About the job

Job summary

Do you want to take your public sector procurement and contract management skills to the next level?

Do you want more scope in your role, more ownership, accountability and visibility?

Do you enjoy working on a variety of different types of contracts and with multiple suppliers?

If the answer is yes, we want to hear from you!

About the agency

Part of the Department for Business and Trade, we are a government agency that helps to deliver economic confidence by supporting those in financial distress, tackling financial wrongdoing and maximising returns to creditors. We maintain the standards that help make Britain one of the best places in the world to do business. 

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.  

About the Directorate 

The Finance, Commercial, Sustainability & Property Directorate is responsible for managing both the Insolvency Service’s finances and for all commercial related activities.  We are a close-knit directorate, committed to supporting the agency’s operational business and objectives as well as its estates, sustainability and health & safety remit.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability & Health, FACES Network Group, Grass Roots, LGBT+, Mind Matters, No Limits, Part Time Workers, The Shed, and Women’s Network Group. 

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.  

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career.

Job description

About the Team

The Commercial Team is a small team of dedicated and highly competent commercial professionals, performing at an exceptionally high level and dispersed nationally across the Insolvency estate.  The team works on a flexible working basis, with a mix of remote and office-based working. The Commercial Team is embedded within the Government Commercial Function applying the Government Commercial Operating Standards, working in accordance with the People Standards for the Commercial profession and undertaking the Commercial Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework. The Senor Commercial Leadership are members of the Government Commercial Organisation.

The Commercial team at INSS is currently expanding to meet the exciting challenges across the Sourcing Pipeline, Contract Management landscape, Transforming Public Procurement and to drive best practice against the Commercial Function Standards. As a result, we’re currently recruiting against a number of Commercial roles. Any candidate who passes the interview but is unsuccessful in being offered this role, may be considered via the Reserve List for one of the other Commercial roles currently being recruited into.

We operate a Category Management approach within our Commercial Team, consisting of 4 Category Teams; Digital & Operational IT category; Enterprise, Technology & Licencing category; Corporate Services & Operations category; and Commercial Governance & Policy category. As such we are responsible for a whole lifecycle approach to commercial activities.  This will usually include leading a requirement from inception, through the Commercial sourcing cycle, mobilisation and contract management, through to Exit and Transition.

Within the Commercial Team at the Insolvency Service, we believe there are huge benefits to working within a small team.  We are able to give our Commercial Business Partners (Procurement and Contracts Managers) access to complex and strategic work which enables them to demonstrate their abilities and take on extra responsibility more than other roles.  This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that our leavers nearly always leave on promotion!

Role title: Commercial Business Partner (2 roles: 1x Corporate Services and Operations; 1x Digital and Operational IT)

If you’re interested in applying for either of these role, we’ll be running two Meet and Greet session so you can get to know more about the role, the team, the Insolvency Service and to ask any questions you have. We’re keen to meet you and share as much as possible about these fantastic opportunities.

We’re planning on hosting these sessions on Thursday 4th July for the Digital and Operational IT role, and Friday 5th July 2024 for the Corporate Services role, both sessions will be held via Microsoft Teams.

If you’d like to attend the Digital and Operational IT session, please let us know by emailing james.edlin-benwell@insolvency.gov.uk.

If you’d like to attend the Corporate Services and Ops session, please email james.leadbeater@insolvency.gov.uk.

We will then invite you along and answer your questions about the exciting opportunities to develop your Commercial career. We look forward to meeting you!

Responsibilities

These roles sit within either our Commercial Corporate Services and Operations Category Team or the Digital and Operational IT Category Team.

The Corporate Services and Operations category team is responsible for sourcing and contract management of everything across the corporate services sector (such as Legal Services, Document Management/Post, Travel and Conferencing), as well as supporting our operational colleagues for their wide ranging and unique requirements.  We’re also in the unique position of supporting our Official Receivers in their work, which supports some of the biggest National Interest Cases (such as British Steel, Thomas Cook and Carillion). Our Commercial activity is varied, our stakeholders unique across Government and you will need to use and develop your commercial skills across the full commercial lifecycle.

The Digital and Operational IT category team is responsible for commercial sourcing and contract management to support the delivery of IT-related services specific to our operational teams, such as the delivery and development of the agency’s case management system (CMS), key Customer Digital Services such as the Debt Relief Orders, Redundancy Payments and Breathing Space services as well as managing licensing and applications development and integrations for our operational colleagues’ Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software solutions.  The category is also responsible for undertaking commercial activity in support of some of the agency's leading-edge activities in areas such as Generative AI and Automation.

Reporting to one of the Grade 7 (D2) Heads of Category, you will be responsible for leading on a portfolio of commercial activity within either the Digital and Operational IT or Corporate Services and Operations Category Teams in the Insolvency Service’s wider Commercial team.  We operate a cross functional relationship model and you’ll build relationships and manage stakeholders across a directorate or the agency, in order to provide them with commercial support for their varying requirements and existing and future contracts.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work across the organisation and support the underpinning strategies to improve our services to the public and the country, by providing commercial insight and expertise.

Person specification

In this role, you’ll be responsible for the following key areas:

• Leading specific areas of Commercial activity across the category and across the full commercial lifecycle (the entire process, Identification of need & commissioning, market engagement, sourcing strategy development, ITT, evaluation & contract award) as well as performance and relationship management. Your role shall include contract management of your portfolio through to contract termination exit or transition to alternative arrangements.
• Acting as the Procurement and Contracts Manager (Commercial Business Partner) for impacting and actioning contractual / service changes that affect the Insolvency Service in your area of responsibility.
• Occasional support to the Official Receiver offering commercial advice and guidance for non-public spend.
• Risk and Opportunity Management – develop and maintain commercial risk / opportunities log across the services you manage, establishing and delivering appropriate risk mitigation.
• Communicating new / changed requirements to the wider Category team and share best practice.
• Supporting the Head of Category in handling supplier issues, formal challenges / disputes, providing options and making recommendations.
• Developing and sustaining relationships with internal agency and external stakeholders including DBT, Cabinet Office, GDS, GCO and CCS as well as suppliers.
• Working collaboratively and flexibly to meet the Agency’s needs in terms of commercial provision, recognising the complexities and dependencies of our contract landscape and the aims of our Agency Five Year Strategy.
• Applying robust governance and assurance to meet compliance requirements across the Agency, DBT, Cabinet Office, GDS and HMT and ensuring adherence to Government Commercial Functional Standards (“CCIAF”).
• Supporting the category team in implementing the new Procurement regulations.

So, you should:

• Be a confident and experienced commercial professional with proven end-to-end category management experience. You will have experience of sourcing within a range of markets, including those outlined above.
• Have experience of and be familiar with sourcing within a Public Sector environment, i.e. use of Cross-Government Frameworks, Above Threshold Tenders etc.
• Have well-developed relationship/stakeholder management skills - a strong communicator, able to challenge stakeholders and influence decisions up to Director level.
• Be a conscientious procurement professional, astute and aware of the wider context of their work, particularly around risks and opportunities.
• Be someone who is willing to share experiences and knowledge with colleagues, to the benefit of the wider commercial team and the agency as a whole.
• Be keen to “make a difference” to the agency. Working with colleagues across the Agency to develop/inform the Agency’s sourcing strategies, seeking to streamline and simplify the overall picture. Our expertise and advice directly shape the strategy and operating models of the Insolvency Service.
• Maintain an awareness of the market in which we operate, able to horizon scan to inform the commercial pipeline.
• Be happy working collaboratively within a team, able to re-prioritise work and support colleagues when required to, sometimes at the expense of your own planned work.
• Be flexible – able to successfully deal with uncertainty and change and adapt accordingly.
• Be a self-starter, able to take ownership of matters.

Essential criteria

To be successful in this role you should:

• Have the ability to deliver at pace and considering multiple solutions to achieve the desired outcome in collaboration with stakeholders. This includes both the sourcing process and quality contract drafting and handover into Contract Management.
• Be able to demonstrate your skills in identifying, influencing and applying best route to market and contracting options, including Frameworks (CCS, ESPO, YPO, G-Cloud, DOS etc), FTS, Dynamic Purchasing Systems etc. You must also be able to exercise good judgement in selecting appropriate sourcing strategies, and consideration of cost optimisation.
• Demonstrate hands-on experience of leading Commercial activity in a Business Partner role where you have managed relationships with stakeholders as well as undertaking Sourcing and Contract Management activities (such as managing contract exits and transition).
• Be CIPS qualified, working towards accreditation or willing to do so. IACCM or specialist degree may be considered as an alternative.
• Have achieved the Government Commercial College Contract Management Capability Programme (CMCP) Practitioner accreditation, be working towards this or willing to do so. At a later date, the Insolvency Service may elect to accredit all Procurement and Contracts Managers (Commercial Business Partners) to “Expert” level so a willingness to work towards this would be desirable.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,880, Insolvency Service contributes £11,307 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 1250-word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Your personal statement should be no more than 1250 words and should explain how your skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.  

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview. 

We will test your experience as part of the sift process, and if successful, you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your behaviours and technical skills. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.

Expected Timeline (subject to change) 

Sift – W/C 15 July 2024

Interview – W/C 29 July 2024 

Location – MS Teams 

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

As stated above, we will be holding Meet and Greet sessions on the 4th and 5th July to share more information about the roles and to provide the opportunity to ask questions.

If you are interested in attending these sessions, then please email James Leadbeater (james.leadbeater@insolvency.gov.uk - Corporate Services and Operations role) or James Edlin-Benwell (james.edlin-benwell@insolvency.gov.uk - Digital and Operational IT role) and an invite will be issued.

Further Information

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

Any move to Insolvency Service 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

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.

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.

Transforming Workplaces

The Insolvency Service is currently delivering an exciting five-year transformation project that started in April 2022 which will define our future direction supporting a gradual migration to a Regional Centre model combined with smarter ways of working. As part of this, transforming our estate will align us with the government modernisation programmes making The Insolvency Service a great place to work.  

We are letting you know about our future plans because if you are joining the Insolvency Service and are recruited into an office over the next five years that is not one of the Regional Centres, you will be expected to move to one of the Regional Centres in the future. This move would not attract financial assistance.   

The 11 Regional Centres are : Birmingham, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Stratford.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

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 make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via insolvencyrecruitment.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 will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.