About the job

Job summary

The Government's Green Paper, Transforming Public Procurement, published in December 2020, recommended the creation of a new unit to handle operational responsibilities in managing the new legal framework for public procurement. This unit will be responsible for monitoring the integrity and efficiency of the new regime, ensuring that contracting authorities comply with regulations and considering the potential exclusion of suppliers. It is anticipated that the current Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS) will be integrated into this new unit.

The public procurement reforms are significant, encompassing a £300 billion annual expenditure, 20,000 public organisations, and numerous suppliers to the public sector. This presents a substantial shift for the public sector, offering a valuable opportunity for a driven individual to contribute to the effective implementation of transformation within the public sector.

The Approach

The Procurement Review Unit will enhance standards by monitoring and assessing procurement practices, intervening where necessary, and collaborating to enhance commercial capabilities within public procurement. The unit's scope and authority are currently under development, and a fundamental aspect of the role will involve engaging with key stakeholders to implement an approach that leverages commercial data and other sources of information to assess the efficiency and integrity of public sector procurement.

Where are we now

We are presently setting up testing the unit as we journey through the implementation stage. During this stage you would be expected to:

• Plan and maintain programmes for the Procurement Review Unit (PRU). Ensure that the project plan, key milestones and responsibilities are effectively managed. 
• Design processes to support implementation of the new compliance and debarment services.
• Undertake research and design a standard operating model for the PRU, working with examples of industry best practices to implement into the PRU. These practices may include: an expert panel; publication route of unit findings and trend; effective process to manage debarment administration; monitoring improvement activities.
• Design the governance for the unit, ensuring there is a system to identify risks and effectively manage them. Develop clear reporting systems into Senior Stakeholders and Ministers.
• Manage recruitment exercises for the unit, including the panel members, flexible resources and permanent additional team members across the PRU.

Job description

This is an absolutely amazing moment for public procurement! We are excited about the opportunities ahead and we want you to be a part of it. We are on the lookout for a passionate and experienced PRU Programme Lead who will make a significant impact on one of the Government's most crucial reform initiatives. Join us on this incredible journey and help shape the future of public procurement!

The role is based in the Strategy Assurance and Standards team within the Cabinet Office. It is a welcoming and friendly team, and the civil service is dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where individuals can freely express themselves and achieve their full potential. We value diversity and inclusion and aim to have a workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups and all appointments will be based on merit through a fair and transparent selection process.

The successful candidate is required to utilise their skills and experience in a flexible manner to contribute to the Government's post-EU Exit reform programme and public procurement policy agenda. Working closely with the  Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS) lead, they will assist in implementing and improving unit systems and processes, as well as supporting compliance and debarment services. This role reports to the Head of the Public Review Unit.

PPRS plays a crucial role in addressing concerns raised by suppliers, particularly small businesses, regarding public procurement practices. This service aims to promote continuous improvement in public sector procurement and has statutory powers to investigate the performance of contracting authorities and publish its findings

This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in leading the programme for a crucial aspect of the Government's post-EU Exit work programme, which aims to shape the future landscape of public sector procurement in the UK. This programme holds great importance within the Cabinet Office and is closely aligned with key stakeholders such as Ministers, HM Treasury and No10. Working closely with the International and Reform Procurement Policy Team, a key component of the Government Commercial Function, you will have the opportunity to lead the Programme Management Office (PMO) to support the reform of UK procurement regulations.

• Maintain the PRU’s operating model updating and implementing continuous improvement to the systems created.
• Management of flexible resources and the expert panel.
• Oversee the analysis trends and the use of data to support compliance service investigations.
• Support investigations e.g.  data analysis and administration of the reports to be referred to the expert panel members.
• Manage the interventions with the expert panel, the debarment process and stakeholder engagement including the process to refer reports and submissions to the Minister. 
• Responsibility for the creation and publication of internal and external material.
• Effectively manage a small team.
• Build relationships across a range of internal and external stakeholders, successfully managing engagement and communications to support a collaboration.

Person specification

Essential:

• Good communication skills both oral and written with the ability to demonstrate persuasiveness, persistence and patience, confident working with a variety of stakeholders at all levels, building rapport.
• Experience of working in large transformational change Projects or Programmes. 
• Creating delivery strategies and gaining buy-in.
• Collaborative working across organisational boundaries with the ability to communicate complex solutions simply and clearly.
• Understanding of Public Procurement Legislation and National Policies relating to Procurement and Commercial.
• Ability to work flexibly and overcome challenges, often under considerable time pressure in complex environments demonstrating excellent attention to detail and strong analytical skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with good attention to detail, and an ability to identify and recommend change improvements to simplify ways of working or make processes more efficient.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to matrix manage, so that flexible resources are empowered to deliver and also remain focused on the programme’s vision.

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 £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV in the template provided and a Statement of Suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should be used to (in no more than 1250 words) outline how you meet the essential criteria stated in the advert.

Interviews will take place using an online platform where you will be asked questions relating to the Success profiles and Experience.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – 24th July - 2nd August
Expected interview date/s – w/c 7th August
Interview location - Virtual Online

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 interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 UK residency in the past 5. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting 

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

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 / Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

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.