Commercial Practitioner

Job summary

Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions, it’s all in a day’s work. From HR to Finance, Policy to Communications, this is work that sustains and supports, where everyone’s voice is heard, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. For a career packed with possibility, a comprehensive benefits package, where we live by our values and have the opportunity to improve the lives of people across the UK, look no further.

Supporting people who need it most. That’s our purpose. Start your own career today. Find out more and apply here.

DWP is looking to fill 3 roles in CommercialDirectorate.

The roles available will be based in Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES, Manchester 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA and Leeds Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UA.

We welcome applications from candidates who demonstrate the Essential Skills outlined below.

Visa Sponsorship

For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Job description

Your role will be a Commercial Practitioner within one of Commercial Categories listed below, with your role's overriding responsibility to manage commercial activity within the category team and across the full commercial lifecycle.

Employment (1 vacancy) - The Employment Services Commercial Category are based across our Leeds, London and Sheffield Commercial Hubs (to note this vacancy will be based in Leeds)

An exciting opportunity has arisen based within the DWP’s Commercial Directorate supporting the Employment Services Category.

The Employment Category has responsibility for Market Management, Commissioning, Procurement and in life running of all External Employment provision including the Restart, Work & Health Programme, Access to Work and a raft of policy Test & Learn contracts.

The role is part of the Back to Work team, which includes all the major national programmes (Restart, Work & Health Programme (WHP), Intensive Personalised Employment Support (IPES) and Test & Learn for new trials/pilots.

The role will be working in the team that oversees the successful delivery of contracts of in excess of £2Billion and with up to c 400k participants and is a critical and politically visible part of the Departments delivery of ministerial directions.

The role of the Category is to work with other stakeholders to ensure value for money and delivery of the contracts in flight supporting the most vulnerable in society. As a commissioner the Category is a lynchpin of the Employment and skills market and plays an active market shaping role.

A key element of this role will be working with Policy Colleagues to determine the shape, size, and design of future Trials, as well as supporting in life management of existing programmes.

All the national contracts are large, complex, and politically sensitive.

Here is a summary of the Categories achievements and services we manage

• In 22/23 delivered £126.2 million cash and efficiency savings

• Winner 2021 Government Opportunities (GO) Overall Excellence Award and Award for COVID-19 Outstanding Response Award – Central Government Organisations.

• In 2021, the Employment team won the DWP Finance Group Working Together Award

• Winner 2018 CIPS Europe Overall Award and Award for Digital Innovation for the Dynamic Purchasing System.

• Highly Commended for the prestigious GO Awards in 2017, for Team of the Year category for European Social Fund (ESF).

• Procurement and Delivery of the Restart Scheme, providing claimants with enhanced support to find jobs in their local area.

• Delivery of an innovative ‘Future Market Strategy’ jointly owned by both Policy and Commercial.

• Strategic market Stewardship approach alongside Contract Management and Partner Delivery (CMPD) colleagues to drive the market to meet our goals through SRM, Co-Opetition and a cultural shift.

• An opportunity to really change people's lives with our Contracted Employment Programmes to support them back into work.

Service Delivery Commercial (SDC) (2 vacancies) - The Service Delivery Commercial (SDC) Category is based across our Blackpool, Leeds, and Manchester, Commercial Hubs (to note these vacancies are based in any of these locations).

SDC provide critical services to DWP and its customers enabling it to effectively deliver its objectives on behalf of the Secretary of State. Our contracts directly enable service delivery to millions of citizens who rely on DWP services across the country, we manage commercial contracts across the following key areas:

• Business Process Partnering (BPP) - provide a wide range of services to DWP such as case review work, fraud error and debt contracts to support operational delivery across thousands of staff and millions of citizens.

• Contact Centres (CC) – provide first line Contact Services enabling customers to contact us when required and provide the right support and guidance through some of the largest contracts of this type in the UK.

• Operational Support Services (OSS) – provide critical Print, Post and Data storage services to ensure we communicate on time with all our citizens, manage data and support millions of citizens who use our services day to day.

The Commercial Categories have a portfolio of contracts that are intrinsic to enabling DWP’s services and delivering citizens outcomes, which you will play a part in. Your work within the Category team will be fast paced, and requires pro-active and innovative thinking, with good communication skills and an outgoing and enthusiastic approach to challenges. The post holder will be required to take on commercial management responsibilities for existing or new contracts, so strong commercial skills will enable you to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, to deliver and achieve joint outcomes.

Key activities will include:

• Engaging with and influencing internal stakeholders to determine commercial strategies for future delivery of services.

• Leading and supporting procurement and buying activities to deliver the pipeline of requirements.

• Undertaking contract management, supplier performance and relationship management to drive continuous improvement.

• Communicate effectively with stakeholders and suppliers on a regular basis to ensure information collected is up to date, accurate and helps ensure Senior Managers are able to make informed decisions that affect the category.

• Support their respective line managers in all the necessary commercial activity to enable best Value for Money (VFM) solutions to be realised.

• Line management and capability building within the team.

Person specification

The roles and responsibilities for this position include, but are not restricted to:

Commercial Strategy

• Take the lead in providing commercial advice to a wide range of stakeholders to support colleagues with market engagement, sourcing, tendering and a wide range of procurement activities.

• Ensure "best outcome" commercial solutions are delivered in line with DWP, Commercial and Category strategies, and ensures value for money.

Stakeholder Management / Engagement / Communication.

• Working with stakeholders at all levels (internal and external) leading work to develop strategy and tactics for procurement category initiatives.

• Create positive supplier relationships, encouraging innovation, creation of “value add” solutions, and a strong customer service ethic.

Managing the Procurement Process

• Undertake end-to-end procurement activity, utilisation of standardised e-tools, CCS and other framework agreements and contracts as required.

• Producing, reviewing and advising on governance documents and processes such as papers for Commercial Board, Programme Board, gated project submissions etc.

• Project manage necessary work streams and initiatives to ensure timely delivery of objectives, ensuring all necessary process, including formal stakeholder engagement and approvals are completed.

• Take responsibility for the development, review, execution of contracts including supporting negotiation where required.

Leadership

• Promote and play an active part in supporting Commercial Directorate values and culture.

• Manage, coach and develop team members.

Contract Management

• Commercial management of related suppliers including analysis of contract performance information.

Application of Contract Law

• Be comfortable dealing with complex contract and procurement documents.

ESSENTIAL Criteria

The application process will involve uploading a CV and personal statement. Successful candidates for this role must be able to demonstrate the following Essential Skills throughout the selection process: Further information under ‘Application process’.

Procurement/Contract Management/Risk (Lead Essential Skill)

• Provide evidence to show an understanding and awareness of procurement commercial projects, which could include where you have worked on strategies and sourcing plans, or end to end contract management / supplier management and commercial risk.

• Demonstrate how you have analysed and understood key management information and performance data to inform decision making.

Stakeholder management / engagement / communication

• Demonstrate previous experience of working collaboratively across a range of stakeholders and gained buy-in using appropriate communication & influencing skills.

Business Acumen & Commercial Judgement

• Demonstrate understanding of managing complexity (such as considering trade-offs) when making commercial decisions.

• Demonstrate how you shaped your organisation’s requirements to be market-suitable, including through the use of documents such as terms & conditions.

Leadership

• Demonstrate how you have previously worked as part of a team, taken ownership to drive an issue forward, given direction and feedback to colleagues that has produced positive results.

• Demonstrate resilience in resolving issues internally and in working with others in the team to manage setbacks.

Attention to Detail

• Provide evidence of how your focus and attention to detail has either

• enabled you to resolve an issue or negotiate a better outcome for your organisation, or

• ensured accuracy in the end goal/result, or

• been effective in reviewing and assimilating financial information to inform commercial decisions.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,447, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £12,876 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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 and Experience.

Please apply on the Civil Service Jobs website. You will be required to:

• Provide personal information.

• Enter your CV in the space provided, setting out your employment history.

• Complete a personal statement (maximum of 1250 words) which should demonstrate how you meet all the essential skills as set out in the job description.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Stage 1 Assessment - Sift:

At sift, we will assess your application by using your CV and personal statement only. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed in the job advert above.

In the event of a high volume of applications, it may be necessary to undertake an initial sift on the lead Essential Skill before moving to a full sift. If so, we will sift on:

Lead Essential Skill: Procurement/Contract Management/Risk

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to an interview.

Please note that you are not required to produce behaviour-based examples in the content of your CV or personal statement as these are not assessed at sift. Applications will be sifted and scored based on the information supplied in both your CV and personal statement and entered as one overall score within the results.

Stage 2 Assessment - Interview:

If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to a face-to-face interview in one of our DWP hubs, where you shall be assessed on the Behaviours listed below as well as Experience based questioning.

Interview Assessment Elements (Success Profiles):

We will assess the following Behaviours at interview.

• Leadership

• Making Effective Decisions

• Managing a Quality Service

Prior to interview:

Prior to your interview you will be required to provide copies of relevant documents to confirm your identity. These documents should either be scanned, or photographed using a smart phone, and emailed to the person issuing the invitation to interview, no later than 24hrs before your interview. Further instructions will be provided in the interview invitation. Candidates will be expected to provide suitable ID at interview stage.

Indicative Timeline:

Please note that the following dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these time frames, please let us know in your application.

• Sifting Panel: to commence from 19th of February 2026

• Final Panel Interviews: weeks commencing 16th and 23rd of March 2026

Further Information

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

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.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.

Important

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may, however, be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at the Childcare Choices Website.

Location

You will be asked for your preferences for up to 2 locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here.

Some travel may be required, but individual’s circumstances will be taken into account.

Hybrid Working

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work.

If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.

If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Feedback

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 : Jayne Hirst
• Email : cd.policyandoperationsbom@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

FG Corporate and Partner Roles Candidate Pack SEO - DEC 25 Opens in new window (pdf, 634kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)