About the job

Job summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stands at the forefront of addressing a wide array of issues that profoundly shape people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, countryside, and rural economy, as well as oversight of the food and farming sectors. Additionally, we bear primary responsibility for safeguarding against a diverse range natural threats and hazards. Defra also plays a leading role in combatting global biodiversity loss and climate change, through international programmes.

Defra group Commercial (DgC) provides commercial expertise across a range of areas in market facing category teams.

DgC is responsible for a £6bn contracts and grants pipeline with a team of circa 180 commercial professionals. We are growing to meet the needs of our customers and an increasing spend portfolio.

We deliver a range of focused commercial services across the Defra group. We lead on end-to-end procurement and category management, provide contract and supplier relationship management support, deliver assurance for complex commercial transactions, and deliver general grants. We lead Defra compliance with procurement regulations and promote government policy, innovation and change through procurement delivery.

We provide commercial services to organisations within Defra group which include Environment Agency (EA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Natural England (NE). We work collaboratively with other governments departments such as Foreign Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Home Office.

Job description

The Category Team

The Technology Category Team are ensuring Defra transform the way in which it delivers its IT services, making it simpler, faster, and more sustainable. Working in Technology the team offers an opportunity to make a real difference in a category that is challenging, varied and high profile. The Technology category sources all Defra’s IT requirements from User Devices and Digital applications to Connectivity, Data Geospatial and Cybersecurity. The team is market facing and agile which enables us to respond to emerging technologies and engage flexibly with customers, aligning and consolidating the IT goods and services that we buy for the Defra Group. As a Senior Category Officer, you will report to a Category Manager within Defra Group Commercial (DgC)Technology Team.

What will your responsibilities entail?

• Working collaboratively within a Technology Commercial Category Team.
• Ensuring the effective delivery of medium to high-value projects, procurements, and contract/supplier management within a market-facing category team.
• Developing commercial strategies aligned to Category Plan, contributing to success of the business. Planning and managing all market engagement for relevant sub-category.
• Supporting key customers to prepare all commercial documentation and conduct Procurements in compliance with Public Contracts Regulations managing all aspects of commercial lifecycle.
• Preparing recommendations for approval via Governance Boards Prepare contract management documentation in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Building and sustaining effective relationships with suppliers to deliver exceptional performance in cost, service, and quality.
• Providing day-to-day advice and recommendations on commercial risks and issues, considering risk, commercial opportunities, and maximizing value for money and savings.
• Being responsible for the delivery of IT contracts ensuring that sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle.
• Collaborating with customers to deliver value effectively and innovatively so that the customer organisation outcomes and objectives and key corporate targets.
• Managing the Category Pipeline in accordance with Defra's commercial policies and procedures to ensure propriety and value for money across the commercial life cycle.
• Providing strategic support to the team by promoting commercial policies and procedures, influencing final outcomes, and offering expert advice on commercial issues and governance.
• Engaging with colleagues nationwide to build a strong commercial network internally and through the wider Defra network and Government Bodies.
• Providing support and training to colleagues, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and efficient work delivery.
• Utilising IT systems and applications proficiently to conduct tasks effectively.
• Investing in your own professional development, which may have involved staying abreast of legislation changes, best practices, or enhancing industry knowledge.
• Participating in and potentially chairing meetings to facilitate decision-making, including setting agendas, leading discussions, and documenting actions and decisions.
• Cultivating positive working relationships with colleagues, customers, and suppliers, effectively influencing and challenging to achieve optimal commercial results.
• Some roles may include line management responsibilities for Commercial Officers, including setting objectives, managing performance, and supporting learning and development.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who are building their commercial experience. We want you to be able to challenge and influence across complex and varied customers as well as enjoy developing innovative solutions to challenges. You will excel in building networks and see good relationships as a key part of your expertise. You will be adept at providing a high-quality professional service with measurable outcomes. Finally, you will enjoy building a positive team spirit and supporting your team to deliver expert outcomes that are valued by your customers.

We anticipate that you will hold experience and knowledge in the following essential criteria:   

• Leading and supporting the delivery of a range of procurements, and ideally managed contracts or suppliers to achieve successful outcomes.
• Demonstrating a thorough understanding of regulatory frameworks, adhering to agreed policies and processes, and actively promoting these standards in your work.
• Implementing initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, drive business change, and improve ways of working.
• Using your commercial acumen to deliver commercial benefits, efficiencies, and savings.
• Proactively identifying risks and issues, developing, and executing plans to mitigate them.
• Presenting well-founded conclusions and recommendations supported by analysed information, including financial data.
• Additionally, you will hold or be willing to pursue a CIPS Level 4 qualification.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,648 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidate Pack

Please see the attached Candidate Information Pack for more information on Defra Group Commercial and Civil Service Success Profiles.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV, a 500 word personal statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the essential criteria detailed within the advertisement.

You will also be asked to provide a 250 word behaviour statement on the following:

Communicating & Influencing (Lead behaviour)

Further details around what this will entail are provided in the application form.

Sift

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift assessing the personal statement. Those who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

The sift and interview dates as well as the interview location are to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Technical, Behaviours and Strengths. The behaviours are as follows:

• Communicating & Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

 You will also be asked strength questions in the interview.

As part of the interview, you will be asked to do a short pre-prepared verbal presentation covering the Communicating & Influencing behaviour and the following Technical elements:

• Key considerations for drafting a Commercial or Procurement Strategy
• Contract / Supplier Relationship Management

The details of the presentation will be provided a short time before your interview should you be successful at sift.

Reserve List

If your application is successful but we are unable to offer you a post immediately, you will be placed on the reserve list. If over the next 12 months we are able to offer you a position, we will contact you as soon as possible. Once made an offer, you will go through our vetting and pre-employment checks processes. Appointments will be made in adherence to the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

As part of the pre-employment process, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is 'National' the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Near miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in DEFRA which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary 

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

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 defrarecruitment.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.

Accessibility

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

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

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 offenses. 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.

Childcare Vouchers 

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

NSV

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

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

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Please Note:
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than 48hours before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you.

The inbox to contact is defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Use subject line to insert appropriate wording e.g. Please re-open my application - vacancy ref (insert the vacancy ref) closing date (insert the closing date).

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.