Commercial Lead

Job summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is an amazing place to work. DWP works on some of the most important and exciting policies in government. We are proud of our work and want to offer applicants the opportunity to get involved in our ambitious agenda to improve outcomes for millions of citizens in the UK; throughout their lives, in the workplace, and in retirement.

DWP is responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy. Consequently, DWP impacts everyone in the UK, delivering services to help jobseekers find work, assist with a disability, or provide support for retirement.

If you like to be challenged, you’ll feel at home with us in DWP Commercial Directorate as we’re one of the largest Government Commercial functions, with stretching challenges and a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of our customers.

Within DWP, the Commercial Directorate (CD) is an award-winning commercial function, with a unified team of culture focused on commercial excellence and continuous improvement. CD shapes how services are delivered across hundreds of third-party contractual arrangements, with some of the largest industry suppliers.

DWP’s CD is divided into several categories, which includes the Employment Category. This Commercial Category is based across our Leeds, Sheffield & London Hubs. (To note these roles are based in either Sheffield and/or Leeds)

This Category provides critical services to DWP and its customers, enabling them to effectively

deliver its objectives on behalf of the Secretary of State, through effective management of the end-to-end procurement lifecycle and directing the Department’s strategies for commercial delivery.

Job description

This is an exciting time to join CD, as we are seeking experienced commercial professionals to lead in the delivery of the business strategy and be responsible for delivery of key procurement and contract management outcomes within the team. These roles offer attractive long-term career opportunities within supportive and engaging working environments, alongside a range of excellent employee benefits. We require driven and dynamic individuals able to achieve results in a challenging but rewarding commercial environment. You will contribute to the development of Category expertise within the team, and increase the level of commerciality, operational execution, and stakeholder/supplier engagement. Your role will be to support the above Category and will require you to be passionate about creating change, taking a leadership role in the development of an enhanced Category management capability. You will have the skills to challenge, inspire, and lead others in a complex landscape of departmental transformation.

Person specification

The successful candidate will:

• Taking operational responsibility for the procurement, development, review, negotiation and execution of many concurrent large scale and/or complex contracts (existing and new), and the commercial management of related suppliers, within your area of accountability.
  
  
• Ensuring agreed supplier cost savings targets are delivered, and initiatives are delivered that increase efficiency whilst maintaining adequate performance and risk management.
  
  
• Contributing to the creation and delivery of market-leading Category and commercial strategies, influencing supply markets to meet current and future Departmental needs
  
  
• Providing commercial support and guidance to management and other stakeholders (internal and external), ensuring “best outcome” commercial solutions are delivered in line with DWP, Commercial and Category strategies, whilst developing their commercial capability.
  
  
• Ensuring accurate, comprehensive, and transparent commercial analysis, with recommendations to senior decision makers based on value and whole life costs that maintain full business ownership of the commercial outcomes.
  
  
• Leadership and line management of supporting team members aligned to your sub-category, including mentoring and coaching team members on policies, procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver.
  
  
• Through effective and proactive contract management of high value strategic contracts, creating positive supplier relationships, strong customer service ethos, and clear commercial strategies to secure optimum outcomes for the DWP and wider Government.
  
  
• Make a significant contribution to the building of a culture of continuous improvement within the Category, DWP Commercial Directorate and wider Government.

Technical skills

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

• Analyses and integrates information from multiple sources, identifies key links and insights, and uses market awareness and an understanding of the wider political landscape to support informed decision-making and commercial and risk management
• Proven resilience with the ability to manage stakeholders to achieve positive commercial outcomes, supporting projects delivering business outcomes. Resolve issues internally and help the team to deal with setbacks.
• Quickly gains the respect of, and buy-in from stakeholders at all levels, collaborating, influencing and engaging with others in delivering change with the ability to build consensus around a course of action.
• Builds capability and confidence in others by providing support to address development needs and empowers others to work to their potential. Utilises coaching and shares expertise and knowledge with a range of stakeholders.
• Evidence of significant procurement experience, including design and delivery of commercial strategies, plans and processes, contracts, and/or commercial management of highly complex and strategically important contracts.

Benefits

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.

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.

Kindly refer to the following link for the GCF Rewards and benefits page.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-benefits/

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.Your application will be reviewed by a pan