About the job

Job summary

Procurement policy is a key component of the Government’s post-EU Exit and economic recovery work programme. Cabinet Office leads for the UK Government on procurement policy, including overseeing the UK’s procurement regulatory system and enabling access to international public procurement markets.

The Domestic team is the primary lead in maintaining the domestic policy framework governing public procurement, and ensures that its overarching objective remains the achievement of value for money as well as supporting the Cabinet Office’s role as national policymaker. The policies developed and implemented by the team influence c£70bn of central govt spend and represent best practice for many hundreds of organisations across the public sector.  Much of our work attracts regular interest from the top of Government and Whitehall, including Ministers, Number 10, and the Government Chief Commercial Officer.  

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Commercial Policy team at the heart of the Government Commercial Function. An ambitious ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ programme is underway to reform public procurement including new procurement legislation, professionalising commercial teams, and streamlining and standardising how the government’s commercial activities are performed, to deliver the best possible results for the taxpayer. 

The new regime will significantly change how we buy goods and services - from our e-procurement systems, to our commercial tools and operating processes, to our people and capability, and create a simpler and more flexible, commercial system, opening up public procurement to new entrants such as small businesses and social enterprises and embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle.

Job description

This role will lead a policy portfolio covering primarily Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Ethics, Security (including Cyber) and Data Protection. These areas of policy are highly technical, dynamic and topical that will require sensitive handling, potentially involving interactions with Ministers and industry experts as well as regular contact with senior officials across Whitehall.

This role will primarily be responsible for identifying key opportunities in using AI to support the government's commercial activities and ensuring the Government Commercial Function  keeps in-step with wider government action on AI. In addition, the post-holder will lead on Data Ethics, and also lead the development of associated measures related to security and data protection.

This role would suit a highly confident, commercially-minded team player with knowledge of these policy areas and wider digital adoption.

You will be joining a small, close knit and friendly team of committed and passionate policy experts, where you can expect a high focus on support, training, development and leadership opportunities.

This is a hybrid-role, with at least 2-3 days per week based in your designated office.  Frequent travel to other Cabinet Office locations may be required. 

Person specification

The key areas of responsibility are:

• Act as policy lead covering Artificial Intelligence in commercial, Data Ethics, Security (including Cyber) and Data Protection.
• Ensuring policy in these areas is developed with commercial and procurement impacts in mind, and that policy and guidance is accessible to non-technical staff.
• Act as the key policy interface between the Cabinet Office and key stakeholders across government, and with Industry and their representative groups.
• Develop a range of innovative, credible policies and tools to be deployed across the commercial lifecycle, to ensure commercial teams can implement appropriate measures to identify and manage risk.
• Provide verbal and written briefings for senior leaders including Government’s Chief Commercial Office, Permanent Secretaries and Ministers as required.
• Work confidently with cross-Whitehall colleagues and legal experts, industry experts and the devolved administrations.

Skills and experience required

Essential

• Practical understanding of Artificial Intelligence principles and technology, recent policy developments, and of Data Ethics.
• Understanding of Government’s wider digital and data policy requirements
• Commercial acumen and an understanding of the commercial lifecycle
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to draft high quality technical submissions and briefings, to ensure Ministers quickly understand the implications.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship building skills.
• Excellent analytical skills - able to interpret and assimilate complex and detailed information, and formulate balanced conclusions.

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.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Should a large number of applications be received, the sift will consider the lead behaviour (Making Effective Decisions) and the essential criteria only.  Selection will be through a behaviours-based interview, using the Civil service behaviours listed. Please note CVs should be no more than 2 pages.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 8 July 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 15 & 22 July 2024

Interview location - Virtual

Further Information

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 

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

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.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency. 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. SC clearance may be required for this role and you should be willing to undergo this enhanced security clearance process if required.

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

This role is full time only.  Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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. 

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 counter-terrorist 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.