Commercial Practitioner

Job summary

Insight into CCS - Webinar

Watch our Webinar on the above link and gain valuable insight into CCS and our recruitment processes.

Call to action

Are you ready to lead the digital transformation of the UK public sector?

Join Crown Commercial Service and apply your technology expertise to deliver true Value for the Nation. You will drive market-leading commercial agreements that empower our public services with world-class innovation, ensuring every pound spent builds a more resilient, cost-effective, and digitally-advanced Britain. Progress your career where commercial strategy meets national purpose.

Job Summary

Working alongside a Commercial Lead, you will act as a driving force within the category team, taking ownership of high-value commercial agreements. This role is built on strategic influence; you will master complex supplier relationship management (SRM) and cultivate key customer partnerships to ensure our digital frameworks deliver maximum efficiency and innovation for the public sector.

We currently have a number of positions within the Technology category available. You could be placed within one of the following exciting subcategories:

• Digital and Technology Services

• Hardware

• Network Services

• Cloud & Hosting

• Software

Team Summary

This is a high-profile opportunity to join the Technology Category Group at Crown Commercial Service, where you will play a central role in managing over £14bn of public sector spend. As a core driver of CCS’s commercial success, our team accounts for more than 40% of the organisation’s total impact, directly fuelling the UK’s digital evolution.

You will join a collaborative powerhouse of experts dedicated to helping public sector customers navigate the complexities of the tech market. By bridging the gap between cutting edge suppliers and essential public services, you will ensure the UK remains at the forefront of digital transformation and global innovation. From supporting major government missions to delivering projects of national significance, your work will provide tangible Value for the Nation.

Our Commercial Team is transforming to become even more flexible. Candidates should be aware that there will be opportunities to flex into other category areas as required, either to meet business needs and/or for staff development.

Job description

The post holder will be accountable for leading the delivery of key operational and commercial activities associated with:

Agreement Performance Management and Procurement:

• Effective management of Commercial Agreement performance over its lifecycle to meet increased customer reach and commercial benefits targets ;

• Lead on procurement workstreams and / or provide significant contribution to the delivery of category commercial agreement procurements, meeting agreed timelines.

• Act as a key contributor to the launch of and throughout the term of the agreements, including communications campaigns, sharing insights as part of industry and customer forums

Customer Partnership & Advocacy:

• Act as a category specialist, proactively advising public sector customers on optimal commercial strategies to ensure the best possible commercial outcomes for their Technology procurement needs.

• Manage complex customer and agency enquiries, providing high quality advice and guidance to enhance CCS’ reputation as a trusted partner.

• Communicate with impact across all levels of seniority in Buyers; organisations, as well as represent the Tech Category team team on corporate initiatives and cross-category collaborations.

Supplier Relationship Management and Market Insights:

• Management of commercial agreement suppliers, synthesising complex data and financial reporting to identify market trends, spending behaviours, and value-add opportunities for the benefit of the public sector.

Value Creation & Collaboration:

• Develop strong engagement with suppliers and public sector buyers to identify and share best commercial practices for the best commercial outcomes and deliver Value for the Nation.

• Manage collaborative partnership relationship agreements with customers or other buying organisations where applicable.

• Work in close collaboration with the Customer Experience Directorate to retain, grow customer base through added value initiatives and improvement of service quality.

Risk & Strategy Development:

• Effectively manage risk and issues for your agreement, ensuring mitigation and escalation measures are implemented as appropriate.

• Support the Commercial Lead in evolving category strategies, providing insights based on customers’ and suppliers’ feedback with a view to continuously improving the Technology Category product portfolio.

Team & Operational Excellence:

• Support team development and resilience either directly or through matrix management, while identifying and implementing process improvements to optimise category management operations

Person specification

Essential Criteria (to be assessed at application stage):

• Experience of procurement in the technology category, with a track record of managing contract performance, delivering excellent customer satisfaction and value for money

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to assess large data sets and make informed decisions in a complex commercial environment

• Experience of supplier and customer relationship management - specifically within the technology sector

• Proactively and collaboratively motivate, influence, and persuade diverse internal and external stakeholders across all seniority levels, advising and driving optimal commercial outcomes.

• Ability to problem solve and identify continuous improvement opportunities that ensures the category/organisation operates with maximum effectiveness

Behaviours

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

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

Technical skills

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

• Contract and supplier management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,027, Crown Commercial Service contributes £13,913 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

What we will offer you, here are some of the benefits you can expect:

• Competitive salary

• Generous pension scheme

• A discretionary non-contractual performance related bonus

• Working remotely in addition to working in advertised office location

• Flexi time scheme (available for B1-B6)

• Minimum 25 days annual leave to a maximum service related 30 days excluding bank holidays

Explore fully how we will rewardyour work.

Want to make a difference? Find out more about the rewarding work that we do in ourcandidate pack.

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 and theCivil Service D&I Strategy.

We want to make our recruitment process accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you, please contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Working flexibly, delivering outcomes

CCS is a flexible business with a smarter working model where our colleagues benefit from a mix of home and office working. Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed. Our current office attendance approach requires a minimum of 26 days per quarter (approx 2 days per week, which may be subject to change) in CCS office locations or off site meetings with suppliers, customers, partners, networking / industry events. This is pro rata for those who work part time. Our smarter working principles mean that our people have the advantage of both office and offsite based collaboration and learning, as well as working from home. This way of working allows us to honour our commitment to being a responsible business, offer flexibility and better work life balance as well as ensuring we deliver our business with confidence and in accordance with our CCS values.

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 ourcandidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitably similar vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview. Should you be placed on a reserve list and want to be removed please contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk.

Please note that as part of this recruitment process, if you are unsuccessful at the interview stage but are close to the benchmark score you may be considered for and offered a role at a lower pay band within the same job family.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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.

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 : The Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you remain unsatisfied with the response you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk
#CCS26
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you remain unsatisfied with the response you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk

https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/careers-with-ccs

Attachments

Crown Commercial Service candidate pack (Accessible version) (2) Opens in new window (docx, 33kB)Crown Commercial Service Benefits Brochure Accessible version (2) Opens in new window (docx, 29kB)