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 BDUK commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

The vacancy holder for this role  is holding a 30min Google Meet drop in session for this vacancy on Thursday 15 February at 1.30pm to give an overview of the role and answer some high level questions. Please see below joining details:

Meeting ID

meet.google.com/rrf-yaiy-xdb

Dial in option
Phone Numbers
(‪GB‬)
‪+44 20 3937 4784‬
PIN: ‪641 041 025#‬

Job description

The BDUK Commercial team works closely with all programme teams to enable successful delivery. We set the commercial strategy, design and manage competitions with external parties, negotiate contracts and ultimately drive value for money for the taxpayer. As a part of the wider Government Commercial Function, we are also the professional leads for the implementation of commercial best practice across DCMS and now DSIT. 

This is an opportunity to join a growing commercial contract management team delivering one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects. The contract team plans to grow significantly over the next two years as we award up to 40 regional and local procurement and some Devolved projects

Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (GIS) is the UK government's new programme to subsidise the build of gigabit capable broadband infrastructure. This role will be a part of the Contract management team that is central in ensuring the programme delivers against the programme objectives, by working directly with infrastructure suppliers in the market.

Important: If you are the successful candidate and choose London as your location you will need to undergo and obtain a Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level of clearance to take up the post.

Person specification

Critical roles to Manage Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (GIS) contracts post award:

• Maintain and refine the contract management documentation, processes and system based on lessons learnt from each of our Gigabit contracts
• Refine contract documentation and manage timely submission and review of Contractual Reports and manage Contract Change Process
• Work closely with the Procurement and Evaluation Manager as the procurement concludes to facilitate a smooth hand over and finalisation of the contract
• Act as the day to day contact for suppliers, working closely with stakeholders such as BDUK Commercial (including Commercial Finance) and State Aid / Subsidy Control, BDUK programme teams, SMEs and Local Authorities
• Manage all compliance and approvals gates associated with a contract
• Mobilise contracts and manage regular contract management meetings with Suppliers and other stakeholders to review performance against the contract
• Manage timely and accurate reporting with associated KPIs
• Manage delivery against contract milestones including review of Supplier plans, outputs and associated approval/rejection and payment
• Manage Supplier Obligations and Authority Obligations and delivery against them through either BDUK or Local Authority partners
• Manage the Change Control process
• Report, track and manage the resolution of delivery risks and issues against the contract, escalating where necessary
• Report, track and manage the resolution of Supplier and delivery risks and issues, escalating where necessary
• Feed into programme / portfolio level reporting on overall progress and performance against targets
• Apply performance management mechanisms such as default, liquidated damages, rectification plans, dispute resolution and termination

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 13th March 2024 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. 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.