Associate Commercial Specialist

Job summary

Complex Transactions (CTT) is a diverse team of commercial experts who - prior to joining us - have gained experience across a range of sectors, industries and procurement categories. Working in a pan-Government consulting role our objective is to support and enable Departments to deliver their most challenging and demanding objectives. All of our work is high profile, high value or integral to Government policy. In many cases it is all three. This recruitment campaign aims to increase the Associate Commercial Specialist capacity in the team.

Our assignments take us to the heart of Government and we are at the forefront in addressing the commercial challenges that make this country operate. From renegotiating contracts for the Department for Work and Pensions to supporting transformational technology projects for HMRC- our work ensures the delivery of services that impact the everyday lives of citizens across the UK. CTT is in the unique position of consistently shaping and influencing some of the biggest deals that exist in either the public or private sector.

Our role as internal consultants across Government enables us to influence the full spectrum of the commercial agenda. From levelling-up, procurement reform, Net Zero, social value, and digital transformation we have an opportunity to influence and apply these initiatives across central, local government and the private sector supply chains. We also assess challenges from multiple perspectives, including fiscal, financial, economic, risk, deliverability and many others besides.

The team structure is not typical of the civil service and is a reverse pyramid of senior commercial specialist expertise. The team has c.45 members. You don’t need to have a background in public sector procurement to join us - we’re more interested in your commercial acumen, leadership, flexibility and desire to make a difference.

Job description

There will be an Engagement call hosted by CTT, to discuss these roles with a chance for Q&A to the panel, on 17th June 12pm via Eventbrite.

You will report functionally to one of our Deputy Directors and you will be:

• Providing expert commercial support to deliver some of the most high profile, and complex commercial projects and initiatives for Government
• Supporting departments to structure their commercial requirements to deliver value for money on departmental programmes and projects – examples:
• Input to creating an appropriate suite of commercial documentation;
• Advising on routes to market (e.g. outsourcing, disaggregation, major commodities);
• Capable of supporting commercial teams through the procurement process.
• Shaping and leading commercial negotiations with both new and incumbent suppliers through to a pre-defined acceptable conclusion.
• Giving strategic advice and support to complex contracts at procurement, contract exit and contract reviews.
• Provision of support to resolve commercial and legal disputes between government departments and strategic suppliers.
• Delivering measurable and significant commercial results including cost savings and other indirect benefits.
• Identifying how government can address best practice commercial approaches such as transparency, pricing and termination arrangements, in more complex contracts.
• Playing an active role in contributing to the expertise within the CTT and sharing best practice and experience whilst collaborating with peers

Person specification

To be successful, you will need to demonstrate capability against the following criteria (described in our application system as Technical Skills) both within your application and at the final panel interview:

• Evidence of negotiation skills, likely to have been gained from multiple large deals. Able to demonstrate examples of having been forceful in order to secure a deal, while maintaining strong customer/supplier relationships.
• Evidence of designing, shaping and agreeing innovative sourcing and commercial strategies from a lead role in a complex organisation.
• Significant category expertise, likely to have been gained from working with or in blue-chip organisations at a senior level. Evidence of running insource/outsource conversations and transitioning.
• Demonstrate consultancy skills, whether internal or external; ability to gain credibility and influence through, network development, strong stakeholder engagement and effective communication skills.
• Demonstrate high levels of confidence with a natural presence and gravitas that is likely to result in successfully influencing outcomes.
• Track record of success in supporting commercial programmes, driving them forward to completion.
• Demonstrable experience of managing complexity when making commercial decisions.

Although SC is required to take up this post, a DV application is expected upon joining the team.

Applications are accepted from individuals holding dual nationality, a requirement of this post is that one of the nationalities must be British.

Technical skills

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

• Evidence of negotiation skills, likely to have been gained from multiple large deals. Able to demonstrate examples of having been forceful in order to secure a deal, while maintaining strong customer/supplier relationships.
• Significant category expertise, likely to have been gained from working with or in blue-chip organisations at a senior level. Evidence of running insource/outsource conversations and transitioning.
• Demonstrate an ability to navigate complexity, with high levels of confidence with a natural presence and gravitas that is likely to result in successfully influencing outcomes.
• Demonstrate consultancy skills, whether internal or external; ability to gain credibility and influence through, network development, strong stakeholder engagement and effective communication skills.
• Extensive evidence of designing, shaping and agreeing innovative sourcing and commercial strategies from a lead role in a complex organisation.

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 panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC will be taking place on either 09/07/2026 or 14/07/2026 and will require a full day's attendance.

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team on commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.

For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the attached candidate pack.

Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the Technical Skills (essential criteria) and your Job History (CV) that you will be asked to provide during the application process. Further help and advice on our application and selection process can be found at this web address https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-how-to-apply/
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-recruitment/
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Lynsey Munro
• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should direct this to the Head of Commercial Resourcing Hub at the following email commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk quoting the vacancy reference number (if applicable) and the details of your complaint. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission via the following web page: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

Guaranteed Interview Schemes (GIS) Opens in new window (pdf, 70kB)465358 - Associate Commercial Specialist - Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1026kB)