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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 Department for Transport commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

The roles are to support commercial activities in the Rail Mode (one of the three modes) in the DfT, Commercial Relationship Management Team (part of the Group Commercial Directorate). The roles are key in delivering solutions for our customers in DfT centre, with some work with wider DfT bodies such as HS2 Ltd and East West Rail.

Our clients will be transport facing, generally in rail, but with some in wider transport.

These roles will report directly to the Lead Commercial Relationship Manager - Rail Mode & STARThree Framework Manager. The role holders may (as required) lead a very small team or an individual. They will be part of a very flexible and collaborative team working on a transport related portfolio.

Group Commercial Directorate (“GCD”) is split into four divisions of expertise: Commercial Relationship Management, Strategy, Policy and Capability, Assurance, Supply Chain and Category Management and Operations & Continuous Improvement.

The divisions often work together and there is an opportunity to do this but these roles are based in Commercial Relationship Management. In our team we focus on providing high quality commercial advice to our customers in the DfT. Our input could include any or all of the following:

• Providing end-to-end support to customers throughout the lifecycle of procurements and commercial activities across the DfT, the agencies and ALBs
• Supporting the clients with commercial interventions
• Attending the Commercial Assurance Boards and/or Investment Portfolio Development Committees
• Managing the DfT relationship with Crown Commercial Services and other parts of Government including the Cabinet Office.
• Supporting the development and roll out of the DfT future shared services systems.

You will join an enthusiastic expert function that holds CIPS standard accreditation.

As a Grade 7 Commercial Lead in the Rail Mode, you will be responsible for supporting the Grade 6 and wider group to help DfT clients on a range of commercial procurements and interventions of various levels of risk and complexity.

Supported by your team/the wider Rail CRM Team, you will provide complex advice on a day to day basis on how to procure the best financial, commercial and technical consultancy, and other services for the DfT and make sure that HM Government interventions are value for money and make sense commercially.

These roles involve marrying good commercial sense around where risk should reside in a deal and making sure the assets and services deliver to what DfT (and its Arm’s Length Bodies) require.

They require highly motivated and flexible individuals with a ‘can-do’ approach, capable of converting problems into solutions and able to quickly understand and develop optimal and practicable risk mitigations.

The Rail Mode is responsible for the management of three Frameworks. The Rail Legal Panel, the STARTwo Framework and the STARThree Framework. The appointed individuals will participate in work relating to the STARTwo and STARThree Frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the Grade 6 and Directorate Team in providing commercial advice to high risk and value transactions in the rail sector, including government interventions and initiatives, and procurements of capital solutions, with advisory support.

• Managing a portfolio of commercial transactions (and the associated client interactions) from strategy development, through to market engagement, drafting of tender documents, procurement, evaluation, to contract award and initiation. This includes Framework activities as required.

• Making sure that G6s and Directors can confirm that every contract signed has been through the right assurance, including consultation with senior staff prior to signature. (Contract Lead G7 grades have a contractual delegation authority of up to £10m)

• Assisting your team with the procurement of c£200M of advisers using our sourcing portal and contract management system Jaggaer. As part of this making sure supplier information and procurement events are correctly recorded, approved and managed appropriately.

• Leading on a specific policy area across the team, and/or a category area (depending on size)

• Developing a clear pipeline across the client group to develop a programme of activities and procurement strategies.

• Shaping procurements to ensure Value for Money and efficiency targets are achieved whilst also maintaining a high-quality service.

• Acting a lead or deputy lead for allocated Arm’s Length Body interactions.

• Actively engaging with other key client organisations and Crown Bodies to ensure a strategically joined-up consistent approach.

• Acting as the lead for specific suppliers and supporting others who are less experienced in dealing with suppliers.

• Working collaboratively with Crown Commercial Services to contribute to their overall strategies in managing resources and developing the supply chain.

• Drafting submissions to Ministers which provide advice on options to take on high value interventions in the sector, and Cabinet Office Controls, as well as helping to shape policy.

• Developing data sets for comparative and benchmarking data reporting and carrying out reviews and developing intervention strategies to meet issues of poor performance or failing suppliers.

• Providing hands on leadership to make sure our rail team delivers exceptional performance re the cabinet Office Transparency Agenda, such as publishing notices and redacted contracts as well as reporting accurately from Jaggaer.

• Supporting Jaggaer Wave 2 activities relating to Contract Management and generally promoting the improvement of contract management.

• Line Management of individuals where required.

In addition, the successful candidates will hold a procurement qualification e.g. MCIPS (or be working towards procurement qualification)or be willing to work towards MCIPS. They will also be required to undertake the CIPS Ethical Procurement and Supply certificate and government Contract Management Capability Programme accreditation to an agreed level.

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Risk Mindset: Experience in developing pragmatic solution-focused offerings which optimise price versus service and situational risk which they can explain to clients/stakeholders.
• Manages Complexity: Experience of having had a leading role in complicated or complex commercial activities, with demonstrable experience across the commercial lifecycle.
• Market Insight: Experience of collecting and using market insight to draft tenders and succinct high-quality briefing documents that provide expert market insight.
• Commercial Focus: In-depth procurement experience that has delivered outstanding/high value for money and great commercial outcomes.
• Builds Relationships: Proven experience of influencing and providing services/advice to senior internal/external stakeholders, clients of all levels and working effectively with suppliers.
• Procurement Process: Detailed understanding of procurement processes including current policy and legislative processes (FTS).

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.

Job contact :

Name :
Lynsey Munro
Email :
[email protected]

Recruitment team

Email :
[email protected]