Commercial Lead

Job summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) touches the lives of everyone in the UK in some shape or form, delivering services and support to help people find work, assist with a disability or provide support through their retirement.

As a key part of DWP, the Commercial Directorate (CD) shapes how services are delivered across 100’s of 3rd party contractual arrangements with some of the largest industry suppliers. CD has undergone a massive transformation exercise to develop into a world class Commercial function and is focused on continuously developing our achievement against Government Commercial Operating Standards.

The commercial teams manage third party delivery providing services to 80 thousand staff and over 20 million customers, with an annual contracted spend of almost £3bn. Our purpose is simple, we will support DWP to achieve its objectives by ‘enabling effective and value for money delivery of DWP policies and programmes, driving better outcomes for citizens through best use of commercial partnering and third-party supplier delivery opportunities.’ CD plays a crucial role in driving DWP’s 2030 efficiency agenda as half of DWP’s controllable costs is represented by third party spend therefore early engagement with stakeholders and use of market intelligence and other insight is critical to delivering better commercial outcomes.

CD is organised in an “end to end “category management model to support the Departments strategic objectives, change agenda and live running supplier management. In simple terms this means that individual CD team members own all aspects of the commercial lifecycle, from pre-procurement, through to sourcing (Tendering and Contracting) and In Life Management (including Contract Management and Supplier Relationship Management).

Digital Category procure the IT infrastructure, software, hardware, services and anything further technology-related to support all of the DWP internal and external programmes and services. From buying laptops for DWP staff to supporting UK-wide work capability and health assessments, from data hosting to networks, we help source, procure and manage the technology that underpins the vital services. We work closely with Digital colleagues, providing the commercial support; cover and guidance to aid Digital colleagues achieve their outcomes.

Job description

We are looking for a candidate who can;

• Take responsibility and leadership for your commercial pipeline, managing a small team to deliver end-to-end commercial activity (pre-market engagement, procurement and contract management) that delivers great value while supporting the respective Digital category team in achieving their objectives.
  
  
• Do so while contributing to the running, performance and reputation of the Department, GCO, GCF and the Civil Service through positive leadership and engagement.

Locations
The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.

Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

Person specification

• Support stakeholders to convert planned business and programme objectives into agreed commercial deliverables, e.g. DMAs, Procurements, Market Engagement, Contract Management Activity, and Risk Management. Maintain a clear and agreed pipeline with clear delivery dates. Work with the business as necessary to support the prioritisation of commercial work activity for new / unplanned / reprioritised work on that pipeline. Impact and understand the workforce required to deliver that pipeline and do / oversee the commercial activities necessary to deliver against it.
• Within that context, support CD in achieving its corporate scorecard targets by identifying and delivering cost saving initiatives which add value while maintaining adequate performance and risk management, ensuring governance is proportionate and meeting transparency obligations in relation to that area of the commercial pipeline.
• Deliver high quality commercial assurance and activity by embedding compliance with the relevant legislative regime, by holding and maintaining integrity and transparency of our data to comply with minimum requirements internally and externally, by ensuring contract management plans are in place for gold and required silver contracts, by publishing contract notices on time and by applying commercial policy and best practice.
• Creating positive supplier and stakeholder relationships through effective and proactive contract management, a strong customer service ethos, and clear commercial strategies to secure optimum outcomes for the DWP.
• Making a significant contribution to the building of a culture of continuous improvement and development within the DWP Commercial Directorate, including leading the team through the changes necessary to adopt and exploit the new procurement legislation and the new eProcurement system.
• Activity management of supporting team members aligned to your sub-category; motivate and manage to deliver corporate outcomes and to ensure continuous improvement. Mentor and coach team members on policies, procedures, practices, and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner and ensure your own skills remain current through at least 30 hours continuous professional development.

Technical skills

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

• Manage multiple parallel streams of activity ensuring all are progressed, & that conflicts are resolved, & can bring clarity when working with incomplete information & when explaining complex information to others
• Define a commercial outcome from conception to delivery, clearly articulating the benefits, opportunities & risks, leading a strategy that balances optimal commercial performance whilst delivering business focused results
• Remains calm and composed in challenging situations. Strive to resolve issues, despite challenges, & helps others to deal with setbacks. Perseveres & remains focused on the objectives & outcomes for their business area
• Builds strong relationships with key stakeholders & suppliers within a highly complex, fast moving, commercial focused environment, & can leverage those relationships to secure decisions and/or outcomes
• Present well-evaluated options & suggest an approach based on market knowledge. Successfully plan & execute the procurement, ensure market VfM, satisfy proportionate governance & secure stakeholder buy-in/approval at each stage

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 is taking place on Wednesday 22nd April 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.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 : Hayley Parfitt
• 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

450854 - Candidate Pack - DWP - Commercial Lead.docx Opens in new window (pdf, 515kB)20170625 - Guaranteed interview scheme -GIS Opens in new window (doc, 44kB)