Senior Commercial Officer (EGS Programmes)

Job summary

This is a really exciting opportunity to work within Defra Group Commercial and use your commercial expertise to directly contribute towards improving and protecting them environment. We are recruiting into 1 SEO role within the Environmental Goods & Services (“EG&S”) Strategy & Programmes Team.

We are a team of 7 responsible for commercial support to Defra’s major environmental projects and programmes such as the Water System Reform providing programme, the Natural Capital Eco Assessment (NCEA) programme and the Collection and Packaging Reforms programme.

As well as this, we provide strategic advice and procurement support to Defra’s Environmental Goods and Services category which sources environmental goods and services across four sub-categories - Vets and Labs, Research and Development (R&D), Land User & Biodiversity and Monitoring & Related Services. We also manage Defra’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contracts that are strategically significant agreements to help Defra group measure, assess and continuously improve the effectiveness of its policy interventions, research and evidence programmes and grant schemes.

Job description

In this role you will lead procurement activity that supports delivery of key programmes such as Natural Capital Eco Assessment (NCEA) and lead the management of Defra's suite of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contracts.

The role will involve the following:

• Provide support that facilitates delivery of projects, procurements and contract management roles providing functional / specialist input to improve ways of working and business change & efficiency.
• Responsible for explaining specialist commercial guidance to operational teams to influence compliance with Defra policy / legislation / best practice ways of working and contribute to the delivery of business plans.
• Keep up to date on changing legislation / best practice externally, to inform internal priorities and appropriate alignment.
• Contribute to the development of Defra policy / process at national / local level and monitor and advise on effective implementation in the business, in line with environmental targets.
• Build and sustain effective relationships with operational staff and customers to understand issues and provide effective response / steer for operational needs.
• Provide support such that in the delivery of contracts sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle.
• Mentor and coach others on commercial procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner.
• Manage team members to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and cost to fulfil the business plan and achieve / support environmental goals.
• Maximise the efficient and effective use of resources (including electronic sourcing) and people to ensure that all activities are completed to time, cost and quality targets.
• Provide support to facilitate the development of Defra sub-category and category plans.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who are building their commercial experience. We want you to be able to challenge and influence across complex and varied customers as well as enjoy developing innovative solutions to challenges. You will excel in building networks and see good relationships as a key part of your expertise. It is important for you to feel rewarded by having provided a high-quality professional service with measurable outcomes. Finally, you will enjoy building a positive team spirit and supporting your team to deliver expert outcomes that are valued by your customers. In previous roles we expect you will have:

• Led and supported the delivery of a range of procurements, and ideally managed contracts or suppliers to achieve successful outcomes.
• Cultivated positive working relationships with colleagues, customers, and suppliers, effectively influencing and challenging to achieve optimal commercial results.
• Demonstrated a thorough understanding of regulatory frameworks, adhering to agreed policies and processes, and actively promoting these standards in your work.
• Implemented initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, drive business change, and improve ways of working.
• Used your commercial acumen to deliver commercial benefits, efficiencies and savings.
  Proactively identified risks and issues, developing and executing plans to mitigate them.
• Participated in and potentially chaired meetings to facilitate decision-making, including setting agendas, leading discussions, and documenting actions and decisions.
• Presented well-founded conclusions and recommendations supported by analysed information, including financial data.
• Provided support and training to colleagues, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and efficient work delivery.
• Utilised IT systems and applications proficiently to carry out tasks effectively.
• Invested in your own professional development, which may have involved staying abreast of legislation changes, best practices, or enhancing industry knowledge.

The following experience is essential to these roles and will be tested at sift and interview.

• An accomplished Commercial professional with a track record of setting high standards and delivering results in a complex and demanding environment.
• Experience at influencing Commercial decisions at an operational level.
• A proven contract manager with experience of leading strategic contract award negotiations and resolving dispute resolutions through negotiation.
• Working with stakeholders in a commercial environment and being able to influence and constructively challenge when necessary.
• Building and maintaining strong and productive working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Making effective decisions from analysing financial and non-financial information and identifying key risk and options and then making recommendations to senior colleagues.
• Communicating confidently and concisely. Effectively communicating with a wide range of stakeholders (at all levels) both in a technical and non-technical environment.
• Delivering improvements to ways of working and embedding change.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Commercial judgement - can develop commercial strategies taking into account risk and value.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,665, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Defra offers an attractive and competitive benefits package, including:

Basic Salary

Based on grade, skills, and experience, in which salary ranges and individual salaries are subject to review each year.

Pension Scheme

Payable to Death Benefit Nominee, should you pass away whilst in service.

The default pension scheme is Alpha; a career salary average, defined benefit scheme. You build up pension at a rate of 2.32% of your pensionable earnings