About the job

Job summary

DCMS is looking to strengthen its commercial capability and has an opportunity for an individual to join the Commercial team in the role of Commercial Assistant.

The role holder will work within an integrated commercial functional team, working on delivering innovative commercial solutions. We work flexibly, within a project based, delivery focussed and dynamic environment. We work with pace and are creative, innovative and ambitious.

The role holder will work cross-functionally, providing support in a newly formed commercial services team within our Commercial Operations pillar. This will include supporting procurement processes, drafting procurement documentation and using the E-Sourcing system; providing project support to procurement processes; supporting the day-to-day operation of the P2P process; and providing training and development to non-commercial colleagues on the requisitioning process.

This role represents a great development opportunity in an exciting and dynamic environment. It will enable cross-functional working and provide experience in a number of commercial areas.

Job description

Commercial Assistant 

• Support the Commercial Services team with the delivery of procurement and commercial activity as required, both internally and externally;
• Draft procurement documentation, such as Invitation to Tenders/Request for Quotations, Award Recommendation Reports and Award Letters; 
• Provide continuous support to the improvement of Commercial systems and processes, maintaining accurate data sources to support reporting activities; 
• Support all Purchase to Pay (P2P) activities, advising internal stakeholders, to maintain compliance with government policy and achieve prompt payment targets; 
• Reviewing and approving Purchase Orders in accordance with commercial agreements; 
• Develop and lead on the delivery of P2P and Commercial training;
• Support compliance with Government Transparency Policy. 

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience:

Essential requirements: 

• Have well developed interpersonal and communication skills.
• Have excellent attention to detail whilst understanding the bigger picture and how your work impacts the wider team and Department.
• Be able to demonstrate experience in planning and managing processes.
• Be able to demonstrate evidence of your commitment to personal development.
• Be able to collate, analyse and present a variety of different datasets in various formats, and demonstrate excellent IT skills including Microsoft and Google systems.
• Be able to operate with autonomy, working flexibly and innovatively with policy colleagues across all of our work areas including senior stakeholders.

Desirable skills:

• Have an understanding of the role Commercial plays in delivering value for money.
• Be aware of Programme and Project Management techniques and experience of delivering results using these methodologies.
• Have an awareness of Government commercial and procurement policies and procedures, such as Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.

We understand that candidates come from a variety of backgrounds, and may not have all the skills listed above. We would encourage candidates to apply even if they do not fulfil 100% of the essential criteria.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,514, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £7,159 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, Strengths and Experience.

To apply for this post, please send us the following documents no later than 12/05/2024 at 11:55pm via the CS Jobs portal:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 3 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.
• A behaviour statement of 250 words on Delivering at Pace.

For the shortlist, we will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application. 

For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the ‘Application and Interview Guidance’ document attached to the job advert.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

The interview process will assess behaviours and strengths.

The behaviours to be tested at interview are:

● Delivering at Pace
● Managing a Quality Service
● Working Together

You will not be made aware of the strengths being assessed prior to your interview.

Your interview will take place remotely via Google Meet.

For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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  

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

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Information for Applicants’ document.

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. 

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.

If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only., Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.

In order to request an adjustment, please:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on 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 a verbal test rather than a written one. 

Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.

Feedback

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.