Strategic Partnering Manager (SPM) Associate Commercial Specialist – 2 roles

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 Central Commercial Teams – Market sourcing and suppliers  team delivering departmental objectives.

The Strategic Partnering Programme is split into three sectors; Built Environment, Complex Outsourcing & Professional Services & Digital.  

We are currently seeking two Strategic Partnering Managers to join the team: one in Built Environment, and two in Digital.

The Built Environment Sector: Built Environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from buildings and parks or green space to neighbourhoods and cities that include their supporting infrastructure, such as transportation networks, water supply and energy networks.  Our expenditure across the 12 Strategic Suppliers within the sector is circa £14.5bn/annum.

Broadly the Built Environment can be subdivided into three areas Design, Build and Operate (in M&S nomenclature this is Engineering, Construction & FM).

The delivery of infrastructure programmes and projects within the Built Environment is a key facet of government.  

The Digital Sector: central government spends circa  £16bn per annum with our 18 Digital strategic suppliers.   We work with these strategic suppliers along with other key suppliers. The sector is developing at a rapid pace and it is key that we maintain deep sector knowledge and expertise so we can provide appropriate insights and guidance to our stakeholders.  We must ensure that the digital market can serve the needs of government, and that government can benefit from developments in the sector.

The role of the Strategic Partnering Manager (SPM) is to work with our strategic suppliers to improve value, operational effectiveness and reduce risk.  This results in better outcomes, and aligns the government’s commercial strategy with supplier and market capability. The SPM will work across government, both central departments and the wider public sector, working with government’s Crown Representatives and strategic suppliers to strengthen relationships at all levels to c-suite, building a mutual value proposition in key service areas.  The SPM will also ensure that the strategic suppliers are held to account for delivery against government policies and priorities.

You will build an in-depth understanding and knowledge of your suppliers’ business models and public sector portfolios, using this to drive collaborative continuous improvements to the contracts and services the suppliers deliver to Government and the wider public sector.

The SPM is accountable for delivering the government’s strategy and plan with the strategic suppliers; the mutual value proposition in each key service area; the relationship map, from executive to operational levels; the performance standard setting and delivery monitoring; and key contract negotiations. 

This accountability will be exercised in conjunction with the government departments and wider public sector bodies, plus support from the wider central commercial teams.

Key measures of success will lie in developing a truly strategic approach to the strategic suppliers to transform the government’s risk and value creation profile from these suppliers, as follows:

• Strategic risk management: continuity of mission critical and/or sensitive services; compliance and ethics; financial robustness; capability.

• Strategic opportunity: quality of service; efficiency and cost savings, optimising tax payer value for money; end-to-end integrated supply chain between government & supplier; innovation and best practice transfer.

Relationships are key to this role.  The SPM will develop and coordinate extensive external and internal relationships:

• External with the supplier – these range from the c-suite through to executives involved with the partnership with government and delivery of goods, services and performance.

• Internal leadership – Cabinet Office including central functions, across to Commercial Directors within other government departments. The SPM will also work closely with Crown Representatives who act as strategic advisors to the Cabinet Office
   
• Internal organisation – leaders and key operators involved in the relationship; key service area experts. As such, the SPM provides support and guidance to officials across government departments, arms-length bodies and extends out to the wider public sector

• Internal team – work as part of the relevant sector team within MSS and collaborating with other areas such as the Market Health Team and Financial Analysis Team. 

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

• Risk Mindset – Ability to analyse commercial risks and understand margins of error in developing recommendations for key stakeholders
• Manages Complexity – Operates successfully, delivers and drives improvements within a challenging and complex environment
• Builds Relationships – Effectively builds & maintains a range of colleague, internal and external stakeholder relationships, working collaboratively, providing clear advice & support with a track record of influencing at executive and senior levels
• Political Insight – Politically astute – able to navigate internal politics at all levels. Understands and manages conflicting agendas
• Strategy and Policy Development – A highly developed strategic thinker, yet with a history of successful operational delivery at senior levels
• Contract & Supply Management – Significant experience of successful contract & supplier management, demonstrating improved value, operational effectiveness & reduced risk, identifying opportunities to deliver against your organisation’s priorities

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 : Hayley Parfitt
• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk