Commercial Assurance Lead

BDUK is a dynamic delivery focused portfolio covering a breadth of programmes driving fibre broadband connections across the UK. This role is an exciting opportunity to be a senior member of the Commercial team to support BDUK’s aims of delivering gigabit connectivity to the hardest to reach parts of the UK. The successful candidate will play a key role to build and shape Government’s interventions in broadband delivery for the next 15 years and to deliver substantial change in the network operator marketplace. The role will also support BDUK’s wider strategic aims of deploying gigabit capable broadband across the UK.
This role is high-profile and requires a driven and dynamic individual with a capacity for innovative and strategic thinking in complex environments, as well as a focus on results and excellent communication and working relationships with senior stakeholders within the Department, across government and with industry.
As a member of BDUK you will gain experience of Government delivery with a mix of career civil servants and expert contractors; including telecommunications professionals, finance, and digital & commercial specialists, analysts and project management specialists. You will also have the opportunity to work with a number of internal and external stakeholders and will gain a unique range of career development, skills and learning opportunities in a Government-led and funded commercial delivery programme., This commercial assurance lead role sits at the heart of our commercial team who are tasked with assessing and assuring the commercial activities involved with the deploying of gigabit capable broadband across the UK. The successful candidate will be managing a small team, so the ability to successfully lead and upskill a small team will be a big part of this role.
It’s a brilliant opportunity for those candidates with strong commercial skills, who are looking to broaden their experience. For example, you may be a commercial professional, looking to gain more exposure to assurance / assessment of contract management activities.
Whilst an awareness of the telecoms marketplace and competition regulations would be advantageous, what is more critical is an ability to effectively partner with a wide range of stakeholders. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to enhance relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, and will be needed to provide commercial analysis to help others make the most effective commercial decisions.
We are particularly keen to hear from candidates that have strong attention to detail that can be used to identify risks and issues / compliance throughout the commercial lifecycle.
The Commercial Assurance Lead is responsible for leading the independent assurance of procurements and contracts as required under the government standards and Procurement Regulations. These main responsibilities are likely to include:
+ Leading on the administration and coordination of assurance processes.
+ Assessment and evaluation of supplier information to support the programme deliverables.
+ Liaising with stakeholders such as the Devolved Administrations, Cabinet Office, Department Commercial function, and HM Treasury to ensure that all key deliverables required for assurance and approvals are on track.
+ Building strong relationships with stakeholders to improve risk and assurance processes and governance.
+ Identification and assessment of risk across the commercial lifecycle, communicates risks to senior stakeholders in order to inform decision making. Assessments can include:
+ Evidence that procurement processes and regulations have been followed.
+ Evidence that tender documentation has been drafted in accordance with government and BDUK processes.
+ Evidence that delegation of authority limits have been observed and all necessary approvals are in place.
+ Evidence that contract management standards have been adhered to and contract obligations are being met by BDUK and the supplier.
+ Support the development of BDUK’s commercial strategy through robust, evidence-based analysis;
+ Provide line management, coaching and development support to more junior members of the team.
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., Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 16th & 17th December, please note you will only need to attend one date and will require a full day's attendance.
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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+ Evidence of a sound understanding and application of procurement and contract management principles, concepts and techniques including awareness of the Procurement Regulations.
+ Application of risk management key principles.
+ Sound judgement and decision-making skills.
+ Ability to work within multi-functional teams and be able to communicate and influence effectively.
+ Ability to prioritise and manage a diverse and demanding workload, meet deadlines and deal with unexpected changes.
+ Excellent written and IT skills with high attention to detail.
+ Logical problem solver with an appetite for improving the way we do things in order to deliver better outcomes.
+ Qualification for Procurement and / or Commercial, or a willingness to study towards one e.g. CIPS.
+ Some experience and understanding of the telecoms marketplace and regulated market environment, including awareness of broadband and other telecom infrastructure technologies.

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Risk Mindset – Ability to oversee effective evaluation of commercial documentation, supplier submissions & contract management records, with focus on ensuring effective mitigation of commercial risk through use of relevant tools and policy
+ Manages Complexity – Being able to analyse information to improve decision making in complex commercial situations
+ Commercial Focus – Understanding of procurement & contract management principles, concepts & techniques including awareness of the Procurement Regulations; practical experience of using these techniques to support great commercial decisions
+ Builds Relationships – Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a larger team, able to secure the confidence and build strong working relationships
+ Coaching Manager – Ability to lead a small commercial team, to play a supportive role in the ongoing career development and upskilling of team members

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.