About the job

Job summary

One of the highest priorities for the Civil Service is improving commercial capability across Government, a priority which is being led by the Government Commercial Function (GCF). Across government we have made progress in raising commercial capability but there is still a need to develop the commercial capability of both those working in commercial roles as well as across the whole of the Civil Service

As part of our work to develop commercial capability, the Commercial Capability Programme has established a Government Commercial Organisation (GCO) that will recruit, retain, develop and grow our own senior commercial talent, helping to drive commercial best practice and better commercial outcomes.

Critical to the success of this strategy is to support the agenda of the Government Commercial Function helping commercial teams in government departments think about, document and implement their plans for transformation.

The role will work collaboratively with central government departments to support the thinking and definition of the next phase of blueprints.

Additionally, the Blueprints team have ambition to:

1. Digitise the current product and data collection methodology to enable improved
   transparency and benchmarking between government departments and bodies.
2. Expand the service and product beyond central government into the wider public sector in
   support of improving commercial and contract management capability.

Job description

The role of the Blueprints Lead is to work collaboratively with all central government departments to develop, deliver and support completion and implementation of their commercial Blueprint. Commercial Blueprints are a living document completed by each department to demonstrate their journey towards their respective target operating model for commercial teams. It includes key commercial information and data such as pipeline activities, spend data, resource data, contract and supplier management data, operating model information, savings targets and technology information.

The primary customer(s) for the Commercial Blueprints are the Government Chief Commercial Officer and Commercial Directors (or equivalents) in the Departments and Contracting Authorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in commercial Blueprint engagement with departments and contracting authorities to progress completion of the Blueprint.
• Provide advice and guidance to departments and other populations throughout the Blueprint process.
• Working with data analysis colleagues to review and comment on commercial Blueprints
• Coordinate activities and plans to ensure Blueprint completion by all populations within agreed timelines
• Aggregate and report on Blueprint returns to senior Government stakeholders
• Draft the approval and manage the sign off process for completed Blueprints, working with senior Government and external stakeholders
• In respect of all of the above to specify and undertake the analysis needed in order to satisfy senior stakeholders.

Person specification

Essential

• Proven deep experience of analysing qualitative and quantitative data and producing reports in support of strategic, operational and/or investment decisions
• Experience facilitating focus groups and workshops in order to extract information needed for analysis and to test recommendations to be made
• Ability to build effective collaborative relationships with a wide range of professionals across government
• Ability to collaborate with senior stakeholders to achieve mutual benefits & corporate goals
• Experience carrying out research and conducting data collection
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint
• High-quality written, communication and presentations skills
• Can identify key risks and issues and provide appropriate assessment, mitigation and solutions
• Strong numerical and accountancy skills
• High performer, capable of producing quality products quickly, under tight timeframes.

Please do not apply unless you meet the essential criteria above, as this will be tested at interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your Experience and will be asked to complete:

• A name-blind (anonymous) CV which includes job history & skills and experience
• A name-blind statement of suitability (250 words max). Referring to the essential experience section of the job advert please demonstrate how you are suitable for the role by providing relevant examples.
• Written evidence of the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing for this role (250 words maximum). Please make your examples as relevant as possible to the role.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour of Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

At interview you will be assessed on behaviours and be required to complete a 5 minute presentation.

After the interview panel, before a final appointment decision is made, candidates may be asked to come in to complete a timed exercise. This is will be no more than 5 days after the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 22/01/2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 05/02/2024
Interview location - Virtual - Google Meet

Reasonable adjustments

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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 

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 /Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.