About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Commercial Directorate is a strategic and enabling function that supports all DHSC’s commercial interactions with third parties and supporting ministers in delivering their agenda. Our mission is to ensure that health and care policy is implemented at best value for the taxpayer.  

We do this by leading and overseeing the department’s direct commercial activity, implementing commercial policies across DHSC and its arm’s length bodies, and acting as advisors to the Secretary of State. Our vision is to provide a world-class commercial service to enable the health and care system to deliver for the public – we aim to be the best in government commercial for technical expertise and customer focus. 

This is an exciting time to be part of the DHSC commercial team.  We pride ourselves on being a diverse group of individuals solving some of the world’s biggest problems.  But most of all, the work we do matters as it truly affects people’s lives. 

Delivering behavioural change across a devolved healthcare system is a challenge.  We need intelligent people with expertise, the ability to influence others, excellent judgement and the confidence and desire to drive improvements across the system. 

The role will be key to delivering one of the biggest change programmes in public sector procurement for a generation. The role will work with an established and passionate team to develop and continuously improve the policy and processes for commercial colleagues in DHSC and arm’s length bodies as we champion best practice and new ways of working. We offer excellent opportunities for personal development, so you have the tools to be the best you can be.

You may be eligible for a market pay supplement of either £4,000 if you are a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (fully qualified) or £1,500 if you hold CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply of above (part qualified). You will be required to provide evidence of qualification.

Job description

Key accountabilities for the role 

• Be a “go to” expert because of your extensive knowledge and passion for procurement and helping others
• Influence and shape future procurement policy and standards across central government and the health system
• Produce user-friendly guidance and advice on a variety of commercial topics 
• Lead on improvements to the department’s e-Procurement System
• Manage the professional development of others including giving presentations and delivering training
• Potentially take responsibility for the management and development of up to 3 people

Person specification

Role responsibilities:

• You will be a champion of procurement best practice and will work with others to create a proactive and intelligent function 
• You will work collaboratively with colleagues, engaging with teams across commercial functions in DHSC and arm's length bodies to understand ways or working and lead on the implementation of procurement policies within DHSC in a sensible way
• You will have a professional interest in key policy areas such as modern slavery, Net Zero, sustainability, contract management, national security or other areas adding value to procurement
• You will drive continuous improvement through the development of simple and consistent procurement policies, processes, tools and templates
• You will support, challenge and assure throughout the Health System with regards to procurement policies, objectives and best practices 
• You will manage and contribute towards the team’s communication activities including newsletters, video cascades and intranet updates ensuring that all communications are fit for purpose and meet users’ needs 
• You will lead change and assurance programmes such as the Commercial Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework and the CIPS Procurement Excellence Programme 
• You will play a role in building capability of new starters and those on development programmes (e.g. apprenticeships, internships and the Civil Service Fast Stream)  
• You will be an important interface with Cabinet Office and Crown Commercial Service for central policies and initiatives
• You will lead on elements of change and reform projects that may, for example, be linked to public procurement rules reform and passing legislation

Key skills and experience required for the role.

Key experience we are seeking:

• Providing technical advice and developing policies, processes and/or governance mechanisms 
• Challenging inefficient processes and practices and making proposals for improvement 
• Developing high quality written materials  
• Giving presentations or delivering training

Key skills required for this role:

• Excellent verbal and written and influencing skills; providing services and technical advice to senior internal/external stakeholders
• Experience of delivering against multiple priorities and meeting deadlines, using project management techniques, organised, able to articulate clear plans to deliver goals.
• Can work at pace and able to prioritise effectively to manage own workload in demanding situations, operating flexibly, innovatively and with autonomy with colleagues

You may have a university degree or have full membership of a relevant professional body such as CIPS or World Commerce & Contracting (formerly IACCM) but this is not a requirement for the role.  You can demonstrate your skills and knowledge through your experience.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £10,806 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: expected w/c 22nd January 2024

Interview date: 7th February 2024

Interview location: By video. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.

Applications will be sifted on CV, Statement of Suitability and Technical Skills. 

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 750 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

Please complete a statement on the specified Technical Skill (250 word max).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

An initial sift based on Statement of Suitability may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Experience and Technical Skills. 

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here

Further Information

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available. 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Any move to DHSC 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 dhscrecruitment.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 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.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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 being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

 

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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.