Assistant Commercial Manager (Sourcing) (Ref:81789)

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Job Description

Job Title:    Assistant Commercial Manager (Sourcing)

Grade:    HEO

Reporting to:    Commercial Manager

Business Area:    MoJ – Commercial and Contract Management Directorate

Job Location:      National     

Status:    Permanent

Working Pattern:    Full time / Flexible Working Pattern

Number of Posts:    1

About the Department

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. Responsible for courts, prisons and probation services, we work to ensure sentences are served and offenders are given rehabilitation opportunities to become law-abiding citizens.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has one of the largest and most complex spend profiles in central government. The Commercial and Contract Management Directorate (CCMD) is responsible for coordinating procurement and contract management across the MoJ, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. 

The MoJ spends £6.7bn a year and manages over 1000 active contracts, all of which are sourced and managed by CCMD. We are running some of the most groundbreaking programmes such as Prison Reform and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service Reform. The scope of our contracts ranges from building, maintenance and the operation of Prisons, Courts and Young Offender establishments through to food for prison dogs. The directorate also buys and manages contracts for feeding up to 80,000 prisoners, the secure escorting of prisoners from numerous establishments based around the country and translation services. 

CCMD is organised into category teams, each with an interesting portfolio of contracts and diverse customers and suppliers to manage. We also have systems, Programme management office, supplier relationship and risk management teams who work across all areas.

Scope

Portfolio – Rehabilitation – Probation Services

The Rehabilitation portfolio within the Ministry of Justice’s Commercial & Contract Management Directorate – part of the Government Commercial Function – lead on the procurements of all outsourced probation related services such as accommodation, education and finance, and unique services such as dependency and recovery.  To enable us to commission rehabilitation services across 14 categories (and more) we have established and maintain a 10 year, £4bn dynamic framework, the largest dynamic purchasing system in the public sector.  In addition to the dynamic framework, we have also implemented and manage a first of its kind grants scheme with unique processes designed to create greater accessibility for the VCSE market to public sector contracting.  

Person Specification

The probation system supports more than 243,000 a year in their journey to rehabilitation, so no day looks quite like the other and we’re always ready to be responsive to an emerging need. Day-to-day you could be working to support the Senior Commercial Managers in delivering our £500million core services contracts or working closely with a policy lead to deliver a contract for a small, specialised service.

His Majesty’s Prions and Probation Service contains a diverse set of regionally based clients that each pose their own unique set of commercial challenges and opportunities.  You will develop and maintain positive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers and encourage collaborative relationships as appropriate. Your professional expertise and judgement will be relied upon and valued by senior colleagues.

The successful candidate can expect themselves to be working across a varied services category, working within a fast-paced environment, supporting the Commercial Manager on high-value procurements, and taking ownership of lower-valued, less complex procurements.  You will be working with a wide and diverse set of stakeholders and will bring new ideas to help shape the way the team works, promoting continuous improvement, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. This role is an excellent opportunity to develop your commercial skillset in a high-profile environment that aims to reduce reoffending in our society. 

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

•    Supplier management within the Dynamic Framework and the Probation Grants Application Portal
•    Market analysis and engagement
•    Work with core business stakeholders to support the development of sourcing requirements
•    Supporting the developing of procurement strategies within the Light Tough Regime 
•    Comprehensive drafting of commercial documents, including Invitation to Tenders (ITTs) and Call-Off Contracts
•    Managing low-value competition exercises through the MoJ eSourcing portal 
•    Drive continuous improvements in the way we commission probation services
•    Ensuring compliance with legislative and policy requirements by providing sound commercial advice to stakeholders
•    Possible line management responsibilities

Experience

Your application must demonstrate experience in the following areas:

Essential: 

•    Relevant procurement/sourcing or commercial and contract management experience.
•    Ability to work collaboratively to drive decisions and deliver on timely outcomes.
•    Ability to prioritise and manage multiple competing tasks, to meet business objectives in a fast paced and ever-changing environment
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills
•    A team player who leads by example
•    Ability to bring new ideas to drive continuous improvement

Desirable: 

•    Knowledge or experience of Dynamic Purchasing Systems
•    Knowledge or experience of Grants 
•    Understanding of Probation Services in England and Wales.
•    CIPS Qualification (or desire to work towards one)

Application form stage assessments:

An initial sift will be performed against the following elements in relation to the key responsibilities and person specification above:

Experience

•    CV
•    Statement of Suitability

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview and will be assessed on selected success profile elements at the interview stage. Please carry a valid proof of Id that has your photo on it (passport, BRP, driving licence etc) at the interview.

Interview:

There is one interview stage for this vacancy and as part of the interview process you will be required to provide evidence of the following:

Behaviours

•    Making Effective Decisions 
•    Changing and Improving 
•    Managing a Quality Service 
•    Developing Self & Others

Experience

•    You will also be assessed on experience relevant to the job description.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
• Telephone : 0845 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com