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Commercial Officer – Infrastructure - Leeds

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Leeds

On-site

GBP 33,000 - 45,000

Full time

Today

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Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Commercial Officer to join their Infrastructure team in Leeds. This role involves managing low to medium value projects and providing expert procurement advice to ensure value for money and effective contract management. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication and analytical skills, with a proven track record in project delivery and supplier management. Join a forward-thinking organization that values innovation and excellence in public service, and make a meaningful impact in the delivery of vital infrastructure projects.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension

Flexible Working Options

Learning and Development Opportunities

Inclusive Work Culture

Qualifications

Experience in project delivery and managing contracts.
Ability to analyze financial information and make recommendations.

Responsibilities

Prepare sourcing strategies and contribute to business plans.
Manage contracts and ensure value for money.

Skills

Project Management

Contract Management

Supplier Relationship Management

Procurement

Communication

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Relevant Certification in Procurement

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Project Management Software

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Job Summary

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

Leeds

Job Summary

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 is looking for a Commercial Officer to join the Infrastructure team, where you will help manage low to medium value projects (typically between £10k and £100k), procurements, and contract/supplier management throughout the entire commercial life cycle.

We are responsible for procuring goods and services and offering commercial advice, mainly supporting the Environment Agency and other Risk Management Authorities. We manage around £1.3bn in annual procurement spend across the Defra Group supply chain.

Within the Infrastructure team, we offer commercial and procurement advice for design, construction, and civil engineering, including both new builds (Capital) and ongoing repairs and maintenance (Revenue) for major flood and coastal risk management projects. We also support services such as cost management, project management, mechanical and electrical engineering, and specialised services like mapping, modelling, and coastal beach management.

Job Description

As a Commercial Officer you will report to a Senior Commercial Officer and will provide support to internal customers to deliver value effectively and innovatively so the customer organisation outcomes and objectives can be met alongside achievement of key corporate targets.

You will award and monitor contracts in accordance with Defra’s commercial policies and procedures. You will deliver propriety and value for money whilst applying commercial life-cycle principles. The role involves promoting commercial policies and procedures whilst influencing final outcomes. It also includes provision of expert advice to internal customers on commercial issues and 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.

As part of this role you will be expected to:

prepare sourcing strategies and contribute towards business plans
support and help to deliver market engagement exercises
prepare pre-tender and tender documents in conjunction with customers
run tenders in accordance with Public Contracts Regulations and manage evaluations
prepare recommendations for tender outcomes
prepare contract management documentation in conjunction with stakeholders
build and sustain effective relationships with suppliers to deliver exceptional performance in cost, service and quality
build and sustain effective relationships with internal customers
be responsible for the delivery of contracts or grants so that sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle
provide day to day advice and recommendations on commercial risks and issues and governance across the relevant category, taking full account of risk, exploiting commercial opportunities and maximising value for money and savings

As a Commercial Officer you will report to a Senior Commercial Officer and will provide support to internal customers to deliver value effectively and innovatively so the customer organisation outcomes and objectives can be met alongside achievement of key corporate targets.

You will award and monitor contracts in accordance with Defra’s commercial policies and procedures. You will deliver propriety and value for money whilst applying commercial life-cycle principles. The role involves promoting commercial policies and procedures whilst influencing final outcomes. It also includes provision of expert advice to internal customers on commercial issues and 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.

As part of this role you will be expected to:

prepare sourcing strategies and contribute towards business plans
support and help to deliver market engagement exercises
prepare pre-tender and tender documents in conjunction with customers
run tenders in accordance with Public Contracts Regulations and manage evaluations
prepare recommendations for tender outcomes
prepare contract management documentation in conjunction with stakeholders
build and sustain effective relationships with suppliers to deliver exceptional performance in cost, service and quality
build and sustain effective relationships with internal customers
be responsible for the delivery of contracts or grants so that sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle
provide day to day advice and recommendations on commercial risks and issues and governance across the relevant category, taking full account of risk, exploiting commercial opportunities and maximising value for money and savings

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who are well organised and used to prioritising. Influencing and communication skills are especially important as well as seeking to improve processes and ways of working.

In Previous Roles We Expect You Will Have

supported delivery of projects which ideally will have included procurements and/or managing contracts or suppliers to a successful outcome
formed positive working relationships with colleagues, customers and suppliers including influencing and challenging to gain the best outcome
analysed information including financial information and made recommendations based on the evidence
worked within agreed policies and processes and promoted those standards in the way you work
arranged and managed meetings including setting agendas and recording actions and decisions
identified risks and issues and managed plans to mitigate
identified methods to improve ways of working, business change or efficiency
invested in your own development which might have included keeping up to date on legislation, best practice or developing industry knowledge.
used IT systems and applications

Behaviours

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

Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service

Alongside your salary of £33,590, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £9,731 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%

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 provide a CV and complete a 500 word Personal Statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the criteria outlined in the person specification.

Further details around what this will entail can be found on the application form.

Sift

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 Behaviour And Experience Questions. The Behaviours Are As Follows

Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Your interview will be 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 Group's location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring 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.

Contract types

The terms and conditions on which you will join can be discussed with the vacancy manager at the point you are matched to a role.

Postings will be based on merit order according to location. Candidates will not be considered for locations they have not chosen as a preference. All appointments will be made in merit order and in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Reserve List

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

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions within Defra Group which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

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

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.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

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

NSV

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 following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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.

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.

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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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 : Resourcing Delivery Team
Email : HRResourcingSupport@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

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