Department for energy security and net zero
Associate Commercial Lead
Job Description
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work at the forefront of current policy making decisions? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.
Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero. Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.
Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it’s impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive
We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
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 D&I Strategy.
Find Out More
We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://forms.office.com/e/pqUhdr3L72
You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/
Job description
The role involves providing procurement support to cross-functional teams by running specific workstreams or undertaking activities such as research, stakeholder engagement, evaluation, eSourcing, etc.
The role will involve working closely and collaboratively with stakeholders, and to participate in cross functional teams to deliver value through the effective management of stakeholders and supplier relationships. While the job holder is assigned to a procurement role in a specific Business Unit, they will be expected to support other Business Units or to undertake contract management responsibilities as required to support fluctuations in workload.
Support within the Heat Networks team, additional details available to successful candidates.
Person specification
Key responsibilities
Leading the delivery of commercial advice and commercial activity across the full commercial cycle from commercial strategy to contract exit, informed by commercial risks and delivering policy area objectives.
General:
- Management of pipeline of procurements and register of contracts. This includes the use of the jagger platform.
- Development of appropriate business cases following the Green Book 5 case model.
- Development of contractual or grant documentation.
- Negotiation with suppliers or partner organisations.
- Ensuring adherence to commercial processes, Public Sector regulations and procedures.
- Working collaboratively with colleagues in policy, delivery, finance, PMO, Legal and the wider BEIS Commercial team.
- Providing advice and guidance for contract managers to deliver best value and quality outputs for contracts and projects.
- Strong persuasion skills are required for influencing and engaging senior stakeholders, including presentation skills.
Procurement:
- Develop and lead procurements for DESNZ, supporting more complex procurements, that conform to DESNZ Procurement Policy & Procedures Manual and which comply fully with EU procurement law, DESNZ and government policy, and assurance processes.
- Produce procurement strategies for goods and services collaboratively with Commercial teams and the relevant DESNZ business unit and develop a deep understanding of the supply market, category, and business context for both ongoing business and each specific procurement. Provide options and opportunities from commercial perspective looking at aspects such as requirements, solution options, risks, benefits and sustainability.
- Build relationships with key internal and external stakeholders in order to develop a clear and agreed view on the needs of the business and target outcomes, aligning this with government initiatives where appropriate.
- Support the delivery of complex procurements through the management of activities such as:
- Production of financial analyses and projections
- Appraisal of supplier proposals
- Leadership of procurement workstreams, delivering to timescales and objectives
- Running processes such as eSourcing.
- Deliver cashable savings and other financial/nonfinancial benefits against targets.
- Provide commercial advice to peers or senior colleagues that draws on relevant procurement legislation, policy, information, supply market knowledge, and commercial experience. Monitor developments in procurement policy and commercial case law.
- Select appropriate commercial models using early market engagement and robust data to inform decisions.
- Understand the key financial, legal and commercial issues in the development of the contracting model and implement these as appropriate in the contract terms and conditions.
- Ensure that commercial risks are identified, understood, and managed at all stages of the procurement, and that ongoing risks are transferred seamlessly into contract management.
- Participate in the negotiation of high value DESNZ procurements and lead on lower value contracts.
- Provide continuity through a planned transition from tendering/contract award to contract management, which protects commercial gains and knowledge, manages risk, and ensures necessary resources and budgets are in place to appropriately manage the contract and maintain the expected value for money over the full contract term.
- Ensure that procurement strategies consider Purchase to Pay (P2P) policy and process to identify the most efficient and effective way to acquire the procured goods and services.
- Gather lessons learned from procurements and ensure these are documented to inform future projects.
Skills and experience
Technical Knowledge Requirements
Essential:
- Knowledge of UK procurement law
- Commercial best practice and experience of applying this to procurement activities
- Experience of managing procurements projects or working in large commercial programmes to set timescales and objectives
- Commercially astute and able to negotiate best value for money with suppliers in contract negotiations
- Experience of drafting commercial cases as part of business cases development
- In depth understanding and knowledge of relevant category, supply market, pricing and commercial practices
Desirable:
- Government Accounting
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Understanding Needs and Sourcing Option
- Procurement Process
- Contract and Supplier Management
Benefits
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
- Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
Office attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and two 250 word behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to expand on the points listed in the Skills and Experience section.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the CV.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will consist of behaviour and technical questions.
Sift and interview dates
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.
We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
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
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team