About the job

Job summary

Do you have knowledge and experience of public sector procurement?

Would you like the opportunity to be part of an exciting team who adopt a category management approach?

If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real impact and help drive our transformation, we’d love to hear from you!

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are finalising their transformation from Procurement and Contract Management teams into a Category Management approach.

The Category Management approach is recognised as best commercial practice by the Government Commercial Function (Cabinet Office), and its introduction supports a new DVSA Commercial Strategy that has been approved by the DVSA Board. The Category Management approach means that commercial requirements will be brigaded into categories by spend and type and managed holistically through the entire commercial cycle (pre-procurement and market engagement; procurement; and contract management and benefits realisation), resulting in improved commercial services to the business and cashable and non-cashable efficiency savings over the whole life of commercial arrangements.

The role holder will be responsible for supporting the continuing development of the category approach, they will work in a small category team and report to the Senior Commercial Category Manager of their category.

Job description

The purpose of this role is to provide DVSA with an exemplar commercial experience in line with Government Commercial Function (GCF) best practice, by supporting the Commercial Category, and introducing the concept and efficiency benefits of the Category Management approach to the business. The Commercial Category Manager will deliver an effective, and improving, commercial service covering all aspects of the commercial cycle, including pre-procurement and market engagement activity, procurement, and contract management and benefits realisation.

The successful role holder will operate within a regulated public sector procurement environment consistent with the GCF Commercial Operating Standards for Government. The role holder will be part of be an integral category team responsible for the end-to-end commercial cycle of a category/s. The role holder will support their team through the transition from a disaggregated approach to the commercial cycle to the full introduction of Commercial Category Management.

This particular role will initially operate in a defined category with a value of c£100m. We are looking for dynamic individuals and it is expected that over time staff will be able to operate in any given category. The role holder will be responsible for supporting the Senior Commercial Category Manager, contributing to category strategies for their Category, which will be signed off by the business and at DVSA board level. The category strategy will inform the category approach, with all members of the category team adhering to the strategy to deliver the required outputs & performance of the category. These strategies will identify cashable and non-cashable efficiencies to directly benefit the business.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

• Contribute to the delivery of the category strategy, and thereafter the objectives of the strategy including cashable and non-cashable efficiencies.
• Manage and develop/upskill and mentor the category officers and administration staff team members.
• Support a step change to the way DVSA thinks about and delivers commercial activity.
• Contribute to effective innovative commercial solutions throughout the commercial cycle.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

• To succeed in this role, you will have experience of working with different elements of the commercial cycle, including pre-competitive supplier engagement, supplier selection, tender evaluation, contract award and ongoing contract management.
• You have experience of public sector procurement, e.g., EU Procurement Regulations and using Crown Commercial Service frameworks and the Digital Marketplace.
• You have experience of operating in a category management environment, or a knowledge of the principles of a category management approach.
• You can work effectively with both internal and external key people, to achieve a common goal.
• You are someone who is passionate about collaborative working and can focus on your own objectives, whilst supporting others to do the same.
• You are adaptable and flexible and can successfully adjust to periods of change. 

Additional Information

This role can be based in Swansea, Nottingham or Bristol. Where your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model with the expectation that you will spend a minimum 60% on a DVSA site or on official business giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work.

There will be occasional travel required with this role to other DVSA locations, including overnight stays.

Whilst we welcome applications from candidates looking for part-time work, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to work a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Due to the evolving nature of the business, vacancies can become available at any time. Therefore, this campaign may create a reserve list to fulfil demand if it arises which will be held for a period of 12 months.

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• Make roads safer.
• Improve services for our customers.
• Make road transport greener and healthier.
• Harness the potential of technology and data.
• Grow and level up the economy.

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+. 
 
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.  

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%.
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30.
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Latest IT and Tech devices.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level.
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names.
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing.
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers.
• For more information see visit our careers page.

 

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.

How to Apply 

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Your experience of the commercial cycle including pre-competitive supplier engagement, supplier selection, tender evaluation, contract award and ongoing contract management.
• Your experience of public sector procurement, e.g. Procurement Regulations 2015 and using Crown Commercial Service frameworks and the Digital Marketplace.
• Your experience of operating in a category management environment, or a knowledge of the principles of a category management approach.

Your Personal Statement will be limited to a maximum of 1000 words.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• An interview and presentation.

As part of the Technical Assessment for this role you will be assessed against: Government Commercial Function Framework.

Further details around this can be found in the 'Technical' section of the advert and in the attached Candidate Pack.

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

The sift is due to take place 18th - 19th March 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 08th April 2024.

This interview will be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the candidate pack as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

You can read more about Success Profiles here.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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.