Category Lead – Automated Buying, Business Services and External Resources Category

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) touches the lives of everyone in the UK in some shape or form, delivering services and support to help people find work, assist with a disability or provide support through their retirement. As a key part of DWP, the Commercial Directorate (CD) shapes how services are delivered across 100’s of 3rd party contractual arrangements; with an annual procurement spend in the region of £3bn with some of the largest industry suppliers. CD has undergone a massive transformation exercise to develop into a world class Commercial function and is focused on continuously developing our achievement against Government Commercial Operating Standards., The role is to lead a commercial team, assuring and delivering overarching contracts that will meet DWP requirements for third-party resources. This includes the Public Sector Resourcing (PSR) contract and its replacement under the Workforce Solutions Framework as well as several specialist Digital Resourcing contracts to meet the requirement for teams of Government Digital and Data (GDaD) resources (previously known as Digital Data & Technology (DDaT)).
The role holder will be responsible for continuing the development and implementation of a commercial strategy that meets DWP resource requirements. Specifically, within the Digital area working with Digital Practice leads/Heads of Role to finalise the structure for procuring several overarching contracts to provide augmented resource. The aim being to reduce the number of separate standalone contracts for Digital resource, to deliver efficiencies, and to provide a timely & compliant call off process that can utilise self-service where appropriate
Within the Digital area, they will also provide advice and support to Commercial Business Partners surrounding the use of relevant Frameworks & provide general guidance for buying resources, acting as a conduit into Crown Commercial Services (CCS) feeding back issues and potential improvements. The longer-term aim is to become the Centre of Excellence for resource-based engagements.
The team works collaboratively with CD’s centralised Governance Team and Digital colleagues to establish an effective process for governing external resources and ultimately manage the commercial element of the process. As the Senior Commercial Business Partner you will be responsible to commercially assure all procurement and contracts outcomes prior to submission to your Commercial Senior Leadership Team (CSLT).
The role holder will be responsible for building on the governance foundations put in place via the External Resource Approval Board (ERAB) and for the continuing innovative development of a Resourcing MI dashboard to provide a strategic view of the Department’s third-party resourcing position.
We would welcome applications from experienced commercial leaders who have demonstrable success in engaging stakeholders across multiple business areas, managing diverse teams and delivering excellent commercial outcomes.
Locations
The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace. Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance. This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

Person specification
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
Strategic delivery and management of the External Resourcing Sub-Category:
+ Lead a team of nine Commercial experts, maintaining an inclusive and supportive team culture and ensuring capability and skills are built and developed through coaching, mentoring, and sharing of expertise and experience.
+ Develop and deliver category strategies for the External Resourcing Team, including the overarching Digital resource contracts.
+ Deliver the replacement contract for PSR using the Workforce Solutions Framework, ensuring successful internal and external governance, contract implementation and ongoing contract management for this Strategic Gold contract.
+ Work with relevant internal and external stakeholders to drive consistency in the approach and management of third-party resources, prioritising compliance with governance and legislative requirements.
+ Work with stakeholders to understand and gain insight regarding future demand and any shift in departmental priorities, increased or changed demand.
+ Support make v buy decisions and where the recommendation is to buy, assess the market's capability to meet the business needs.
Understand the relevant sourcing options, delivering positive outcomes through the procurement process:
+ Deliver the pipeline of overarching resource contracts, and other contracts associated with Workforce Management. Undertake analysis of all contracts classified as Resource and identify relevant opportunities to meet these through the sub-Category Strategy.
+ Work closely with CCS to ensure their Frameworks can meet resource requirements, particularly for GDaD roles.
+ Work closely with stakeholders, including requirement owners, P&C and Tax CoE colleagues to understand any demand out with existing contracts.
+ Support the development of business cases, demonstrating value for money, benefits of the preferred options and outlining any associated risks.
+ Identify and deliver opportunities for self-fulfilment under the overarching resource contracts.
Ensure effective Commercial Contract and Supplier Management within the category:
+ Commercially manage the live contracts that sit within the sub-Category pipeline, applying relevant treatment strategies and risk based commercial management according to their contract classification, contributing to SRM activities where appropriate.
+ Assure compliance with regulatory and policy requirements and functional standards.
+ Work with other business areas including, Digital and People & Capability (P&C), to ensure end to end processes are in place that support resource engagements.
+ Ensure commercially owned intranet and SharePoint guidance for users and Commercial Business Partners is complete and accurate and take responsibility for ongoing review and improvement.
+ Engage suppliers to drive improved performance and deliver quality of service, continuous improvement, and innovation.
Build and maintain key relationships across the department and with external stakeholders:
+ Develop and own relationships, building a detailed knowledge of stakeholder needs to deliver value through sourcing and contract management activities.
+ Provide commercial insight across the department to support the achievement of value for money, whilst driving social benefit aligned to the department’s priorities.
+ Build key relationships with external stakeholders, working closely with OGD’s to share knowledge and expertise, If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.
Details of schemes available are attached in the advert.
For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in the attached candidate pack.
Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the attached Candidate Pack.
Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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) (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
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
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This role reports directly to: Liz Johnstone, Head of the newly formed DWP Automated Buying, Business Services and External Resources (ABBSER) Commercial Category which is made up of three sub-category teams; Business Services team, External Resources Team and Consultancy and Professional Services team.
We are seeking an experienced commercial professional to lead the External Resources Team of nine commercial colleagues and have the expertise to shape the future direction of commercial enablement for this sub-category. This senior role represents an exciting opportunity to influence and shape DWP’s future Workforce Planning Strategy and align the commercial strategy for external resourcing, commercially assuring and delivering key critical contracts for Contingent Labour and third-party resources.
As a sub-category within the newly formed ABBSER Category, the role holder will work with Liz Johnstone the Head of Category as part of the Senior Leadership Team to successfully establish the new Category; a key objective will be the delivery of self-service, and the role holder will be responsible for identifying opportunities for increased self-service to support this critical objective.
In summary; as a newly formed category we’ve the alignment of expertise to deliver an exciting step change broadening our automated delivery model. We’re eager to welcome and develop commercially minded, self-driven individuals with a passion for delivering innovation in Commercial Automation, Business Services and External Resource sectors., + Risk Mindset – Able to utilise risk management and collaboration to deliver effective results at pace that balance optimal commercial performance whilst delivering on business strategy within a large complex functional Organisation
+ Market Insight – Experience of having evolved or implemented new category strategies to take advantage of emerging market innovation and have provided detailed market insights to inform commercial decision making
+ Commercial Focus – Ability to define a commercial outcome from conception to delivery, clearly articulating the benefits, opportunities and risks, whilst delivering business focused results
+ Builds Relationships – Experience of delivering an extensive and wide-ranging pipeline of procurement activity, influencing senior stakeholders, delivering innovation and ensuring continuity
+ Coaching Manager – Proven experience of managing commercial teams, building capability through coaching, leadership in challenging circumstances, supporting staff to promote wellbeing and resilience and maintaining delivery
+ Procurement Process – Demonstrates knowledge of end-to-end Procurement lifecycle including risk management and adept at drafting commercial strategies with proven record of assurance of complex commercial outcomes.
+ Contract and Supply Management – Experience of resolving disputes or poor performance on strategic contracts through effective supplier and stakeholder engagement and communication, leading to a positive outcome

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 6th or 9th January 2025 (date to be confirmed, please hold both) and will require a full day's attendance.

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.
For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.