Procurement Business Partner

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Generous annual leave

Financial wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

Learning & development

Job summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is recruiting Procurement Business Partners across Digital and ABBSER categories to manage a large portfolio of contracts and commercial activity in the UK.

You will lead end-to-end procurement, provide commercial advice, engage with stakeholders and shape sourcing strategies to deliver value for money and citizen-focused outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering commercial outcomes in fast-paced environments.
• Experience with procurement, contract management or supplier engagement.
• Ability to balance cost, quality and risk to achieve value for money.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of commercial projects and contracts.
• Lead procurement and sourcing activities including market engagement.
• Develop recommendations balancing cost, quality and risk.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings to support decision-making.
• Evaluate supplier proposals with evidence-based decisions.
• Support contract and supplier management activities.
• Maintain governance and audit standards.

Skills

Commercial Delivery

Commercial Knowledge

Stakeholder Engagement

Leadership & Ownership

Job description

£44,447, 28.97% pension contributions, hybrid working, and flexible working.

Executive Summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) deliver services that support millions of people across the UK. Behind these services sits one of the largest Commercial functions in Government, helping ensure public money is spent responsibly and delivers the best possible outcomes for citizens and taxpayers.

We are recruiting Procurement Business Partners across two categories of the Commercial Directorate: Digital and Automated Buying, Business Services & External Resources (ABBSER). These categories alone manage more than 623 active contracts with contract spend of £3.6 billion across some of the UK's largest suppliers.

Where could you work?

Digital Category supports the procurement and delivery of technology, infrastructure, software, digital services and specialist resources that underpin some of DWP's most important services. From cloud transformation and cyber security to digital platforms, networks and technology solutions, the team helps ensure DWP has the tools and capability required to deliver services to citizens across the UK.

ABBSER Category supports a diverse portfolio of commercial activity across corporate services, consultancy & professional services and external resourcing. This includes sourcing specialist Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) expertise, agency workers, contractors and consultancy support and corporate services that help DWP deliver strategic priorities, transformation programmes and operational services.

What do we mean by Commercial?

In the public sector, being commercial means understanding business needs, engaging with internal stakeholders, suppliers and markets, managing procurement activity, delivering contracts, and making informed decisions that balance cost, quality and risk to deliver value for money and positive outcomes.

As a Procurement Business Partner, you will manage a portfolio of activity across the full end to end commercial lifecycle, working closely with stakeholders to understand their requirements, develop commercial approaches to deliver contracts with successful outcomes. You'll have the opportunity to influence decisions, build strong relationships and play a key role in supporting services that make a real difference to people's lives.

Your development and career progression

This role offers the opportunity to develop your commercial expertise within DWP, one of the largest and most progressive Commercial functions in Government. You'll gain experience across a range of commercial activities, develop valuable stakeholder management and decision-making skills and be supported through ongoing professional development, including opportunities to work towards recognised qualifications such as CIPS and MCIPS.

DWP are part of the Government Commercial Function (GCF) Government Commercial Function - GOV.UK, with an annual spend of £49b. Being part of GCF you’ll benefit from opportunities to broaden your experience across different categories, sectors and departments. Whether your ambition is to develop wider category expertise, explore opportunities elsewhere across government or move into strategic leadership roles you'll be supported to build a varied and rewarding commercial career.

Job Description & Responsibilities

As a Procurement Business Partner, you will manage a portfolio of commercial activity that supports critical DWP services and strategic priorities.

Working with stakeholders across DWP, you will help shape commercial solutions by understanding business requirements, providing commercial advice and leading activity across different stages of the commercial lifecycle that maximise value for money while achieving policy, operational and citizen-focused outcomes. This may include market engagement, sourcing, procurement, supplier negotiations, contract implementation and contract management.

You will be trusted to take ownership of your portfolio, build strong stakeholder relationships and support informed decision-making that delivers value for money and positive outcomes for citizens and taxpayers.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a portfolio of commercial projects, procurements and contracts.
• Working with stakeholders to understand requirements and develop effective commercial solutions.
• Leading procurement and sourcing activity, including market engagement and competitive tender exercises.
• Developing recommendations that balance cost, quality, risk and value for money.
• Coordinating and chairing stakeholder meetings to support decision-making and achieve consensus.
• Evaluating supplier proposals and supporting fair, transparent and evidence-based procurement decisions.
• Identifying opportunities to improve commercial outcomes, deliver efficiencies and generate savings.
• Building effective relationships with stakeholders across commercial, finance, digital and operational teams.
• Supporting contract and supplier management activities where required.
• Maintaining appropriate governance, assurance and audit standards.
• Contributing to business improvement and wider organisational objectives.
• Personal development and supporting increased capability of peers and colleagues.

You will be expected to exercise sound judgement, demonstrate initiative and work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels. Success in this role comes from taking ownership, building trusted relationships and delivering commercial outcomes.

Essential Criteria - What We're Looking For

• Commercial Delivery – LEAD CRITERIA

You interpret business requirements effectively, develop practical solutions, and manage commercial activities through to delivery. You have a current and proven track record delivering successful outcomes in a fast-paced and changing environment. This should include premarket engagement, procurement, supplier engagement, contract management &/or similar activity.

• Commercial Knowledge and Judgement

You have breadth of experience to show how your commercial decisions support business objectives and deliver value for money. This may have been gained through procurement, negotiations, contract management, supplier management, financial oversight &/or similar activity. You can assess information, balance cost, quality and risk, and use sound judgement to support effective decision-making and positive outcomes.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Influencing

You build open, effective relationships with a range of stakeholders at all levels, influencing decisions and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals. You communicate confidently, support productive discussion, offer constructive challenge when needed, maintaining momentum by bringing the right people together to make decisions.

• Ownership and Leadership

You take responsibility for delivering high-quality outcomes and managing your own workload. You prioritise effectively, make informed decisions and remain focused when faced with competing demands, ambiguity or change. You demonstrate leadership through using your initiative, taking accountability and committing to deliver results.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks.