About the job

Summary

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform.

We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts.

The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve. We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our HMRC commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Job description

The Commercial Leadership Team’s role is to develop and maintain effective category strategies and plans in line with market best practice and HMRC objectives.

Accountable for the end-to-end category life cycle, applying market knowledge and category expertise to identify the optimal route to market, we provide a seamless sourcing service, delivering the goods and services that HMRC needs. We work collaboratively with the business customer to shape long term demand and co-create specific commercial requirements.

As part of the Extended Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for providing leadership to the wider Commercial Directorate whilst taking a proactive approach in talent development within your area of responsibility and beyond.

The successful candidate will develop and execute the category strategy and hold accountability for the end-to-end

procurement process. You will be Accountable for the delivery of a seamless experience for Commercial customers in HMRC’s Digital and Information Office and ensuring that all procurements deliver innovative, competitive and compliant commercial solutions for the business.

This person will develop highly effective and trusted relationships with key senior internal and external stakeholders and influence long term business plans to shape demand.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and execute a long-term category strategy with key stakeholders across HMRC’s Digital and Information Office and collaborate with others in IT commercial to ensure alignment


• Cultivate strategic stakeholder relationships across relevant business area(s) providing specialist commercial and category advice


• Manage and prioritise the upcoming pipeline of procurement activity, identifying areas for Commercial to drive improved value and innovation


• Using commercial acumen and extensive category knowledge, influence business needs, organisational objectives and policy


• Hold overall accountability for the end-to-end procurement process and pre-market engagement


• Ensure sourcing and category interface is compliant with Cabinet Office Growth, Enterprise agenda and Procurement law;


• Translate HMRC’s Digital and Information Office technology strategy into specific commercial requirements and apply innovative commercial models based on leading practices in the market


• Maintain an up-to-date view of the category spend profile, demand trends, risk profile, contract compliance and cost models, inputting into wider commercial performance reporting


• Coach the SO/HO/O junior team in pre-award to build commercial capability


• Use best practice commercial thinking to challenge HMRC’s Digital and Information Office to deliver services more efficiently or cost effectively

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Strategy and Policy Development-Able to work with a range of different complex delivery models and routes to market. Actively engages with the market to maintain a view of best practice capabilities and innovation
• Procurement Process-Manages the end-to end procurement process, setting out the timeline, risks, mitigations and deliverables. Takes accountability for the success of Commercial input into delivering HMRC vision.
• Coaching Manager-Considers cumulative impact on own business area of implementing change (culture, structure, service, morale). Presents technical issues to senior stakeholders & helps them arrive at decisions by acting in advisory capacity
• Commercial Focus-Draws together & presents conclusions from a range of incomplete & complex data; able to act/decide when details may not be clear. Understands market & commercial drivers & motives in practice & develops strategies to exploit.