About the job

Job summary

Are you seeking your next career challenge? Would you like to become part of a team supporting some of the most exciting science, innovation and technology? If you are looking for a rewarding & challenging opportunity, then this role could be for you.

Commercial work within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is broad and our teams work on a range of activities from procurements and grants to working alongside other government departments to deliver exciting and innovative projects. We collaborate with our colleagues across DSIT to secure value for money, manage risk and provide guidance throughout the commercial life-cycle.

If you want to be part of a team that is highly motivated to bring commercial to the heart of decision making in the department, then this role as Commercial Contract Manager for the Matrix Programme could be for you. The Matrix Programme has been set up to deliver the Government's Shared Services Strategy https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/604755c0e90e0715427736b5/Shared-Services-Strategy-for-Government-March-2021.pdf . 

The programme is led by DSIT, and the Matrix Programme includes DSIT and 8 other Government departments. The Programme is designing, developing, and procuring the new technologies and capabilities that are required to help modernise our 'back office' systems. It will deliver a high quality, and good value, system and support service to help streamline the transactions and activities that underpin the way departments are run. You will join a team of 6-10 commercial professionals to support the delivery of the programme at an exciting stage, where upon the award of our large technology contracts, focus will move to contract management. 

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

Job description

The role will be focused on contract management of a large Systems Integrator, ERP and wider client-side services contracts in an exciting, fast paced programme. You will work closely with colleagues within the programme to ensure that departments are onboarded onto the new systems and services in alignment with programme plans, ensuring commercial best practice is embedded to all aspects of delivery.

Person specification

Leading on commercial contract management activities for large technology contracts, including:

• Negotiating contract terms and pricing with suppliers
• Evaluating the commercial implications of proposed changes and contract amendments
• Ensuring contracts align with programme objectives and maximise value for money
• Monitoring contract performance and supplier compliance with contractual obligations
• Managing supplier relationships and addressing any commercial disputes or issues
• Managing contract documentation and records, including version control and archiving
• Working with stakeholders and suppliers, managing the relationships, providing advice and ensuring supporting the delivery of complex delivery
• Providing advice and guidance for operational contract managers to deliver best value and quality outputs for contracts and projects.
• Understand the supply market, category, and business context to inform and deliver the commercial strategy
• Maintaining a category pipeline to allow commercial support to start in good time to ensure a full range of commercial options can be considered.

You will also have responsibilities for end-to-end commercial delivery, working across the wider portfolio with the programme to enable delivery in line with commercial best practice:

• Drafting commercial elements of business cases. This includes developing innovative commercial approaches to meet policy objectives.

• Working collaboratively with colleagues in policy, delivery, finance, PMO, Legal and the wider DSIT Commercial team  
• Proactively lead, support and challenge stakeholders throughout the commercial life cycle.
• Championing commercial capability throughout the Department and across wider stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of the programme.
• Following processes to maintain accurate data records and fulfil fairness and transparency requirements.

Skills and Experience 

Desirable:

• Experience working within digital/technology
• Experience delivering digital/technology contract management
• MCIPS qualification
• Public sector procurement experience

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 14th June 2024 and will require a full day's attendance. 

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates. 

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.