About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Are you looking for a new opportunity working in a procurement and commercial environment?

Do you have a track record of working in teams related to commercial policy, governance and compliance?

Are you a strong team player who is a self starter?

Can you build strong relationships with various stakeholders at all levels and do you have the ability to understand and represent their needs?

If so, then we would love for you to apply!

Job description

DfT’s commercial function is managed through a collaborative operating model which includes the central department, agencies and arm’s length bodies (The Group) which influences an annual commercial expenditure of approximately £15bn.

The team is responsible for providing an end-to-end support to customers throughout the lifecycle of procurements and commercial activities across the DfT, the agencies and ALBs.

You will join an enthusiastic expert function that holds CIPS Corporate Ethics Award and CIPS Procurement Excellence accreditation.

This role will reside in the Strategy, Policy and Capability team within the Group Commercial Directorate, supporting the Commercial Policy Lead in developing, shaping and implementing commercial policies, processes and guidance.

This is an exciting time for the team as we:

• Prepare for the Procurement Act 2023 - the role holder will be responsible for supporting change within the department to enable the delivery of the function’s strategic goals. Learning and development opportunities will be available to increase knowledge and capability in this area.
• Develop a Contract Management Strategy – the role holder will have the opportunity to represent the commercial team at contract management awareness sessions and be integral in the setup of a DfT contract management community.
• Develop a Compliance framework - the role holder will play a significant part in ensuring that commercial activity in the DfT Group is supported by a robust policy, compliance and standards framework to work within.

The role holder will support the department in growing capability by sharing their knowledge via a range of forums including Commercial Knowledge Networks and Knowledge Drops.

The role holder will actively support commercial teams across the DfT Group, providing sound commercial policy and process advice and guidance.

As part of our learning and development offer, if you currently do not hold CIPS or MCIPS or equivalent qualification, we will support you to obtain this qualification whilst in post. This is an excellent opportunity to increase knowledge, highlight expertise and dedication to the profession.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities of the role include:

• Support preparations for Procurement Act 2023.
• To draft and review policies, guidance and templates to ensure they are compliant with government policy, process and legislation.
• Ensuring policies are appropriate and proportionate for the DfT Group.
• Build capability and provide advice to a variety of audiences, senior stakeholders, commercial teams and non-commercial specialist.
• Assist with developing and delivering training on new policies (and their application) to commercial and non-commercial staff.
• Support and promote the Government Commercial Function agenda of standardisation across the commercial landscape.
• To support the continuous improvement of existing commercial policies throughout commercial lifecycle, benchmarking against Commercial Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework (CCIAF) and CIPS Procurement Excellence standards.
• To support the review of existing procurement processes, standard operating procedures and how to buy guidance to ensure they are fit for purpose.
• To provide subject matter expertise to a wide range of stakeholders across the DfT Group.
• Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies, and procedures on EDI.

For an in-depth insight into the role please refer to the Role Profile.

Person specification

You will have experience of working within a commercial team and knowledge of how procurement is undertaken in the public sector and awareness of the relevant regulatory framework. You are a team player but can also work autonomously to achieve objectives. You have outstanding organisational skills and manage key priorities, being flexible when required. You have the ability to identify areas for improvement and can implement changes to ensure efficiencies.

Additional Information

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. 

Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. 

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your CV and Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Experience of working within a commercial team and knowledge of how procurement is undertaken in the public sector and awareness of the relevant regulatory framework.
• Strong stakeholder and engagement skills, the role holder will be required to actively engage with teams across the DfT family, understanding and representing their needs at a variety of networks.
• Excellent communication skills with a track record of working with a wide range of stakeholders, often at senior levels.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.

The sift is due to take place from w/c 15th July 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 29th July 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

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

• An interview

This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

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

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order 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. 

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. 

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.