About the job

Job summary

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform.

We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts.

The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve. We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our DCMS commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Job description

DCMS is looking to strengthen its commercial capability and has an opportunity

for a Commercial Business Partner with demonstrable experience in procurement and contract management to support and lead relevant activities. 

This is an opportunity to be involved in several exciting initiatives to improve commercial capability together with our ALB’s and business areas.  The successful candidate will lead on procurements for DCMS business areas assigned. The services that the successful candidate will be expected to procure is wide ranging, and includes but not limited to – Research and Evaluation, Consultancy and Contingent Labour, Grant Administration, Software and Hardware for example. The successful candidate will be expected to advise on commercial risk management and compliance. Furthermore, the successful candidate may support Contract Management, Memorandums of Understanding, licences to occupy and involved with input into key business cases and briefs to senior officials.

This post will work in a matrix organisation, with interaction across the Commercial Directorate, ALB’s and other DCMS business areas at all levels.

Important Information

We have two Commercial Business Partner vacancies. One is a permanent post and the second is a 2 years fixed term contract.

Person specification

• Lead on procurements of varying complexity, sometimes against tight timelines in line with Public Procurement Regulations and Policies. Interacting with the relevant business areas (or ALB’s) on progress and requirements;
• Support on other procurement operations concurrently when required. Provide professional procurement advice and assist the Head of Commercial Operations and Head of Procurement to provide a framework that enables the Business Areas to ensure the department meets any and all central government requirements, achieve best value and effectively manage risk for third-party goods and services;
• Provide clear and concise commercial advice to seniors and external stakeholders, when required. Take personal responsibility; challenge and hold stakeholders to account, create an environment that acts as a catalyst for continuous improvement; help us to develop innovative commercial solutions to meet Departmental objectives and increase efficiency whilst operating with a high degree of technical competence;
• Advise and undertake Contract Management activities, Assist with the implementation and embedding of supplier relationship management and Contract Management processes in the department;
• Lead on implementing and drafting contracts, Memorandums of Understanding, licences and other agreements as required.
• Manage consistent commercial policies and procurement processes across the Department in line with Managing Public Money, supporting with policy and process improvements; input to and follow the governance/assurance protocols for procurements
• Support the Commercial Directorate as a key adviser in providing commercial assurance across the DCMS and its ALB and to the Commercial Director and represent DCMS Commercial internally and externally when called on;
• As a member of the Commercial Function, be involved in Commercial Team activities, including improvement activities;
• Plan and oversee the professional development and training of any staff that you have responsibility for in the core Commercial team, and support development of the wider Commercial team.
• You will actively promote DCMS Values, plan and oversee the professional development and training of any staff that you may have responsibility for in the core Commercial team. Set high performance expectations, developing the capability of all those you activity manage, valuing difference to deliver results, inspiring people and creating a shared sense of purpose across the Department;

With this role comes the opportunity to apply your commercial capability at the outset of important and prestigious DCMS business areas and inject commercial advice and practices across the department and associated organisations to proactively enable the delivery of best value outcomes.

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

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

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 21st March and will require a full day's attendance. Please contact commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk in advance if you are unable to attend this date.

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.

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.

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 security 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.