Details
Reference number
428876
Salary
£42,665 - £50,495
National: £42,665 - £46,765
London: £46,060 - £50,495
For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading 'Salary'.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DEFRA - COO - Commercial - This role sits in Defra Group Commercial - more information in the Candidate pack
Type of role
Commercial
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
4
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Peterborough, Warrington, York
About the job
Job summary
This is a really exciting opportunity to work within Defra Group Commercial and use your commercial expertise to directly contribute towards improving and protecting the environment. We are recruiting into 4 Senior Commercial officer (SCO) SEO grade roles across 2 key categories of spend:
* Environmental Goods and Services - Land Use and Biodiversity Services Team – Expert advice and commercial support on a range of contracts related to environmental services, ecology, biodiversity, land use and land management
* Environmental Goods and Services – Veterinary, Animal & Plant related & Laboratory Goods & Services Team. - Expert advice and commercial support on a range of contracts including laboratory equipment and maintenance and veterinary and disease control
* Grants and Grant Prominent Programmes - in The Marine Recovery Fund. Expert advice and commercial support on The Marine Recovery Fund which is a ground breaking new funding model designed to unlock the UK's offshore wind (OFW) potential while safeguarding marine biodiversity. It plays a pivotal role in delivering the UK Government's mission to Make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower and Kickstart Economic Growth.
* Grants and Grant Prominent Programmes - in the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF). Expert advice and commercial support on The Nature Restoration Fund which is a bold new approach to environmental delivery, designed to unlock economic growth while restoring nature at scale. Enabled by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, these programmes are central to the UK Government's mission to Kickstart Economic Growth and deliver on its nature recovery and biodiversity targets.
Please indicate within your application whether you're happy to be considered for all the category roles and whether you have a preference.
Job description
* You will be:
* Providing support and leadership in the commercial delivery of medium to high-value and risk projects, procurements, grants and contract/supplier management within a market-facing category team throughout the entire commercial life cycle.
* Developing initial procurement or grant strategies and contributing to business plans.
* Planning and managing market engagement exercises.
* Collaborating with customers to prepare pre-tender and tender documents.
* Conducting tenders in compliance with Public Contracts Regulations and managing evaluations.
* Formulating recommendations for tender outcomes (Contract Award Reports) for approval via Governance Boards.
* Collaborating with stakeholders to prepare contract or grant management documentation.
* Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with suppliers to ensure exceptional performance in cost, service, and quality.
* Providing day-to-day advice and recommendations on commercial risks and issues, considering risk, commercial opportunities, and maximizing value for money and savings.
* Overseeing the delivery of contracts or grants to identify and manage sustainable impacts and opportunities throughout the commercial lifecycle.
* Some roles may include line management responsibilities for Commercial Officers, including setting objectives, managing performance, and supporting learning and development.
* Working with customers to deliver value effectively and innovatively to meet organisational outcomes and objectives while fulfilling key corporate targets.
* Awarding and monitoring medium-value, medium-to-high-risk contracts or grants in accordance with Defra's commercial policies and procedures to ensure propriety and value for money across the commercial life cycle.
* Providing strategic support to the team by promoting commercial policies and procedures, influencing final outcomes, and offering expert advice on commercial issues and governance.
* Engaging with colleagues nationwide to build a strong commercial network internally and through the wider Defra network and Government Bodies.
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 enjoy developing 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. In previous roles we expect you will have:
* Led and supported the delivery of a range of procurements, and ideally managed contracts or suppliers to achieve successful outcomes.
* Cultivated positive working relationships with colleagues, customers, and suppliers, effectively influencing and challenging to achieve optimal commercial results.
* Demonstrated a thorough understanding of regulatory frameworks, adhering to agreed policies and processes, and actively promoting these standards in your work.
* Implemented initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, drive business change, and improve ways of working.
* Used your commercial acumen to deliver commercial benefits, efficiencies and savings.
* Proactively identified risks and issues, developing and executing plans to mitigate them.
* Participated in and potentially chaired meetings to facilitate decision-making, including setting agendas, leading discussions, and documenting actions and decisions.
* Presented well-founded conclusions and recommendations supported by analysed information, including financial data.
* Provided support and training to colleagues, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and efficient work delivery.
* Utilised IT systems and applications proficiently to carry out tasks effectively.
* Invested in your own professional development, which may have involved staying abreast of legislation changes, best practices, or enhancing industry knowledge.
* Please note that the Grants and Grant Prominent Programmes roles focus on innovative commercial models that fall outside both traditional grant funding and standard commercial models. As such, no prior experience with grants is required.
The following experience is essential to these roles and will be tested at sift and interview.
* An accomplished Commercial professional with a track record of setting high standards and delivering results in a complex and demanding environment.
* Experience at influencing Commercial decisions at an operational level.
* A proven contract manager with experience of leading strategic contract award negotiations and resolving dispute resolutions through negotiation.
* Working with stakeholders in a commercial environment and being able to influence and constructively challenge when necessary.
* Building and maintaining strong and productive working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
* Making effective decisions from analysing financial and non-financial information and identifying key risk and options and then making recommendations to senior colleagues.
* Communicating confidently and concisely. Effectively communicating with a wide range of stakeholders (at all levels) both in a technical and non-technical environment.
* Delivering improvements to ways of working and embedding change.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
* Changing and Improving
* Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Commercial judgement - can develop commercial strategies taking into account risk and value.
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.
* 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%
* Attractive annual holiday entitlement starting at 25 days rising over 5 days to 30 days plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata for flexible workers, i.e. part time, job share employees). We also offer 1 privilege day for the King's birthday and up to 3 volunteer days.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a tailored 2 page CV, 250 word personal statement and assessed on your technical skills. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, your commercial/procurement technical expertise and experience. You will only need to attend one interview which will cover all the vacant roles.
Your interview will be conducted virtually over TEAMS and we can incorporate reasonable adjustments if required.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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.
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.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
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 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.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Higher Security Clearance
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 Demystifying Vetting website.
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
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 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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Sara Bushnell, Commercial Manager
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
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:
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here