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 HMRC commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Job description

• Membership of, and active participation in, the Commercial Directorate SLT, and relevant programme/project boards

• To lead a team of approximately 34 - with line management responsibility for 4 Associate Commercial Specialists

• To engage staff in own reporting line to help create a valued, respected and motivated team

• To provide deep sector, category and market insight

• To develop customer relationships to help build a forecast of demand for commercial services and to work collaboratively with commercial colleagues to plan and execute the related commercial work

• Ensure appropriate category insight is provided to support sourcing activity

• To ensure there is a robust, accurate pipeline of anticipated spend

• Be a trusted advisor and Business Partner to Customer Services Group

Reporting to the HMRC Chief Commercial Officer but also holding a ‘business partner’ relationship with various senior leaders across the department. This is the most senior role within the Corporate Services Pre-Award and is responsible for delivering successful commercial outcomes to a wide range of business stakeholders. 

Person specification

Key Purpose

• To be the trusted commercial advisor to HMRC leadership on all matters related to Corporate Services (including: HR and Professional Services, Corporate Support Services and Banking and Financial Services)
• To be accountable for all commercial service outcomes relating to the Corporate Services category
• To provide deep category expertise and market knowledge to enhance commercial service value and outcomes to customers and stakeholders
• To provide direct and indirect line management and leadership to a team of 35-40 people

Key Accountabilities

• To ensure commercial outcomes delivered in Corporate Services category fully meet customer requirements
• To ensure that commercial processes applied to the Corporate Services category are executed in a manner that is compliant and consistent but value adding to its customers
• To ensure that the suppliers in the Corporate Services category deliver best value and performance
• To ensure category strategies and procurement pipelines are appropriately maintained for all spend in the Corporate Services category

Key Responsibilities

• Membership of, and active participation in, the Commercial Directorate SLT, the Corporate Services leadership team and relevant senior leadership teams and programme/project boards
• Leadership of the Corporate Services virtual team and its meetings
• To engage staff in own reporting line to create and maintain a valued, respected, motivated, and high-performing team
• To provide deep sector, category, and market insight to Corporate Services customers
• To develop customer relationships to help build a forecast of demand for commercial services and to work collaboratively with commercial colleagues to plan and execute the related commercial work
• To provide Strategic Business Partner support to CSG and CPO
• Ensure appropriate category insight is provided to support sourcing activity in the Corporate Services category
• To provide support and advice to the relevant operational contract/supplier management teams 
• To ensure there is a robust, accurate pipeline of anticipated spend across all sub-categories

Key Interactions

• Commercial Directorate Senior Leadership Team
• Chief People Officer, Head of Government Banking Service, Finance Senior Leadership Team and other senior customers within HMRC and Crown Commercial Service Strategic Commercial Directors – Corporate Solutions and People Pillars
• Be amongst the most senior members of the Government Commercial Function and play a role in the broader commercial reform programme led by the Government Chief Commercial Officer
• Play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the HMRC and across government.

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 29th January 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.

Interviews will be held in person at 100 Parliament Street, SW1A 2BQ, London

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. Please note: Only candidates that achieve an A grade at ADC will be invited to interview for this role.                                                                                                                                                                                              
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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.