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Job summary

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform. We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts. The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve. We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our MoJ�commercial team delivering departmental objectives

Job description

We are looking for an exceptional commercial leader to join our Commercial Operating Centre team within the MoJ, with an opportunity to work together in delivering some of the most impactful services across government. This position represents a real opportunity to support work across our directorate to deliver work with real purpose.�

The role is for an experienced leader to manage and provide direction to the Commercial Standards Team (7 posts). This role will have ownership for embedding the Government Functional Standard GovS008 and will be expected to build credibility by demonstrating a high level of policy knowledge across all aspects of the commercial lifecycle, challenging and/or creating a mandate to implement initiatives that will demonstrate improvements in the practices and capability of the commercial function as measured through the Commercial and Commercial Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework.�

The role will require leading the team in supporting the Commercial and Contract Management Directorate to operate within an agreed commercial policy and governance framework to enable effective commercial decision making; promote adherence to and adoption of government commercial policy, playbooks and spend controls; promote and develop ways of working that will enable the commercial function and its stakeholders to examine the ethical, social, environmental, and economic impacts in order to secure the best outcomes through our commercial and contract management activities; support the development and implementation of processes and performance reporting to demonstrate compliance and provide assurance; to prepare for the introduction of the new procurement regime and leading on rollout of the overall procurement reform implementation within the MoJ.

This is a crucial role that underpins both the Ministry of Justice and Commercial and Contract Management Directorates Business Plan.�

Person specification

  • The Heads of and team leads within the Operational Centre to ensure there is alignment and consistency in approach as work is delivered (MI & Commercial Systems, Resourcing & Development, Strategy and Communications, Risk and Assurance).
  • CCMD portfolios to support and input to the development of strategies that will improve category plans, sourcing, contract and supplier management activities.
  • All commercial governance boards and wider corporate governance and assurance functions, to ensure that the commercial policy and governance frameworks are aligned and meet the business needs�
  • Key subject matter experts and teams across the MoJ, to support delivery of the departments key policies, priorities and strategies through commercial activity (security, project delivery, sustainability, supplier diversity and inclusion, modern slavery, SMEs and VSCEs, supporting ex-offenders and social mobility).
  • Government Legal Department, Cabinet Office policy teams, working groups and other subject matter experts to translate the wider government needs, central policy / guidance, and legislation into efficient ways of working.

    • The post holder will:

  • Ensure the commercial policy and governance framework, supplementary guidance, tools and processes and procedures for CCMD, are maintained and developed adopting best practice as appropriate and breaking down complex information to make it accessible.
  • Lead the development of CCMDs implementation plan to prepare for the forthcoming procurement reform changes
  • Respond to government targets and develop and deliver action plans in the relevant policy areas (such as SMEs & VSCEs, Modern Slavery, Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion)
  • Build trust and confidence to ensure that the team meets current and future business needs, working in partnership with key stakeholders.

    • Technical skills

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

  • Risk Mindset – Ability to analyse commercial risks and understand margins of error in developing recommendations for Customers and/or key stakeholders.
  • Manages Complexity – Experience of having had a leading role in complex commercial activities, with demonstrable experience across the commercial lifecycle
  • Resilient – The ability to challenge senior stakeholder decisions, work under pressure, and deliver multiple projects within agreed timescales
  • Procurement Process – Experience in the development of strategies for high value/risk, critical/complex procurements and playing a leading role in the implementation and end to end delivery of these.

    • Benefits

    As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.

    For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.

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