About the job

Job summary

In the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Commercial Directorate is a strategic and enabling function that supports all DHSC’s commercial interactions with third parties and supporting ministers in delivering their agenda. Our mission is to ensure that health and care policy is implemented at best value for the taxpayer.   

We do this by leading and overseeing the department’s direct commercial activity, implementing commercial policies across DHSC and its arm length bodies, and acting as advisors to the Secretary of State. Our vision is to provide a world-class commercial service to enable the health and care system to deliver for the public – we aim to be the best in government commercial for technical expertise and customer focus.  

This is an exciting time to be part of the DHSC Commercial Directorate (CD) with an ever-growing need for policy and commercial professions to work closely to solve some of the most fascinating challenges in health and care.  The Commercial Implementation Lead post sit in the Commercial Implementation Unit (CIU) section of the Commercial Strategy and Business Partnering Team which is part of the CD.  

The CIU was designed to ensure commercial considerations are at the heart of DHSC policy making and embedded into policy thinking from the earliest stages. The team works like an internal consultancy for policy areas, using a collaborative approach to bring a business, financial and commercial perspective to policy design. The Commercial Implementation Lead delivers projects and advises policy teams on some of the most complex and high-profile areas across the department. The CIU are expected to foster relationships across the NHS,  the wider health and care system, other Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs) and government departments.  

Applications are encouraged from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, including but not limited to, commercial/commissioning, policy and project delivery, health and social care, as diversity of perspectives improves our service and decision making.

Job description

The Commercial Implementation Lead role provides colleagues with commercial advice and expertise to support policy making and shape and design requirements. The post holder is expected to work on and lead several projects at any given time, have the ability to build good relationships with a range of colleagues and provide credible advice. 

CIU’s ability to provide direct input to DHSC priorities is contingent on a small agile team with relevant skills, knowledge, and experience, along with the ability to re-task at pace. Successful candidate will need to be highly organised and respond to ad-hoc support requests when needed.  They will also need to have a track record of juggling multiple complex projects, managing competing deadlines, working with ambiguity and change, and ideally have experience of account management/business development and/or customer service. As advice goes directly into policy designs, business cases and/or ministerial submissions, good written communication/report writing skills are essential. 

The work is incredibly varied, and the team works across the full breadth of health and care policy. The role will include bespoke project work, deep dive reviews, make vs buy analysis, engagement and consultation, commercial options appraisal, and market assessments.  Key elements of this post include ensuring value for money, briefing ministers and senior leaders, providing recommendations to shape service transformation and design, and encouraging innovation including through digital solutions and new technology.  

Person specification

The Commercial Implementation Lead role will require a flexible and adaptable approach as priorities and workload will shift throughout the year: 

Your key responsibilities will be:

• To lead the CIU in embedding commercial considerations into departmental policy development by providing valued, reliable, and trusted support to the policy profession and maintain a reputation for customer service excellence with policy colleagues 
• Work collaboratively and cultivate good working relationships internally and externally, becoming a trusted partner  
• Lead and deliver work packages with project management discipline to ensure that DHSC policy teams can translate commercial considerations into successful policy implementation. This will include managing a diverse workload across multiple independent projects whilst meeting deadlines and providing high quality work 
• To use creative thinking, commercial awareness, and experience to make well-informed judgements and influential proposals to policy colleagues. This will include drawing on additional expertise in analysing complex or conflicting evidence, presenting options, and making recommendations to enable the most appropriate solutions to be developed
• Establish, build, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders who are of strategic importance to the organisation. This may include internal Ministers and senior employees from the DHSC or external government departments or organisations, (recognising potential conflicting views and priorities) 
• Engaging with DHSC Policy Units to generate new project opportunities by assessing the strategic commercial implications of new policies and projects, potential to improve services, improve efficiency or generate revenue from public sector assets/activities  
• Be politically aware and consider the commercial, financial, and long-term implications of policy and other changes; interpret trends and developments and produce future policies and organisational strategies considering these
• Support the Deputy Director and Head of CIU in brief ministers and senior leaders both in person and via submissions which summaries the issues and seek their advice, approval, or action 
• Undertake line management duties and support the development of direct reports as well as the wider team 
• Lead by example; role modelling ethics, integrity, impartiality, and the elimination of bias by building diverse teams and promoting a working environment that supports the Civil Service values and code

Key Skills and Responsibilities Required for the Role:

• Have the drive and organisational skills to deliver work packages to time 
• Be able to develop strong relationships with stakeholders including the customer i.e. a policy team and leverage these relationships to deliver excellent customer service both autonomously or within a dynamic project team 
• Be comfortable and adaptable with frequent and fast paced change. This includes both moving between multiple projects and working across a diverse work area 
• Be able to use sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to arrive at accurate professional decisions and advice. (This includes being able to analyse and present data) 
• Be comfortable giving advice at short notice and, at times, with limited/incomplete information
• Have strong communication skills and interpersonal skills. You will also be able to communicate across multiple mediums and convey messages in a clear and succinct way. This includes report writing, submissions, options papers or verbal communication
• Have a good set of skills to operate across a range of projects and teams - including: 
  • Effective planning 
  • Time management 
  • Ability to think through difficult policy problems 
  • Adaptability to shifts in business focus and customer needs, demonstrating a solutions-focused approach.
• Whilst not essential, it would be desirable if you have relevant experience in any of the following: 
  • Knowledge and understanding of commercial markets and models,
  • Experience of project management and commissioning
  • Business development and consultancy 
  • Experience of working with/or in the public sector or developing policy 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,354 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.

Sift date: expected W/C 8th January

Interview date: expected W/C 5th February

Interview location: By video. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.

Applications will be sifted on CV, Statement of Suitability and Behaviours.

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your Statement of Suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. 

Please complete statements on the specified Behaviours (250 word max per statement).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

An initial sift based on the Lead Behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service' may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Candidates will be asked to give a short presentation which will assess 'experience'. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores. 

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here.

Further Information

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available.

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance. 

Any move to DHSC 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  

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 dhscrecruitment.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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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.

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.

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 role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis 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.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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.