About the job

Job summary

One of the highest priorities for the Civil Service is improving commercial capability across Government, a priority being driven by the Government Commercial Function (GCF). Annual central government commercial spend on goods and services is c.£50bn, increasing to c.£300bn when wider public sector is included. This means even the smallest capability improvements can unlock huge value across the system.

As part of the GCF’s work, the Blueprints team work with Commercial functions across Government to support the creation of Commercial Blueprints for each Department. The Commercial Blueprint is an essential product in the capability suite of products enabling the right sizing of commercial teams. It follows a robust methodology and benchmarking, which allows Government departments to inform business case development for people and capability investment. Since its launch it has successfully enabled a further £18m of HMT funding to support FTE into the GCF. The rigorous review and sign off process they go through means they are often used in discussions with Commercial Directors, Permanent Secretaries, the Government Chief Commercial Officer (GCCO) and other senior stakeholders to support decision-making.

The Blueprints team sits within Contract Management and Capability Services, part of the Commercial & Grants Function Business Unit. It is a small team of 4 FTE led by the Grade 6 Head of Blueprints, reporting directly to the Director of Commercial and Contract Management Capability.

The team work closely with other data owners across the Cabinet Office (workforce planning, DDaT teams, Grants function and others) as well as regularly engaging each central Government department throughout the data gathering process. Further ambition is in place to engage teams in wider Government bodies to roll out Blueprints beyond its current central Government footprint.

Job description

The team are seeking a permanent G6 to report to the Director of Commercial and Contract Management Capability to lead the Blueprinting process. This will require:

• Leading Blueprints colleagues to scope and prioritise requirements for future Blueprints rounds.
• Detailed scoping with other Cabinet Office and cross-Government teams to identify the exact questions and data points required in this round.
• Discussions with GCCO and other senior leadership to seek buy-in and alignment on proposed Blueprint approach.
• Engagement with Commercial Director and Commercial teams of all central Government departments.
• Supporting teams to complete the data request.
• Analysing data received to provide additional insights and benchmarks to drive further development between departments.
• Supporting Departmental Commercial teams through senior stakeholder sign off.
• Analysis and preparation of an updated Insights Report, pulling together key insights, benchmarks, and proposed next steps as a result of cross-Government blueprint analysis

The successful candidate will be expected to lead the Blueprints team to deliver Blueprints and related outcomes. This is expected to include (but is not necessarily limited to):

• Leadership and people development of the 2 SEOs and 1 HEO in the Blueprints team.
• Supporting each central Government department through the Blueprints process.
• Managing senior stakeholder relationships up to Commercial Director level to support departments through the process.
• Working with departments to provide analysis and challenge throughout.
• Working alongside other G6s and DDs in leading the Business Unit.
• Setting the direction and path for broader Blueprint activities, including shaping how Blueprints expand to wider Government bodies and exploring opportunities to automate and evolve to better meet users needs.

Person specification

Essential Attributes & Experience:

• Experience of influencing senior leaders, with the confidence to provide advice, guidance, and constructive challenge when necessary.
• Good knowledge and confidence in delivering data analysis, management, and visualisation.
• Confidence in analysing large volumes of data and using findings to support story-telling, insights, and the decision-making process.
• Critical thinking, using analysis to challenge assumptions or change the status quo.
• Experience working in complex ecosystems balancing the needs of different stakeholder groups (e.g. central Government, other Government departments, arms-length bodies, suppliers, and others)
• Evidence of people management experience in an operational environment.
• Be a highly self-motivated and independent leader, a strong team player, but also unafraid to take the initiative.
• Analytical and curious mindset.

Desirable Attributes & Experience:

• Evidence of building and managing relationships to SCS1 level.
• Excellent written communication skills, generating board and committee papers to a high standard.
• Data analysis and visualisation using Power BI or similar tooling.
• Commercial experience and accreditation (CIPS, ADC or similar).

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 will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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.

Application process

A CV. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
 
A statement of suitability detailing how you meet the essential experience criteria (500 words max).

Written evidence of the lead criteria of Seeing the Big Picture for this role (250 words maximum). Please make your examples as relevant as possible to the role.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour (seeing the big picture).

Selection process

At interview, candidates will be assessed with 1 question on each of the Behaviours:

• Seeing the big picture (Lead Behaviour)
• Making effective decisions
• Communicating and influencing
• Developing self and others
• Delivering at pace

We would generally expect answers to follow the STAR or CAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application and during the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 12th August
Expected interview date/s – w/c 2nd September
Interview location - Online via Google Meet

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk  

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

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 role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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.