About the job

Summary

This role is being advertised on behalf of The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DfID) merged on 1st September 2020 to form the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO pursues our national interests and projects the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK's security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.

The successful candidate will work within a strategic IT category team, employing a clear category management approach to managing spend and securing contracts, that supports a senior Commercial advisor for the Information Communications Technology (ICT) Category across the FCDO UK and Global estate.

They will play a critical role in the ICT Category Team, by shaping the ICT commercial and procurement strategy for the FCDO as well as building and maintaining an extremely high level of category expertise and procurement capability within the team. They will deliver an integrated commercial advisory role that covers all parts of the commercial lifecycle; referred to in the FCDO as early engagement, pre-procurement, procurement and delivery (contract management commercial advice).

Job description

The successful candidate will:

• Provide input to annual and category plans, ensuring engagement in business cases and leading drafting on the commercial case for all planned in scope procurements or commercial activity requiring FCDO Commercial engagement.

• Ensure continuity and consistency of approach across the category from project to project, using required tools, systems and processes such as e-sourcing tools to guide commercial activity and produce high quality commercial management information.

• Use tact and diplomacy in establishing, maintaining and developing high-level contacts in the FCDO, with other government departments and the relevant suppliers for the category/programme.

• Provide guidance to regional procurement teams on category specific projects and ensure processes are in line with FCDO and aligned to category strategy.

• Lead procurement projects drafting specifications, and inputting into the Invitation to Tender and evaluation process in partnership with others.

• Market awareness for key categories, highlighting opportunities for innovation and value for money solutions.

• Be creative and innovative when developing and implementing service requirements for complex procurements to ensure value for money is achieved.

The successful candidate will have line management responsibilities for up to two HEO Commercial Advisers.

Responsibilities

Person Specification

It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following Minimum Criteria as far as you are able to do so. Your responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview.

Minimum Criteria

• Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualification (or working towards this) OR equivalent relevant industry experience to meet the role profile.

• Experience of delivering high value commercial / procurement projects in a complex commercial environment. This will include good commercial awareness and judgement with the ability to understand, control and mitigate risks.

• Understanding of procurement processes, including use of Frameworks, such as those within the Crown Commercial Service technology category or similar.

• Familiarity with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) or a similar statutory framework and contract law.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Strong problem solving skills with the ability to take decisions based on well thought out conclusions and recommendations.

• A good working knowledge of category management.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Motivation questions.
• Technical questions.