About the job

Job summary

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform.

We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts.

The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve. We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our FCDO commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Job description

FCDO is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Commercial Manager reporting to the Head of Commercial, who will lead complex procurements and a small team of commercial specialists. The role will deliver transformational change aligned to the Information & Digital Directorate (IDD) strategy, delivering strategic and innovative projects in compliance with procurement regulations.

The role requires an inspiring individual who has in-depth understanding and experience of delivering complex procurements (end to end) in compliance with regulations 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 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 IDD, Consular, FCDO Services, 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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This role can be based from FCDOs London or East Kilbride office. Note that the East Kilbride office location will be moving to central Glasgow in 2025. FCDO require staff to be in their base office 60% of their working week

Nationality requirements - You must be a British Citizen at the time of application and, if invited to interview, you will need to bring your British Passport with you.

Person specification

• Lead development of sub-category strategies through the category management cycle from understanding the FCDO’s starting point in terms of spend, suppliers and IDD strategy through to developing options appraisals and mobilising sourcing projects in collaboration with Key stakeholders across FCDO
• Implement and deliver the opportunities outlined in the DDaT Category Forward Plans, including engaging and managing stakeholders, resources, internal and external dependencies; and transition plans and timelines
• Lead the development of category expertise and knowledge to deliver category plans and strategies in collaboration with global posts / leaders and drive local, regional and global supply chain trends and strategies that deliver high quality commercial procurement outcomes, whilst ensuring value for money
• Influence senior stakeholders, affecting governance both internal and external including HMT, Cabinet Office and Ministers
• Deliver complex procurements, ensuring high quality commercial arrangements, with robust specifications, Terms and Conditions, management principles, and measures developed in accordance with the selected route to market, taking cognisance of procurement legislation, Government policy, Government guidance such as the sourcing and construction playbooks and departmental policies and guidance
• Deliver annually agreed savings target for the DDaT category portfolio through performance management of teams, suppliers and working collaboratively with stakeholders
• Strong Contract management knowledge and experience
• Provide leadership and direction to a small team of commercial specialist developing a professional culture, commercial capability and skills that empower our people through coaching, mentoring, sharing expertise/knowledge and bespoke training plans aligned to Cabinet Office playbooks and promoting succession pathways
• Develop and manage supplier performance and relationships; advising and supporting Senior Management on key commercial issues
• Deliver stakeholder engagement plans that embeds effective business partnering driving long term strategic relationship management that ensures the optimum support, advice and delivery, drives outcomes that ensures FCDO can be efficient and agile to deliver against its mission

• Implement commercial governance for the IDD in compliance with spend controls and present to the appropriate governance boards, and external forums as required
• Contribute to the development and commercial cases of Concept Notes, Business Cases & Sourcing Strategies (SOBC, OBC & FBC)
• Lead Delivery Model Assessments (DMA) for the DDaT category incorporating FCDO capability & maturity vs, external capability at both an overall programmatic and component level
• Continually assess global and regional supply markets to identify optimal solutions

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 25th April 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.