of experience from across a range of sectors, industries and procurement categories. Our vision is to be Government’s preferred choice for commercial expertise to deliver value to the public. Our mission is to resolve Government’s most critical commercial challenges. All of our work is high profile, high value or integral to Government policy. In many cases it is all three. This recruitment campaign aims to increase our commercial specialist capacity and capability across a diverse portfolio.
Our assignments take us to the heart of Government and we are at the forefront in addressing the commercial challenges that make this country operate. From renegotiating contracts for the Department for Work and Pensions to supporting transformational technology projects for HMRC - our work ensures the delivery of services that impact the everyday lives of citizens across the UK.
Our unique role as pan-Government consultants enables us to influence and shape some of the biggest deals that exist in either the public and private sector across the full spectrum of the commercial lifecycle. From supporting the government Missions, procurement reform, Net Zero, social value and digital transformation we have an opportunity to influence and apply these initiatives across central, local government and the private sector supply chains.
The team structure is not typical of the civil service and is a reverse pyramid of senior commercial specialist expertise. The team has c.45 members. You don’t need to have a background in public sector procurement to join us - we’re more interested in your commercial acumen, leadership, flexibility and desire to make a difference.
Brett Holtom
Director of Complex Transactions &
Commercial Models Teams
Job description
- Interesting Work - We are committed to resolving Government’s most critical commercial challenges. Whether it is supporting a dispute resolution on a critical contract, facilitating the optimal delivery model for services to the public or even working on transformation programmes involving innovation, there is a rich variety of interesting work to get involved in.
- Making a Difference - Our work is in the best interests of the UK. We bring our collective experiences across HMG together to make a difference and deliver value to the public. For example we have recently provided commercial expertise to the Department for International Trade, supporting the delivery of Expo 2025 - Japan, supported Great British Energy in its mission to deliver renewable energy and supporting multiple departments with the delivery of the Government Shared Services Strategy.
- Supportive - We are a close knit team that celebrates each others wins, with the ability to access our collective capability - our ‘hive mind’, when needed. We recognise the importance of looking after our wellbeing and have a number of special interest groups to help colleagues decompress, whilst also encouraging our team members to join wider GCF support networks.
- Capability Uplift - We have a culture of sharing knowledge and best practice, through lessons learned sessions, assignment knowledge shares and peer reviews. We ensure that each team member has the opportunity to reflect on their work and to share this for the benefit of all, including themselves.
- Inclusive - We place a high value on diversity, striving to create an environment where individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, their skills are developed, and they are supported to make significant contributions to our mission.
Person specification
- Being a trusted advisor to commercial, policy, operational and programme leaders to help in the delivery of complex commercial programmes. Providing expert advice and support to some of the most high profile and complex commercial programmes and initiatives in Government.
- Supporting departments to structure sourcing and commercial strategies to deliver value for money on departmental programmes and projects.
- Shaping and leading commercial negotiations with both new and incumbent suppliers through to great outcomes; providing strategic advice and support to complex contracts during the procurement phase, contract exit and contract reviews.
- Resolving high-value commercial disputes between government departments and strategic suppliers.
- Identifying how Government can address best practice commercial approaches to ensure transparency, pricing and exit arrangements, in more complex contracts.
- Providing expert commercial advice to support departments with their most challenging commercial disputes.
- Playing an active role in contributing to the expertise within the CTT. Collaborating with peers to develop and share best practice.
You will also:
- Be amongst the most senior members of the Government Commercial Function and play a role in the broader commercial reform programme led by the Government Chief Commercial Officer;
- Play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the Cabinet Office and across Government.
Rakhee Dave-Shah, Deputy Director Complex Transactions Team is hosting a 30 minute drop in session via MS Teams on Wednesday 6th November at 15:30 for potential applicants to join to find out more and ask any high level questions about the role, team or working in Government.
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device:
Meeting ID: 361 252 164 311
Passcode: hzFza7
Dial in by phone
+44 20 7660 6808,,448008453# United Kingdom, City of London
Phone conference ID: 448 008 453#
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Strategy & Policy Development - Evidence of designing & agreeing innovative commercial strategies requiring senior stakeholder engagement, insource/outsource modelling and/or market shaping. Influencing a culture of commercial excellence.
- Commercial Focus - Extensive category expertise leading complex, high value negotiations and finalising major deals. Evidence of designing evaluations for complex procurements and putting in place a strategy for risk allocation.
- Assertive - A strong record of influencing leaders in the supply market, enacting exit strategies, leading on complex dispute resolution, delivering favourable results and ensuring security of supply.
- Builds Relationships - Demonstrate outstanding interpersonal and consultancy skills. Gaining credibility and influencing through network development and management, strong stakeholder management and effective communication skills.
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 *28th November & *6th December and will require a full day's attendance.
*You will be allocated one of these dates, please keep both free and if one is not possible for you please indicate this clearly in your application as we cannot guarantee a choice of date.
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 on 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. Please note: Only candidates that achieve an A grade at ADC will be invited to interview for this role.
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.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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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 : Rachel Whyte
- Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
