Head of Commercial, 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:

• Motivate and manage a professional commercial team to deliver corporate outcomes and to ensure continuous improvement. Mentor and coach team members on policies, procedures, practices, and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner.

• Refines specification for complex requirements by engaging stakeholders to develop a clear and agreed view of business requirements and target outcomes. Challenges the sourcing strategy, where appropriate, to improve outcomes.

• Manages and forecasts demand across their area of responsibility. Reviews and challenges business cases to make sure they are fit for purpose. Achieves the return on investment and improves costs and delivery certainty by managing resources and maximising the use of assets.

• Considers key service and delivery objectives with stakeholders and implements appropriate contract and performance management regime within the terms and conditions. Develops and instigates approaches with stakeholders to support collaborative commercial relationships using appropriate frameworks and standards.

• Provides advice on market behaviour, shape and drivers to secure value. Considers key financial, legal and commercial issues in the development of the contracting model and implements these within the terms and conditions. Advises on relevant regulations and compliance issues demonstrating a strong knowledge.

• Maintains relationships with strategic and non-strategic stakeholders and communicates progress with the category strategy and benefits realisation. Applies the standards to eliminate corruption, fraud and unethical behaviour in supply chains, taking appropriate actions in the event of any alleged breach of standards.

• 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