About the job

Job summary

FCDO is looking to appoint an experienced commercial professional to lead a team of category specialists to drive best-in-class procurement across FCDO global delivery. The Corporate Service (HR / Finance / Events) commercial teams is a strategic enabling function delivering strategy and innovative projects in compliance with procurement regulations that ensures FCDO and HMG partners can operate platforms that are agile and fit for purpose.

The role requires an inspiring individual who has in-depth understanding and experience of delivering strategy creation in a global setting whilst navigating complex industries and market trends, as well as, driving supply chain excellence across the procurement whole life cycle (category strategies, Delivery Model Assessments, Sourcing and Supplier Relationship Management). 

Additionally, the role will develop, manage, and maintain a pipeline of activity for the area of responsibility, supporting the development and delivery of complex and novel commercial projects. Review and challenge sourcing strategies, where appropriate, to improve outcomes.  

Significant engagement with FCDO stakeholders will be required that include FCDO ALB’s, Regional Platform, Procurement Hubs, Policy, Directors, Specialist Representative Organisation, and Supply Chains to ensure that commercials service offering is translated into outcomes that is aligned to wider government and FCDO targets.

Job description

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to lead the corporate category team which is responsible for procuring and contract managing a wide & diverse range of critical services. The team is comprised of the following subcategories:

People & capability pillar. Working closely with stakeholders from right across FCDO, this team is responsible for the following services:

• Contingent labour – sourcing and contract management of the Alexander Mann contract, which is FCDOs primary route to market for contingent labour.
• Consultancy & professional services
• Intensive language training for diplomats and other high priority roles at post
• Healthcare provision for UKBS and CBS at post
• Corporate learning and development 

Major summits & events. Working with the Protocol directorate, the HMG Centre of Excellence for Major Events, and other key event-sponsoring departments such as DCMS, the team plays a pivotal role in event planning and execution. They are also responsible for the following services:

• Venue souring and hiring
• Event production
• Security
• Transport planning and event transportation services
• Commercial requirements related to Lancaster House

Corporate pillar. Working closely with stakeholders from across the organisation (and particularly with HRD and finance colleagues), this team is responsible for the following services:

• Global travel – contract management of the of the FCM contract, which is how all staff from across the department arrange travel and accommodation, as well as venue booking for corporate events e.g. away days.
• Ministerial travel
• Fleet & logistics
• Financial services e.g. NatWest corporate credit card (CCC) and government procurement card (GPC) and various types of insurance
• Scholarship scheme administration 
• Marketing & comms.
• Corporate subscriptions

This is an important role, leading a team that contributes towards FCDOs pursuit of its development & consular objectives globally through key enabling contracts. As well as sourcing, the team is increasingly taking on contract management activity, which is affording greater opportunities to get closer to critical suppliers and to lean in to help solve challenging commercial issues. Through increased exposure to contract management, we are developing our understanding of what’s driving our key suppliers and how we in turn can flex our approaches as a customer to enable the achievement of mutually beneficial outcomes.

You will need to develop excellent relationships with senior stakeholders from across the entire organisation (including in overseas hubs and posts) to identify needs, opportunities, risks, and issues – and then to implement strategies and plans to priorities and address these. This role will give you excellent opportunities to develop your leadership approach as well as stakeholder management, change management, risk & issue management, and project management skills.

Person specification

• Leading and coaching a category team of approx. 15 FTE – permanent staff and contractors. The successful candidate would have x 3 direct reports (category managers/commercial leads).

• Overseeing the commercial lifecycle for a wide range of contracts – some large and complex, others smaller and ‘more straightforward.’

• Leading on commercial governance for the category.

• Developing and executing category strategies in collaboration with key client stakeholders.

• Developing stakeholder engagement plans and leading on senior stakeholder engagement for the category.

• Developing and managing supplier relationships, influencing them to contribute towards delivery of FCDO priorities.

• Identifying and achieving value for money, delivering against corporate savings targets and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Contributing to the wider Government Commercial Function (GCF) agenda through initiatives to be agreed with directorate senior managers.

Important Information:

This role can be based from London or East Kilbride, however FCDO are relocating their East Kilbride location to central Glasgow during 2025. There is also now an expectation for staff to be in their base office 60% of their working week.

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 16th May 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 on 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. 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.