Commercial Lead, Chief Operating Officer’s Directorate and Finance

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 Government Property Agency commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

In this role you will be responsible for delivering an excellent commercial service to the Chief Operating Officer’s Directorate and Finance Directorate. 

You will be passionate about building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and colleagues across Commercial and the wider Agency 

You will collaborate and engage with programmes and colleagues across all levels, providing sound advice and influencing commercial outcomes and strategies.

The successful candidate will:

• Contribute to developing the GPA’s category strategies to identify optimal delivery solutions, identification and delivery of savings initiatives and innovation opportunities. Be accountable for the selection and implementation of appropriate commercial models to achieve Departmental strategy and goals and encourage supportive supplier behaviour.

• Act as a source of expert market knowledge, insight and advice to policy and operational teams in the COO and Finance category area. Work with them to understand requirements and develop commercial strategies aligned to policy objectives, suppliers and supply markets.

• Contribute to project scrutiny and approval boards as required.

• Lead on procurements that conform to Departmental procurement procedures, and which comply fully with PCR 2015, Departmental commercial policy, and assurance processes.

• Lead on implementing robust contract and supplier management processes and strategies, including the strategy for smooth transition from the existing to future contractual arrangements.

• Provide expert advice on commercial risk management and deliver mitigation plans / strategies to manage identified risks at corporate level.

• Represent the Commercial team at senior meetings across GPA, across wider Government department meetings including Crown Commercial Service, and externally at industry events to remain current with industry Best Practice and Public Procurement Policy. 

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 Customers and/or key stakeholders.
• Manages Complexity: Experience of having had a leading role in complex commercial activities, with demonstrable experience across the commercial lifecycle.
• Market Insight: Experience and ability to gather a deep understanding of market dynamics and how they can inform commercial decision making.
• Resilient: The ability to challenge senior stakeholder decisions, work under pressure, and deliver multiple projects within agreed timescales
• Procurement Process: Experience in the development of strategies for high value/risk, critical/complex procurements and playing a leading role in the implementation and end to end delivery of these.

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