AddressDetails
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Home Office works to keep our citizens safe and our country secure. As well as working to reduce crime, enforce the law and protect our borders, it also works to protect the most vulnerable and is at the cutting edge of public policy making - our work is among the most challenging and rewarding in Government. Our commercial teams have been at the forefront of the Department’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic and the protection of our borders and society.
The Home Office spends approximately £3bn each year with third party suppliers, handled by Commercial Directorate, a team of around 275 procurement and contract management professionals. The range of goods and services acquired is huge and can include life affecting services and systems including for example services to complex programmes that are unique in Europe with multi-million-pound contracts.
At the Home Office, you will have the chance to define a real and tangible positive impact to the country’s future structure, impacting the lives across the UK. We have several roles which support the Missions of the department, within Digital Data & Technology.
The Home Office Commercial team is part way through a programme of change which has seen us recruiting across all grades. Now we are seeking hard-working individuals to work at SEO level to provide critical activities to support the delivery of Commercial’s objectives. These roles could be of interest to commercial professionals with procurement experience and expertise or contract managers who are looking to broaden their commercial skills in a central commercial function or to existing commercial staff who would enjoy taking on a new role. Successful candidates will receive a programme of development with the opportunity to study towards professional commercial qualifications.
So, whatever your background, either public or private, if you are enthusiastic about delivering first class outcomes then come and join our journey.
Job description
Main responsibilities will include:
- Leading procurement activities and supporting complex and strategic procurements, which conform to the Home Office policies and assurance processes, and which comply fully with EU procurement law.
- Producing and delivering Category Strategies, Contract Management Plans and procurement plans for goods and services, collaborating with Commercial colleagues and the relevant Home Office business unit. Develop a deep understanding of the Technology supply markets, categories and business context providing options and opportunities from a commercial perspective looking at aspects such as developing requirements, options analysis for routes to market, risks, benefits, and Social Value.
- Building and maintaining relationships with key internal and external partners to develop a clear and agreed view on the needs of the business and target outcomes.
- Supporting the delivery of more complex procurements through the management of activities such as:
- Production of financial analyses and projections.
- Supporting the development of business case content with a focus on the commercial case section, such as setting out the commercial strategy, procurement options, risks, and mitigations.
- Working with business partners and engaging the market to refine requirements and procure critical goods and services or grants which support Home Office priorities.
- Analysing the market and completing early market engagement activities to encourage suppliers to bid and to draw on the market’s expertise to inform the tender process.
- Following core procurement processes such as using eSourcing systems and following commercial governance procedures.
- Delivering cashable savings and other financial/non-financial benefits against target.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).
Due to the nature of the role, this post is available on a full-time basis only.
Person specification
We are looking for someone who can:
- Work with Commercial Leads (G7) to develop strategic category or business focussed plans to address key commercial challenges, such are building commercial capability of contract managers or looking for alignments across the commercial portfolio that will deliver greater benefits or efficiencies.
- Work with business colleagues and external suppliers to closely supervise contracts, and all milestones delivered as the need arises, with funds released as appropriate.
- Provide commercial guidance to peers or senior colleagues that draws on relevant procurement legislation, policy, information, supply market knowledge, and commercial experience. Maintain awareness of developments in procurement policy and commercial case law.
- Identify commercial risks, ensuring understanding, recording, and managing through all stages of the procurement, and ongoing risks transfer seamlessly into contract management.
- Identify savings, ensuring understanding, recording, and managing through all stages of the procurement and contract management.
- Gather lessons learned from procurements, detailing to advise future projects and influence improvements in commercial processes, systems, and skills.
Essential Criteria
- Experience of working in a procurement team and a good understanding of procurement best practice.
- Experience of working with third party suppliers, charities, or Voluntary Sector organisations to deliver goods or services.
- Outstanding understanding of the full Commercial Lifecycle.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to manage challenging priorities and deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- A level of innovation and drive to deliver opportunities to drive value from business requirements.
Desirable Criteria
- CIPS / tech or digital experience.
- Awareness / experience of CCS Frameworks.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- A CV detailing job history/qualifications/skills
- A statement of suitability (maximum 1000 words)
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The statement of suitability should be aligned to demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job description.
The sift will be held on the CV and the statement of suitability (personal statement). Both of these will be scored.
However, if a large number of applications are received, the sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability (personal statement) only.
Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview which will be a blended approach of strength-based questions (no preparation necessary) and behaviour-based questions on all listed behaviours.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sift is expected to take place from 28th February 2024.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 18th March 2024.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change.
Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
- A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
- Good internet connection
- Microsoft Teams
PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.
Further Information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made. We may also hold a location merit list.
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.
If you are currently an agency member of staff or a contractor working within the Home Office, you can only apply for roles that are advertised externally, i.e. outside the civil service. If you are eligible to apply for a role, you are required to select yourself as an external applicant and not internal when submitting your application on Civil Service jobs. This will prevent any delays in pre-employment checks should you become successful in being made an offer of employment after the interview stage.
Visa sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.
Who are eligible to apply to roles advertised Internally and Across Government?
Internally advertised roles are open to existing Home Office staff only.
Across Government roles are open to all government departments and Accredited NDPBs.
Roles are restricted to existing:
- Permanent Civil Servants.
- Fixed term appointments who were appointed following fair and open competition. Please speak to your HR department if you are unsure of how you were recruited.
- Employees of those NDPBs who have been Accredited by the Civil Service Commission (see NDPB Accreditation - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk). Please check if you are a Civil Servant or Accredited NDPB Public Servant. Public servants from Accredited NDPBs will be recruited as external hires rather than civil servant transfers. See section on NDPBs within the Candidate Information Notes.
Also see the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles for more information on Exceptions Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)
Other worker types operating within the public sector (e.g. Agency workers, Contractors, police, military, NHS etc.) and those appointed under Exceptions 1-4 of the CS Commission’s Recruitment Principles (including Secondments, Seasonal Workers) are not eligible to apply. They can only apply to Externally advertised roles.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
