About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) 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 role where you can develop your current skill set in procurement?

Do you have experience in managing end to end procurement and supporting major transactions?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

This is an exciting opportunity which has arisen due the previous post holder gaining a promotion. You will be able to build strong working knowledge of an exciting commercial environment, regularly involving deals of significant contractual value as well as delivering benefits to the national infrastructure, major rail links and the public.

Job description

The Commercial Relationship Management (CRM) Team is a most important interface between the DfT businesses (in Rail, Maritime, Aviation and Roads) and the services delivered by Group Commercial Directorate (and its delivery partners such as Crown Commercial Services).

The post holder will provide essential commercial advice and procurement support to clients in the CRM Rail Mode.

The CRM Rail Mode Team is unique as it also includes the management of two current Frameworks. Firstly, the Crown Commercial Rail Legal Services Panel RM6204 provides DfT as the main client niche rail focused legal services. Secondly, the £600m STAR Three Framework provides transport focused technical and commercial consultancy and is fully owned and managed by the CRM Rail Mode. The successful candidate will have opportunities to work on the STAR Three Framework.

This is a complex area – given the nature of the procurements and rail projects and major changes in the sector. The role will support the Commercial Relationship Manager in ensuring that robust processes are in place to ensure commercial rigour substantively in the three Director General-Led Groups and as appropriate from other CRM Modes and associated bodies/parties. This includes making sure projects are successfully delivered in accordance with the Department’s and Government’s aims and objectives.

Person specification

Key accountabilities of the role include:

• Use the DfT’s Jaggaer system, manage procurements within the contractual delegation (up to £5m – subject to experience) from strategy development through to contract award and contract kick off. 
• Build close and trusted relationships with clients across the Director General led Rail Groups, advising customers on the procurement process and on the development of procurement strategies.
• As appropriate, support the strategic and operational framework management and re-procurement of frameworks by organising engagement events/meetings, and collating reports, risk logs and communications to senior stakeholders/ suppliers.
• Ensure that contracts awarded within their contractual delegation are fit for purpose, successfully handed over to the appropriate Contract Manager for management. 

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

About You

You have will be able to manage conflicting priorities whilst continuously delivering at pace. You will have the ability to lead projects as well work collaboratively in a team working in harmony. As a Commercial Relationship Advisor, you will understand and implement your expertise to action tasks efficiently. You will use your commercial judgement and decision making skills to balance risk and commercial outcomes.

You will have the thirst and curiosity to learn and develop your commercial technical knowledge. You have excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. 

The successful candidate will hold a procurement qualification e.g. MCIPS (or be working towards procurement qualification) or demonstrating an equivalent level of experience. Where a candidate does not have MCIPS or an equivalent, it is mandated that the candidate will undertake CIPS qualifications.

The candidate will be expected to attain in post the Contract Management Commercial Capability (CMCP) Foundation level accreditation and the CIPS Ethical training certificate.

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.

Due to the client focused nature of the role it will be offered on a minimum of 30 hours per week under part time hours.

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.

How to apply 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

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:

• Managing end to end procurements and supporting major transactions, including experience of working with procurement sourcing systems.
• Demonstrating sound commercial judgement and a good track record of decision-making balancing risk and commercial outcomes.
• Interaction with clients and managing their requirements.
• Experience of developing dashboards and reports.

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

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 8th April 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.

Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.

Before submitting your application, we encourage you to visit our Recruitment in detail page of the DfT Careers website. You will find detailed information about the entire recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role in the Civil Service.Throughout this job advert there are links to the DfT Careers Website, which provides you further information to support your application. Should you be unable to access the information on our website, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

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.