SENIOR COMMERCIAL OFFICER - Infrastructure Category

Job summary

Defra Group Commercial wish to appoint a Senior Commercial Officers (otherwise known as Senior Buyer) within the Infrastructure Category to support and lead Commercial delivery of medium to high value and risk projects (typically £50k to £50m), procurements and contract/ supplier management within a market facing category team across the full commercial life cycle.

Are you passionate about delivering value for money to customers? Have you got experience of working in a project delivery environment?

If so, we’d like to hear from you!

Defra Group Commercial wish to appoint a Senior Commercial Officers (otherwise known as Senior Buyer) within the Infrastructure Category to support and lead Commercial delivery of medium to high value and risk projects (typically £50k to £50m), procurements and contract/ supplier management within a market facing category team across the full commercial life cycle.As a Senior Commercial Officer, you will report to a Commercial Manager (Grade 7). You will work with customers from Defra to ensure value for money for the taxpayer while assisting delivery of Defra’s objectives and corporate targets. You will award and monitor medium value, medium and high-risk contracts in accordance with Defra's commercial policies and procedures. You will deliver propriety and value for money.

The role will provide strategic support to ensure our commercial models help project teams build and maintain flood defences in the most cost-effective way. You will provide expert advice to the business on commercial issues, governance and operational support to the team. You will engage with colleagues across the country, building their commercial network both internally and through the wider Defra network and Government Bodies.

Job description

The successful candidates will be required to:

• Work collaboratively within an Infrastructure project Team
• Build and sustain effective relationships with suppliers and internal customers to deliver exceptional performance in cost, service and quality
• Produce Procurement Strategies and Contract Award Reports.
• Work with clients and suppliers to support an efficient getting into contract process.
• Manage market engagement exercises
• Run tenders in accordance with Public Contracts Regulations and receive bids using our eSourcing system, Atamis
• Manage evaluation processes
• Demonstrate good communication and influencing skills.
• Have an awareness of and demonstrate compliance with government commercial policy.
• Identify and manage commercial risks.
• Be comfortable presenting work to governance boards.
• Have a working knowledge of NEC contracts, primarily ECC, PSC and ECSC.
• Demonstrate savings and efficiencies in delivery contributing to the category’s annual targets.

Additional information on the Warrington role and team

The Infrastructure North West team provide support to the Environment Agency and Risk Management Authorities in delivering flood risk schemes across the region. The team are based in Richard Fairclough House, Warrington where we benefit from hands on support from a dedicated manager and supportive team.

Our team work predominantly with Environment Agency Frameworks to determine efficient routes to market and appropriate NEC4 contracting options for a variety of projects from small scale landscaping to major civil engineering construction projects.

Projects that we are currently supporting include:

Kendal FRMS

The Kendal scheme is a £100m major project in the Lake District National Park bringing complex engineering solutions to protect communities along the River Kent catchment and its tributaries. Delivering a high value and complex scheme has required complex commercial solutions working collaboratively with a number of supply chain partners to ensure value for money and drive efficiency in outcomes.

Preston FRMS

The Environment Agency is delivering a £54.7m Flood Risk Management Scheme to better protect homes, schools, and businesses along parts of the River Ribble. The Scheme will improve the local environment and community amenities too. Construction in Broadgate & Riverside, and in Lower Penwortham is the first phase. Further works will take place in Walton le Dale, Frenchwood & Fishwick, and Higher Walton. The NW Infrastructure remain piviotal in supporting commercial agreements to continue scheme delivery.

West Kirby FAS

The West Kirby Flood Alleviation Scheme is being led by Wirral Council and aims to protect West Kirby from tidal flooding. In order to do this, a new 1.2m high pre-cast concrete flood wall with integrated seating has been built along South Parade. DgC supported Wirral Borough Council to deliver the scheme providing support and advice on commercial and contractual issues in delivering a complex coastal flood defence project.

Rochdale & Littleborough FRMS

The River Roch, Rochdale and Littleborough Flood Risk Management Scheme (FRMS) seeks to address the high level of flood risk to the towns of Rochdale and Littleborough in Greater Manchester.

The towns have a long history of flooding with significant events recorded in 1991, 1995, 2008 and 2015. On the 26th and 27th December 2015, 324 properties were flooded during Storm Eva. The flood exceeded the previous highest recorded levels along the River Roch, causing widespread damage and disruption in the area. More recently there was flooding in the towns in March 2019, July 2019, November 2019 and 9th February 2020 (Storm Ciara). Several flood warnings for the River Roch at Littleborough and Rochdale were issued during Storm Christoph during January 2021.

The steep catchment and multiple tributaries cause the River Roch to respond rapidly to rainfall with river levels rising quickly. The urbanised river valley has an industrial heritage with a legacy of modified channels, bridges, culverts and weirs which further exacerbate the flooding problem. DEFRA Group Commercial have been intrinsically involved in supporting the Environment Agency navigate delivering this highly complex scheme with innovative commercial solutions.

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 develop 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.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

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

• Leadership

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.

• Alongside your salary, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provides access to a generous pension scheme. Your pension builds quickly when you add your member contribution to the generous employer’s contribution. For example, if you earn between £23,101 and £45,500, you will contribute 5.45% of your salary and your employer will contribute 27.1%, meaning for every £1 you contribute, your employer will contribute almost £5.
• CIPS award winning Learning and development programme tailored to your role. Read more about Defra’s recent success https://excellenceawardscips.com/2024/en/page/winners-and-highly-commended-2024
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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.

Application Process

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

The Personal Statement and CV will be given a combined score.

For the Personal Statement, you should use 250 words to describe your previous work history and relevant experience, and how this will be applied in your new role should you be successful. You are also requested to provide 250 words describing your key attributes against the Leadership behaviour.

You will need to be able to demonstrate that your experience covers the experience listed.

Sift

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. The indicative programme is below but please note that these dates may be subject to change. You will be informed at the earliest opportunity if any changes are required.

• Deadline for submission of applications – 12 midnight on 2nd March 2026
• Shortlisted applicants will be advised on 9th March
• Interviews to be held during weeks commencing 16th March
• Results will be announced week commencing 23rd March

Interview

If successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an interview where you will be assessed on the Behaviours listed and Experience.

A presentation may be included as part of the interview. Interviews to be held via MS Teams.

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.

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 posted in merit order by location.

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.

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.

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.

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 : Ian Lockhart
• Email : ian.lockhart2@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