Commercial Systems Specialist
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 2nd February 2025
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Commercial
Information Technology
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About the job
Job summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Corporate and Delivery Directorate works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The directorate is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Security, Estates and Information and Digital, Data and Technology.
The Commercial Systems Specialist will provide critical support to colleagues enabling them to optimise use of the systems available whilst driving up compliance. With an approach of continuous improvement, this role provides that key communicate with system users to ensure that the systems remain appropriate and adapt to the constantly evolving needs and demands on it.
Sitting within the Commercial Directorate, the Systems specialists provide critical expertise and support to procurement and contract management professionals who are responsible for procuring and managing a range of goods and services from life affecting services to complex programmes that are unique in Europe.
Job description
We are seeking a hard-working individual to provide critical activities to support the delivery of Commercial’s objectives.
The main responsibility for this role is providing the Commercial Directorate with systems support and processes that facilitate productive working and apply the necessary governance and controls in an efficient and effective manner.
The role requires a close working relationship with Commercial Business Partner teams, the wider technology teams, and core system suppliers, to support the systems aligned to the Commercial Systems Strategy.
- The scope of the role covers the crucial processes and systems that manage the key sourcing, contract management and purchasing activity across the Home Office.
Additional responsibilities
- Support commercial systems functionality and scope covering sourcing, contract management, purchasing activity and the enabling activities such as workflow.
- Drive the adherence to the Commercial Systems Strategy.
- Embed the commercial lifecycle solution (Jaggaer) ensuring that plans and benefits are achieved and that the new ways of working are embraced with compliance to the new system and its processes.
- Maintain close links to systems market development and pan-government best practice, provide guidance on emerging trends, utilisation and innovations.
- Manage change control protocol on commercial system changes.
- Deliver a quality service for the provision of commercial systems.
Working pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.
Travel
Some limited travel to visit other UK HO locations with occasional overnight stays on an ad hoc basis, may be required.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Experience of being involved in a commercial lifecycle systems implementation project and post-implementation support.
- Experience of delivering within a high-quality customer service / user support function for a commercial lifecycle system, ideally Jaggaer, Oracle and/or Basware, including the ability to deliver training and manage guidance and process documentation.
- Establishes Relationships: Experience of building and influencing strong, positive relationships at all levels and with a variety of stakeholders with different backgrounds, perspectives and drivers, in a highly complex, fast paced, commercially focused environment.
- Commercial Expertise: Good procurement and commercial knowledge from within a complex and policy-led environment, across the end-to-end lifecycle. This should include knowledge and understanding of Purchase to Pay processes, commercial policies, their practical application, and the ability to implement the latest commercial methodologies.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
- See more of our benefits on our careers website.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
- Application – by 2nd February 2025
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- CV
- Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words)
- Evidence of the Behaviours - Managing a Quality Service, Changing and Improving, Working Together (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour)
Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your personal statement and scored against the essential criteria.
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift – week commencing 3rd February 2025.
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and CV and Behaviours - Managing a Quality Service, Changing and Improving, Working Together.
Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement, lead behaviour - Managing quality service. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of the Behaviours listed within the advert.
3. Interview – week commencing 17th February 2025
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions.
The interview will take place on Teams. For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Location preferences
You can select up to two/three locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is not guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.
Standards
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Further information
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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.
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.
For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
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 : Home Office resourcing centre
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
