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About the job
Job summary
The Commercial team lead and support the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in responsibly spending its money through contract management and procurement activities.
Ensuring compliance with Procurement Regulations is a key consideration for the day-to-day activities of the department, as is compliance with the IPO Spend Policy.
The Commercial department is split into three teams, each focused on a distinct category of IPO commercial activity: IT contracts, People & Services contracts, and Corporate contracts.
This role will primarily be based within the Corporate contracts category team, who provide commercial advice and support to numerous IPO areas with a focus on the following areas of contracts: Finance, Estates, Marketing, Research, Patents/Design search tools, Travel. There will also be opportunities to support the IPOs transformation programme and once the individual is bedded into the team, possibilities to support the IT and People areas.
You will be involved in all areas of public buying activity, including procurement, contract and supplier management, as well as taking responsibility for the management of commercial records and data.
We are looking for someone with a can do attitude who is a self-starter, with the ability to work collaboratively, excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
Working location
This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport office.
The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.
Job description
Individuals will have an excellent opportunity to support and lead in all phases of the IPOs buying process to ensure that the operational and programme needs of the business are delivered.
This role will require candidates to build a well-rounded procurement knowledge whilst also being able to foster and maintain stakeholder relationships.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide advice to internal stakeholders on compliant routes to market, offering guidance and expertise on commercial matters.
- Lead and support all stages of the procurement process in line with public contracts regulations and internal IPO policies.
- Ensure Atamis, our e-procurement system, is utilised for commercial activity, including tendering and contract management.
- Promote the delivery of excellent customer service.
- Build effective and supportive relationships within the Commercial team, sharing ideas and solutions to enhance team performance.
- Provide Support to the Category Manager
This list of responsibilities is not all encompassing, and you will be asked to undertake further tasks which may not be listed.
B1 Essential Criteria
- Experience of working within a Finance, Procurement or Commercial Team
- Familiarity with what frameworks are and how to use them.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to analyse and interpret trends across MI
- Experienced user of Microsoft Office applications Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Ability to build and maintain strong relationships as well as communicate and influence stakeholders clearly and effectively.
- Able to self-manage workloads including organising and prioritising workloads without close supervision.
- Ability to work at pace and multi-task in a complex environment and to identify potential issues, solve problems and improve ways of working.
B2 Essential Criteria
All of the above points along with the below;
- Experience of working contract management
- Experience of what frameworks are and how to use them.
- Experience of working within a public sector procurement environment, with knowledge and experience of advising on best routes for value for money
- Working and applied knowledge of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
Person specification
Please refer to job description.
Additional Information
As part of the role, the successful candidate will be expected to work towards obtaining, as a minimum, Level 4 CIPS once they have successfully passed probation.
This will be paid for by the IPO.
Financial and Commercial Allowance may be available for qualified CIPS candidates. £1,380 may be available for for partially qualified (CIPS level 4); and an additional £3,036 when fully qualified (CIPS level 6).
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Benefits of working with the wider IPO:
- A very generous pension scheme with 27.1% employer contributions. Further information around the benefits of joining the Civil Service can be found via the Civil Service Pension Scheme page;
- 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave;
- The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out by looking at Disability Jobs, BME Jobs and LGBT Jobs
- A variety of support functions including our excellent Staff Counselling Service which is a source of support for all staff at the IPO
- A flexible working scheme which has no core hours and excellent opportunities for home, part-time and term-time working;
- Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
- Excellent development opportunities;
- Opportunities for secondments, both internal and external;
- Opportunities to join many civil-service clubs such as the Sports and Social Association, Motoring Club (CSMA), which provide numerous discounts to members
When working at Concept House, Newport the following benefits are also available:
- Free car parking is available on site;
- On-site facilities including gymnasium, shop, restaurant
Please note that benefits may be subject to change.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to apply
- In order to capture your employment history please complete the employment history box under the ‘Your CV’ section of the online application form.
- All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder
Sift
An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist.
This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:
Behaviours
When completing your application form please ensure that your examples cover the bullet points under each of the following behaviour headings, providing no more than 250 words per example.
Communicating and Influencing
- Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.
- Share information as appropriate and check understanding.
- Tailor your communication style depending on the recipient.
Experience
When completing your 500 word Personal Statement, please ensure that you explain how your personal skills, qualities and experience make you a suitable candidate for the role. Please ensure to cover the essential criteria listed in the job description.
Please note : any wording submitted over the specified word count will not be assessed. Applicants should take care to ensure theyre within the allocated word limit when submitting their application.
Interviews
If invited to interview Behaviour and Experience based questioning will be used.
Behaviours
The above behaviours will be assessed at interview along with the below
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Experience
The above experience will be assessed at interview
Interviews for this role will be carried out in person at our Newport Office.
IMPORTANT: CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.
The successful candidate would be expected to remain in the role for a minimum of 12 months before applying for another role.
If you require job-specific information, please contact:
Name: Ben McGirr
E-mail: Ben.McGirr@ipo.gov.uk
Telephone: 01633 433012
This post is being advertised to Internal, across Government and external candidates at the same time.
The IPO do not hold a sponsor licence, therefore if applicable please ensure your VISA enables you to work in the UK at the IPO without sponsorship.
Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
Should you have any queries or require any assistance in this matter, please contact the IPO Recruitment team at Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk prior to the closing of the post.
In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.
Diversity Statement
The IPO is an inclusive employer where diversity is respected and differences valued. Our positive approach to diversity allows us to select the most suitable applicants free from bias on factors such as age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion, and many more protected characteristics.
If you require an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know via ; recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Candidates to note
Please select the arrows below to drop down each heading for further information, alternatively you can contact recruitment@ipo.gov.uk;
Information on Fraud data base and childcare vouchers
Any move to the Intellectual Property 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/
From 8 June 2020, The Intellectual Property Office is to provide a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they have been successful at interview.
As one aspect of pre-employment screening, personal details (name, National Insurance Number and date of birth) will be checked against the Civil Service Resourcing Extract Internal Fraud database. Anyone included on the Internal Fraud Database will be refused employment unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances. The Intellectual Property Office will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the Internal Fraud database.
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.
Terms & Conditions
Please note that IPO has updated its terms and conditions of employment as part of Civil Service Reform. It is the candidates responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful on application.
Please see the attached Terms and Conditions document.
Voluntary Moves: If your pay (excluding allowances) is above the IPO maximum for the grade it will be capped at the IPO maximum for the grade when you transfer.
OGD loan or permanent transfers
Please note that due to the childcare changes introduced by HMRC in October 2018, employees going on loan/transferring to another government department that were in receipt of childcare vouchers in their previous department will not be able to continue receiving these post transfer.
For more information on the childcare schemes offered by IPO, please contact HRandPayrollteam@ipo.gov.uk
If moving internally on lateral transfer you will remain on your current base salary. Please note: All allowances are specific of individual roles and may not be transferable.
Pension information
Further information Civil Service pension schemes can be found here: https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : IPO Recruitment Team
- Email : Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Further information
The Civil Service recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles.
Complaints Procedure:
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please contact;
Penny Phillpotts
Intellectual Property Office,
Concept House,
Cardiff Road,
Newport,
NP10 8QQ.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
