Job summary
In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose � to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you�d like to work in, we�d love to hear from you.
The Commercial Directorate is a strategic and enabling function that supports all DHSC�s commercial interactions with third parties and supporting ministers in delivering their agenda. Our mission is to ensure that health and care policy is implemented at best value for the taxpayer.
We do this by leading and overseeing the department�s direct commercial activity, implementing commercial policies across DHSC and its arm length bodies, and acting as advisors to the Secretary of State. Our vision is to provide a world-class commercial service to enable the health and care system to deliver for the public � we aim to be the best in government commercial for technical expertise and customer focus.
The Commercial Operations division, where this role sits, is a unit within the Commercial Directorate responsible for the department�s direct spend. Split into three primary category teams plus a central business planning & MI team, the �Ops� division drives value for the department via a category management approach across the whole commercial lifecycle.
We look forward to reading your application.�
Job description
This is a newly scoped and strategically important role within DHSC Commercial Directorate (CD) and has been designed to act as the main conduit between senior business stakeholders and commercial, ensuring they receive the best possible advice and customer service from the commercial function and providing a consistent contact for them to engage with across the commercial lifecycle.
The role of the Commercial Business Partner (CBP) is to perform a dedicated customer relationship management role aligned with key business directorates to provide a consistent and known initial route into CD, develop deeper relationships and guide stakeholders through the full lifecycle of commercial processes and structures.
The post holder will work in close collaboration with key senior business stakeholders (from departmental managers through to senior directors) as well as to provide strong commercial advice and support across the commercial lifecycle.
How the CBP role will operate
1. Be embedded with customer area management teams, developing deep understanding of their policy area and objectives / priorities
2. Develop strong customer relationships at all levels
3. The CBP will operate as the first port of call for new commercial queries from stakeholders & their teams - to engage & guide customers through commercial processes & to add value and not merely signpost
4. Engage with customers at the appropriate level to assist in the development of initiatives to meet customer needs
5. Develop a strong understanding of strategic business objectives of policy areas
6. Work effectively with relevant teams in CD (particularly the operational category teams) to ensure business directorate requirements and understood, and actively facilitate the delivery of the agreed customer commercial objectives
Person specification
7. Work alongside the business stakeholders as a consistent partner, problem-solver and critical friend throughout the commercial lifecycle (particularly in the initial stages)
8. Use relationship management / business development skills to identify and deliver a pipeline of commercial opportunities that will support business needs as well as ensuring effective forward planning of commercial activity
9. Facilitate early engagement with the relevant parts of Commercial � including category teams, commercial assurance etc
10. Provide constructive professional challenge to customers and act as a trusted commercial advisor
11. Be a source of advice and guidance on commercial approvals (including business case development, approval routes etc.)
12. Ensure the business�understands and provides the required service excellence standards and make the customer aware of aspects and limitations of the service being delivered
13. Act as a leader and ambassador for Commercial Directorate in client business areas
Relevant Experience & Skills
14. Relationship management and business development experience, with multiple stakeholders (through to senior management / executive director levels) - ideally in a government department or blue-chip commercial organisation, demonstrating the ability to form strong relationships between stakeholders and key customer representatives
15. An excellent communicator with demonstrable negotiation and influencing skills, who can build and maintain strong relationships ensuring positive reputation management
16. The ability to work collaboratively and proactively in a dynamic environment
17. A consultancy skill set and approach to working with customers:
18. Diagnostic skills
19. problem identification
20. solution generation
21. recommendation development
22. change management / implementation
23. Strong analytical skills to identify customer requirements, with an ability to demonstrate good business judgement when providing solutions
24. Resilience with a drive to achieve positive outcomes � as well as being comfortable with ambiguity
25. Strong knowledge of core commercial processes across the full commercial lifecycle, including a strong emphasis on understanding the commercial implications of early-stage business requirements as well as approvals and assurance processes
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
26. Manages Complexity - Presents conclusions when given evidence & is able to evaluate the relative strengths to confidently make good decisions. Identifies & resolves problems when the data is not sufficient. Understands trade-offs
27. Commercial Focus - Articulates commercial motivations and expected behaviours of stakeholders, suppliers and networks. Involves the right stakeholders and partners in making recommendations or decisions early on and continues to engage them
28. Resilient - Demonstrates resilience in resolving issues internally & in helping the team to deal with setbacks. Adapts quickly to different environments & uses different communication styles depending upon the needs of the audience
29. Builds Relationships - Manages stakeholders and communicates with impact. Is trusted for commercial advice and is able to put technical considerations in plain language for stakeholders
30. Strategy and Policy Development - Contributes to the development & implementation of business unit strategies through to supply chain management. Implements commercial policy objectives & challenges risk averse behaviours where appropriate
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.�