Commercial Lead (3 Positions)

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 Science, Innovation and Technology commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Commercial Leads provide professional commercial advice, support and delivery to a customer group(s). The work can range from devising the commercial strategy for a multi-million-pound infrastructure or grant projects to running a procurement process for professional services in addition to providing commercial advice to supplier project and contract managers and supporting stakeholders to determine the most appropriate mechanism or route to market. This is an exciting time to join the DSIT Commercial team as we establish the team following the Machinery of Government (MoG) changes which established the Department.

You provide support to a number of Directorates within the department which could include and is not limited to those listed below. Strong commercial skills as opposed to particular category experience are the key.

Cyber Security and Digital Identity

Digital Infrastructure

Data Policy

Digital and tech policy

International and Economic Security

Key features of the G7 roles:

• Provide professional procurement advice to the directorate to ensure they meet all central government requirements, achieve best value and effectively manage risk for third-party goods and services;
• Take personal responsibility; challenge and hold stakeholders to account, create an environment that acts as a catalyst for continuous improvement; develop innovative commercial solutions to meet the Directorates objectives and increase efficiency whilst operating with a high degree of technical competence.

An understanding of PSR 2015 and previous experience or interaction with the public sector, will be helpful in these roles. These positions will involve providing commercial advice, overseeing commercial activity at different stages in the commercial lifecycle, effective risk management and delivering in key policy areas.

• Leading the delivery of commercial advice and commercial activity across the full commercial cycle from commercial strategy to contract exit, informed by commercial risks and delivering policy area objectives.

• Drafting the commercial part of business cases. This includes developing innovative commercial approaches to meet policy objectives.

• Contributing to the development and maintenance of the pipeline.

• Working collaboratively with colleagues in finance, project delivery and an external legal firm.

• Ensuring adherence to commercial processes, regulations and procedures.

• Providing support for contract managers to deliver value for money for contracts and projects.

• Strong persuasion skills are required for influencing and engaging senior stakeholders, including presentation skills.

• Management of pipeline of procurements and register of contracts. This includes the use of the jaggier platform.

• Development of appropriate business cases following the Green Book 5 case model.

• Development of contractual or grant documentation.

• Negotiation with suppliers or partner organisations.

• Ensuring adherence to commercial processes, Public Sector regulations and procedures.

• Working collaboratively with colleagues in policy, delivery, finance, PMO, Legal and the wider BEIS Commercial team.

• Providing advice and guidance for contract managers to deliver best value and quality outputs for contracts and projects.

• Strong persuasion skills are required for influencing and engaging senior stakeholders, including presentation skills.

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

• Risk Mindset: Identifies risks to areas such as delivery and fraud. Works effectively with stakeholders to minimise, manage, eliminate and communicate risks.
• Manages Complexity: Ability to run multiple, concurrent and complex commercial initiatives; keeping projects on track.
• Commercial Focus: Commercial delivery experience across the Commercial lifecycle, particularly procurement.
• Builds Relationships: Evidence of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders, through compelling messaging, collaborative working and effective delivery of commitments.
• Procurement Process: Working knowledge of the stages of the commercial lifecycle and leading practice procurement.

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 : Stephen Sharpe
• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk