Senior Commercial Officer (EGS Programmes)

Job summary

This is a really exciting opportunity to work within Defra Group Commercial and use your commercial expertise to directly contribute towards improving and protecting them environment. We are recruiting into 1 SEO role within the Environmental Goods & Services (“EG&S”) Strategy & Programmes Team.

We are a team of 7 responsible for commercial support to Defra’s major environmental projects and programmes such as the Water System Reform providing programme, the Natural Capital Eco Assessment (NCEA) programme and the Collection and Packaging Reforms programme.

As well as this, we provide strategic advice and procurement support to Defra’s Environmental Goods and Services category which sources environmental goods and services across four sub-categories - Vets and Labs, Research and Development (R&D), Land User & Biodiversity and Monitoring & Related Services. We also manage Defra’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contracts that are strategically significant agreements to help Defra group measure, assess and continuously improve the effectiveness of its policy interventions, research and evidence programmes and grant schemes.

Job description

In this role you will lead procurement activity that supports delivery of key programmes such as Natural Capital Eco Assessment (NCEA) and lead the management of Defra's suite of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contracts.

The role will involve the following:

• Provide support that facilitates delivery of projects, procurements and contract management roles providing functional / specialist input to improve ways of working and business change & efficiency.
• Responsible for explaining specialist commercial guidance to 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 staff and customers to understand issues and provide effective response / steer for operational needs.
• Provide support such that in the delivery of contracts sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle.
• Mentor and coach others on commercial procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner.
• Manage team members to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and cost to fulfil the business plan and achieve / support environmental goals.
• Maximise the efficient and effective use of resources (including electronic sourcing) and people to ensure that all activities are completed to time, cost and quality targets.
• Provide support to facilitate the development of Defra sub-category and category plans.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who are building their commercial experience. We want you to be able to challenge and influence across complex and varied customers as well as enjoy developing innovative solutions to challenges. You will excel in building networks and see good relationships as a key part of your expertise. It is important for you to feel rewarded by having provided a high-quality professional service with measurable outcomes. Finally, you will enjoy building a positive team spirit and supporting your team to deliver expert outcomes that are valued by your customers. In previous roles we expect you will have:

• Led and supported the delivery of a range of procurements, and ideally managed contracts or suppliers to achieve successful outcomes.
• Cultivated positive working relationships with colleagues, customers, and suppliers, effectively influencing and challenging to achieve optimal commercial results.
• Demonstrated a thorough understanding of regulatory frameworks, adhering to agreed policies and processes, and actively promoting these standards in your work.
• Implemented initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, drive business change, and improve ways of working.
• Used your commercial acumen to deliver commercial benefits, efficiencies and savings.
  Proactively identified risks and issues, developing and executing plans to mitigate them.
• Participated in and potentially chaired meetings to facilitate decision-making, including setting agendas, leading discussions, and documenting actions and decisions.
• Presented well-founded conclusions and recommendations supported by analysed information, including financial data.
• Provided support and training to colleagues, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and efficient work delivery.
• Utilised IT systems and applications proficiently to carry out tasks effectively.
• Invested in your own professional development, which may have involved staying abreast of legislation changes, best practices, or enhancing industry knowledge.

The following experience is essential to these roles and will be tested at sift and interview.

• An accomplished Commercial professional with a track record of setting high standards and delivering results in a complex and demanding environment.
• Experience at influencing Commercial decisions at an operational level.
• A proven contract manager with experience of leading strategic 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.
• Making effective decisions from analysing financial and non-financial information and identifying key risk and options and then making recommendations to senior colleagues.
• Communicating confidently and concisely. 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.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Commercial judgement - can develop commercial strategies taking into account risk and value.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,665, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Defra offers an attractive and competitive benefits package, including:

Basic Salary

Based on grade, skills, and experience, in which salary ranges and individual salaries are subject to review each year.

Pension Scheme

Payable to Death Benefit Nominee, should you pass away whilst in service.

The default pension scheme is Alpha; a career salary average, defined benefit scheme. You build up pension at a rate of 2.32% of your pensionable earnings each year. You and your employer will contribute a percentage of your pensionable earnings (depending on how much you earn) towards your pension. Benefits include a lump sum. Alternatively, you can choose to join a Partnership Defined Contribution pension scheme. This is a scheme in which you do not have to contribute.

Your employer will contribute to your pension based on your age bracket. If you do choose to contribute, then your employer will match your contribution up to an additional 3%.

Flexible Working

Flexible working patterns including job share.

Holidays

Attractive annual holiday entitlement starting at 25 days rising over 5 days to 30 days plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata for flexible workers, i.e. part time, job share employees). We also offer 1 privilege day for the King’s birthday and up to 3 volunteer days.

Enhanced Statutory Policies

Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave, and sickness absence provisions.

Performance Management

Individual performance plans, learning and development matched to your agreed career objectives and progression plans.

Learning & Development

A range of training courses, apprenticeships, leadership development initiatives and access to L&D materials are available, covering technical, managerial, and personal skills.

Examination Leave

Paid leave for exams and revision for approved studies.

Professional subscriptions

We will pay the membership fees for one relevant professional association.

Travel & Transport Benefits

A range of travel and transport benefits. Access to the cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme that enables you to buy a bike up to the value of £4k.

Shopping & Leisure Benefits

A variety of discounts at online stores and leisure experiences available via Mylifestyle.

Interest Free Loans

For season tickets and/or bicycles and safety equipment as well as tenancy deposit scheme.

Financial Education Hub

Providing guidance on how to manage your finances including information on credit scores, pensions, buying your first house and getting debt-free.

Health Discounts

Optional discounts provided by several external providers and health clubs.

Eye Care

Free eye tests.

Local Benefits

These vary from region to region.

Cycle to Work Scheme

We offer access to a salary sacrifice Cycle to Work Scheme. This means we loan you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit.

Occupational Health

Access to Duradiamond Healthcare advisory service.

Employee Assistance Service

Access to Workplace Wellness available to you and your family.

Sports & Social Club

Opportunity to benefit from a wide range of subsidised events and discounts.

Special Leave

Additional paid leave is available for employees taking part in public duties, trade union activities, special/trained forces and for health & safety representatives.

Charity for Civil Servants

Provide support and advice for thousands of people, both past and present, when they need it.

Headspace

Free access to Headspace which is a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.

Give as You Earn

You can make regular deductions directly from your salary in support of a chosen charity. This is simple and tax efficient.

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 tailored 2 page CV, 250 word personal statement and assessed on your technical skills. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your personal statement should describe how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification & technical skills.

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

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at the application stage, you will be invited to interview. The interview will consist of behaviour and technical-based questions.

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.

Further Information

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.

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.

Reserve List

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : Tom Redfearn
• Email : tom.redfearn@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