Commercial Manager (Procurement, Contract, Category Management) (Ref:82508)

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Job Description

Job Title:     Commercial Manager (Procurement, Contract, Category Management)

Job Grade:    SEO

Reporting to:    Senior Commercial Manager 

Job Location:     National (click here to find your nearest location)

Contract Type:    Permanent 

Business Area:    MOJ – Commercial & Contract Management Department

Type of role:    Procurement, Contract Management

Working pattern:     Flexible working, Full-time

Number of Posts:    1

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. Responsible for courts, prisons and probation services, we work to ensure sentences are served and offenders are given rehabilitation opportunities to become law-abiding citizens.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has one of the largest and most complex spend profiles in central government. The Commercial and Contract Management Directorate (CCMD) is responsible for coordinating procurement and contract management across the MoJ, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. 

The MoJ spends £6.7bn a year and manages over 1000 active contracts, all of which are sourced and managed by CCMD. We are running some of the most groundbreaking programmes such as Prison Reform and His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service Reform. The scope of our contracts ranges from building, maintenance and the operation of Prisons, Courts and Young Offender establishments through to food for prison dogs. The directorate also buys and manages contracts for feeding up to 80,000 prisoners, the secure escorting of prisoners from numerous establishments based around the country and translation services. 

CCMD is organised into category teams, each with an interesting portfolio of contracts and diverse customers and suppliers to manage. We also have systems, programme management office, supplier relationship and risk management teams who work across all areas.

SCOPE

Portfolio – Residential Accommodation

Our team leads a portfolio of contract with an annual value of c.£200m, working closely with suppliers and stakeholders across the MoJ and the wider government on a varying range of unique contracts and procurements to maximise their value to the public. Through effective and efficient procurement, contract management and expert advice, our team enable quality performance, value for money and commercial solutions.

As a team we have a proven track record of developing our people both within the team and within the wider directorate. If you are keen to grow your commercial skills, gain experience working on complex government contracts and keen to become a commercial leader in the future don’t miss this opportunity to apply. 

Due to it’s exciting pipeline and high agenda deliverables which are essential to the MoJ’s objectives and ministerial commitments, the team is growing rapidly.  There is one post in the Residential Accommodation portfolio.  The Residential Accommodation category procures and manages contracts that deliver essential accommodation in the community for people who may otherwise be held in prison or be at risk of homelessness. The category is broken down into three key areas of Community Accommodation Services (CAS-1, CAS-2 and CAS-3) each providing different levels of accommodation and support for people with varying needs, and at different stages of their journey. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be involved in a range of contracts and projects, working on market engagement activities and events, complex procurements and contract management activities, by the joining the exciting and fast-moving category. 

Key Responsibilities 

•    Contract administration of a range of contracts, including developing and managing contract variations and change control and other contract mechanisms;
•    Assuring the pay and performance mechanisms work correctly and validation of contractor performance and assurance of payment applications
•    Leading end to end sourcing activity including pre-procurement activity, requirements definition, strategy development, market engagement and producing the invitation to tender pack (including specification, technical and financial evaluation and contract drafting)
•    Leading contract implementation and management activity, working closely with stakeholders to deliver mobilisation, performance management, contract variation, negotiation and exit activity
•    Strategy development at contract level, using business acumen and market insight to drive commercial opportunities to deliver continuous improvement, value for money and/or savings
•    Embedding Cabinet Office’s Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approach at contract level
•    Analysing market, spend and performance data and presenting this to support commercial activity and reporting requirements
•    Leading on collaborative commercial opportunities, working with other government departments 
•    Leading conflict and issue resolution with suppliers and stakeholders, seeking support from the Senior Commercial Manager where appropriate
•    Supporting the Senior Commercial Manager and leading on activities which support the development of category management procedures, tools and ways of working
•    Managing communication or escalation of issues from customers.
•    Ensuring compliance with governance, legislative and policy requirements as appropriate.
•    Delivery of continuous improvement in the way we operate to drive best practice for our contracts.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

•    A proven track-record of delivering effective contract management in a commercial environment and/or experience of delivering public procurement competitions; 
•    Strong business acumen and ability to show evidence-based decision making; 
•    Excellent stakeholder management skills; 
•    Excellent communication (written and oral) and influencing skills; 
•    Awareness and practical application of public sector procurement legislation; 
•    Relevant commercial (or supplier management) experience and a good understanding of managing contracts and/or procurement principles and practices.
•    Well organised and able to work to deadlines as part of a team. 
•    Can work at pace and able to prioritise effectively to manage own workload in demanding situations.

Desirable Criteria:

•    Knowledgeable of public sector procurement legislation including EU Rules and UK interpretations;
•    The ability to drive improved outcomes by influencing and developing the market.

Qualifications:

Candidates must have one of the following or a willingness to work towards gaining the appropriate qualification. CIPS or IACCM.

Application form stage assessments:

An initial sift will be performed against the following elements:

Experience 

•    CV

Behaviours

•    Communicating and Influencing 
•    Making Effective Decisions    
•    Managing a Quality Service    
•    Working Together

Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift against the CV and the Lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing. 

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview and will be assessed on the selected success profile elements at the interview stage. Please carry a valid proof of Id that has your photo on it (passport, BRP, driving licence etc) at the interview.

Interview:

There is one interview stage for this vacancy and as part of the interview process you will be required to provide evidence of the following: 

Behaviours

•    Communicating and Influencing
•    Making Effective Decisions
•    Managing a Quality Service
•    Working Together

Strengths may also be assessed at the interview.

Please also refer to the People Standards for the profession (Associate Commercial Lead) – Attributes for Government Commercial Professionals – Section A: Judgement and Leadership.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/984460/__Government_Commercial_Function__GCF__People_Standards_for_the_Profession_Version_3.0_.pdf

If you would like to learn more about this role, please direct your queries to CCMDRecruitment@Justice.gov.uk 

Please use STAR approach to structure your examples.

· Situation – Describe the situation you found yourself in and what happened.

· Task – The Hiring Manager will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation that you found yourself in.

· Action – What actions did you take and how did you do it. Make sure to use “I”, not “we” to explain how your actions lead to a result.

· Result – Use facts and statistics to demonstrate the results that your actions produced. Explain whether it was a successful outcome, and if not, what you learned from the experience. 

Further information on the Success profile elements can be found on Success Profiles – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

New entrants are expected to join on the pay minimum. Higher starting salary and / or Recruitment & Retention Allowance (RRA) may be available for successful candidates with exceptional skills and experience.

The specialist allowance applies to suitably qualified candidates (CIPS, World CC or any other Commercial Professional Qualification). We will consider applications from non-qualified candidates, who are willing to develop and work towards a recognised qualification in order to meet the full requirements of the role. Further details can be provided during the recruitment process’

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
• Telephone : 0845 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com