Assistant Commercial Manager, Home Office Digital

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair, and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration, and passports. Commercial Directorate is part of Chief Operating Officer Group and works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The directorate is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Security, Estates and Information and Home Office Digital.

We are seeking individuals to work at SEO level to provide critical activities to support the delivery of Commercial’s objectives.

The Home Office Commercial team is part way through a programme of change which has seen us recruiting across all grades. We are seeking diligent individuals to work at SEO level to provide critical activities to support the delivery of Commercial’s objectives.

These roles could be of interest to commercial professionals with procurement experience and expertise or contract managers who are looking to apply and broaden their commercial skills in a central government commercial function or to existing commercial staff who would enjoy taking on a new role. Successful candidates will receive a programme of development with the opportunity to study towards professional commercial qualifications.

So, whatever your background, either public or private, if you are enthusiastic about delivering first class outcomes then come and join our journey.

Job description

The job is to procure and / or commercially administrate and manage Home Office contracts in accordance with legislation and regulations that apply to the central government department in the public sector, as well as in accordance with relevant policies of the Home Office, Cabinet Office, and His Majesty’s Treasury.

The contracts support delivery of Home Office objectives by sourcing items and services including but not limited to:

• IT equipment including hardware and software.
• Cloud-based services.
• Specialist technological skills, services, and consultancy.
• Expertise and capability in (for example) application development and maintenance.
• Software-defined networking.
• Artificial Intelligence.
• Software and Licensing.

The categories of IT enabled by the contracts include and are not limited to:

• End-user compute.
• Application development.
• Call centres; telephony and networks.
• Data-centre operations.
• Security operations (Cyber and otherwise).
• Support for insourced and outsourced IT services provided to Home Office sites around the United Kingdom and abroad.

For the most complex or risky contracts, the job involves supporting a Grade 7 (one grade higher than the SEO) who is accountable for these contracts. Most SEO roles within this campaign will involve independent working, supported by senior colleagues.

Procurement and Contract Management activity must support the delivery of Commercial Directorate’s objectives by demonstrating Home Office compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, and policies such as PCR2015 and TPA2023. Targets include timely publication of notices relating to procurement and contract management, evidencing of savings and accuracy of key data fields on Commercial Lifecycle Management Systems. Performance against these targets is monitored and reviewed.

The Home Office operates a RASCI (responsible / accountable / support / consult / inform) which recommends how the SEO interacts with other commercial colleagues, business colleagues (e.g. operational contract managers), and enablers (e.g. Government Legal Department) to ensure good procurement and contract management.

SEO roles operate within the Home Office RASCI framework, which sets out how they collaborate with commercial colleagues, business stakeholders, and enablers (including the Government Legal Department) to ensure effective procurement and contract management.

Continuous professional development is expected as part of individual targets, and opportunities to study for relevant professional qualifications may be available.

Key Responsibilities

• Working collaboratively with commercial colleagues, DDaT Senior Contract Owners, delivery managers and enablers from opportunity identification through to contract award and mobilisation.
• Develop robust commercial cases and procurement strategies, using commercial and financial analysis, market engagement, assurance of requirements, and clear articulation of value for money.
• Lead compliant procurement planning and governance, providing commercial insight on routes to market, approvals (e.g. Commercial Assurance / Approvals Boards), documentation, and realistic lead times.
• Own delivery of the commercial elements of procurements, including market-facing activity, moderation of tender evaluations, drafting/review/sign-off of commercial documentation, and transition to effective contract management.
• Ensure full compliance with Home Office policy and public procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contract Regulations 2015, while providing clear commercial advice and guidance to stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, aligning procurement strategies to business needs, maintaining the Home Office pipeline, identifying efficiencies, and contributing to category strategy development and delivery.
• Lead early market engagement and strategic planning, working with business and G7 Commercial Leads to develop category strategies, sourcing plans, procurement pipelines, and approaches that encourage competition and innovation.
• Support capability building and leadership, mentoring peers and junior staff, providing expert commercial guidance, and (where applicable) line managing a junior colleague and overseeing routine transactional contracts.

Working pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working - Subject to business needs.

Travel

There may be some travel to other Offices for team meetings.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Commercial practice experience, with proven delivery within a procurement and/or contract management function and a strong understanding of commercial best practice and governance.
• End‑to‑end commercial lifecycle knowledge, with deep practical experience in at least one stage (e.g. sourcing, contract award, or contract management).
• Systems and process expertise, including use of e‑sourcing and/or contract management systems to support compliant activity and audit requirements.
• Strong stakeholder and delivery management skills, able to balance competing priorities and deadlines through effective collaboration.
• Excellent communication and supplier management capability, including interpreting contractual terms and working with suppliers to ensure obligations are met.
• Sound understanding of compliance and assurance requirements, ensuring commercial activity is defensible, auditable, and aligned to policy.
• Continuous improvement and value focus, demonstrating initiative to enhance commercial outcomes and maximise value from agreements. These are Commercial focused, located from GCO essential criteria.

Desirable Criteria

• Professional and public sector commercial experience, including a CIPS qualification (or working towards one) and experience of public sector procurement, such as use of Crown Commercial Service (CCS) frameworks.
• Commercial and financial insight, with an understanding of value for money, commercial spend, and experience or exposure to technology‑related procurement.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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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 Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.

After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the followingCivil Service Numerical test.

1. Online Test – by 27th May 2026.

If you successfully pass the Numerical test, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the Civil Service test(s) will be available when you are invited to take the test(s). The online tests are accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4 p.m. and Midnight on 3rd May 2026 and Midday and 1 p.m. on 10th May 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

Following successful completion of your test, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.

2. Application – by 27th May 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour - Communicating & influencing (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).

Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

3. Sift – commencing 29th May 2026.

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV, Behaviour.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement, CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (Lead Behaviour).Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

4. Interview – commencing 19th June 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) Strength based questions and Experience based questions . All Behaviours listed in the selection process will be scored at the interview.

The interview will take place on Teams.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location preferences

You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is [ BASIC]. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office resourcing centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)Candidate_Information_v17_April_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 207kB)