Higher Executive Officer (HEO) - DEFRA (DgC) / Natural England

Job summary

Defra group Commercial are looking to appoint a Commercial Officers (HEO) to join the Natural England Commercial Team.

• Support and lead the delivery of projects, procurements and contract / supplier management roles across an allocated customer category.
• Support the management and development of key supplier relationships to deliver exceptional performance in cost, service and quality.
• Build and sustain effective relationships with category customers.
• Provide day to day advice on commercial issues and governance across the relevant category, taking full account of risk, exploiting commercial opportunities and maximising value of money and savings.
• Prepare tender documentation and evaluation criteria, and lead from market engagement through to tender publication, evaluation, negotiations, and award.

Brief Overview:

Defra Group Commercial (DGC) is part of Defra, the central Government Department responsible for growing the rural economy; improving the environment; and safeguarding animal and plant health. DGC is responsible for providing a commercial service to organisations within the Defra Network.

This post requires the post-holder to assist customers to deliver value effectively and innovatively so that the customer organisation outcomes and objectives can be met alongside the fulfilment of Spending Review targets.

In accordance with Defra’s commercial policies and procedures the post requires commercial expertise to deliver low to medium risk and value projects (typically up to £500k), procurements and contract / supplier management within a market facing category team across the full commercial life cycle. They will be expected to deliver propriety and value for money whilst applying the Commercial life-cycle principles.

The work will involve promoting commercial policies and procedures whilst influencing the final outcomes. It includes the provision of expert advice to the business on commercial issues and governance and operational support to the team.

Support the team who manage the Natural England (NE) Nature Reserve Capital Portfolio within the Buildings Office team in Defra group Commercial.

The post holder will be expected to engage with colleagues across the country, building the Commercial network both internally and through the wider Defra network and Government Bodies. The team are based across the country and your local office will be your official base. Some travel will be required for team meetings, project meetings and training as required. The contract with be FT, with hybrid working of 40% home working and 60% in the office.

Job description

The Category Officer will report to a Senior Category Officer (SEO) and the role will entail all aspects of contract commercial support.

You will

• Lead and support the delivery of corporate outcomes and to ensure continuous improvement in the field of supplier relations and contract management
• Be responsible for embedding a commercially focused supplier and contract management culture within operational teams to influence compliance with Defra policy / legislation / best practice ways of working and contribute to the delivery of business plans.
• Keep up to date on changing legislation / best practice externally, to inform internal priorities and appropriate alignment.
• Contribute to the development of Defra policy / process at national / local level and monitor and advise on effective implementation in the business, in line with environmental targets.
• Build and sustain effective relationships with operational customers to understand issues and provide effective response / steer for operational needs specifically in relation to supplier relations and contract management.
• Train and help others on Government tools and guidance, policies, procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner
• Support team members to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and cost to fulfil the business plan and achieve / support environmental goals.
• Support the delivery of contracts such that sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle.
• Manage own resources to meet business needs, including contract management applications, to maximise the efficient and effective use of finances and people to ensure that all activities are completed to time, cost and quality targets.
• Drive continuous performance improvement of the delivery of the Natural England pipeline ensuring commercial outcomes are delivered, savings achieved, processes reviewed and amended where appropriate
• Work with G7 and SEO’s to ensure the NE Smart Sourcing pipeline is kept up to date and Blue, Red and Amber projects are managed to drive capital delivery on time.

The post-holder will be accountable for:

• The provision of day-to-day advice on commercial issues and governance, taking full account of risk, exploiting commercial opportunities and maximising value of money and savings.
• The use of leading practice commercial tools to develop and implement commercial strategies
• Supporting the management of more complex (Gold and Silver) Contracts including
• Supporting the SEO and G7 across the full commercial lifecycle on more complex Contracts
• Supporting the management and development of key supplier relationships to deliver exceptional performance in cost service and quality
• Supporting the establishment and maintenance of excellent relationships within customer organisation and wider government with key stakeholders, raising the profile of commercial activity within customer organisations.
• Participating in the production of National/European Commercial standards and guidance to inform the business and improve commercial implementation, promoting commercial principles and applying policy where appropriate
• Representing the Commercial team at meetings with internal stakeholders and deputising for the Senior Commercial Officer as required.
• The management of mentoring and support to colleagues and team members (where appropriate) equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner.
• The use of Commercial and contract management IT systems and applications, and approval of the work of others who are using these
• Your own continuous professional development and keeping up to date on legislation, best practice and develop industry knowledge and commercial understanding within a commercial category and using this knowledge to support development of the Category and Sub-category plans.

Financial Scheme of Delegation

All Commercial Officers have a delegated authority at all stages of the commercial process:

• Sign-off of commercial strategies and contract award reports [up to £100k]
• Make commercial commitments up to [£100k] per commercial project

Person specification

Experience

The following experience is essential to this post and will be tested at sift and interview.

• Experience at influencing Commercial decisions at an operational level
• Some experience as a Commercial professional with a track record of setting high standards and delivering results in a complex and demanding environment
• Experience of supporting medium risk contract award negotiations and resolving dispute resolutions through negotiation
• Working with stakeholders in a commercial environment and being able to influence and constructively challenge when necessary.
• Building and maintaining strong and productive working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Experience of analysing financial and non-financial information
• Effectively communicating with a wide range of stakeholders (at all levels) both in a technical and non-technical environment.
• Delivering improvements to ways of working and embedding change.
• Communicating confidently and concisely. Effectively communicating with a wide range of stakeholders (at all levels) both in a technical and non-technical environment.

Technical

Although not essential, we would prefer you to be working towards MCIPS. If this is not applicable, then we will be looking for evidence of equivalent experience.

Other relevant academic or professional qualifications, such as a degree, would be of significant interest as well.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

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

• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Commercial lifecycle

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,765, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,071 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 250 word personal statement, 250 word behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

For your Personal Statement, please describe your suitability for this role based upon all knowledge, experience and learning gained in your career so far. Why does this job interest you particularly, and what attributes can you bring to this role.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours and Technical Skills.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Further information

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to DEFRA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Criminal Record Check

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

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

Internal Fraud Database Check

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.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put 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 defrarecruitment.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.

Accessibility

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 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 : Stuart Walters
• Email : stuart.walters@defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@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, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here