Commercial Practitioner - Contract Management Manager

The Government Legal Department is the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our work includes:
+ Developing and drafting legislation
+ Providing legal advice on policies
+ Securing our economic and trade relationships
+ Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds
+ Providing the Civil Service’s employment law advice
We are at the heart of delivering the Government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.
GLD is a non-ministerial government department, sponsored by the Attorney General. We are headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary and employ nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals. Our offices include London, Leeds, Bristol, Croydon and Manchester as well as overseas. We provide specialist legal services including Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law as well as advising most Government Departments on the policies and services they deliver.
GLD also depends on a range of vital corporate services. These are essential to the smooth and efficient running of the Department and provide the foundation to enable GLD to deliver outstanding legal services. Our corporate functions include Strategy, HR, Finance, Digital, Data and Technology, Communications, Security, Commercial and Project delivery.
Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.
To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department’s webpage or have a look at this short film which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in., The Contract Management team sits within the Commercial, Procurement and Contract Management team is a newly developing team to support GLD in all aspects of outsourcing. This could be for anything from legal services, to HR, IT and facilities management, goods and services.
The team sits within the finance directorate’s Financial Management, Accounting and Procurement and Contract Management team and is led by the Head of Commercial Strategy and Contract Management. We work closely with the Procurement team which is led by the Head of Commercial Sourcing.
The Role
This is an exciting new role which will be key to effective Contract Management for the Government Legal Department (GLD).
GLD’s Purpose is to help the government to govern well, within the rule of law, with a vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism.
As a key member of the commercial, procurement and contract management team, you will be ensuring that we comply with the highest standards for contract management for the range of services and goods that GLD procure.
Activities will include educating and training the business on commercial awareness and the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023 and other good practice, as they relate to contract management. You will be ensuring that all relevant documentation is complete and accurate, that contract management is being conducted correctly, and that transition plans are in place before contract expiry. You will report to and be supported by the Head of Commercial Strategy and Contract Management.
You will be supported to develop your professional skills and knowledge and will have the opportunity to work towards Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) qualifications.
This is an excellent opportunity whether you are already part of the Civil Service, or if you are looking to join the Civil Service as an external candidate.
This role is available to full time or substantive part time and is 60% Office based.
Key responsibilities of the role:
+ To develop commercial awareness across the Government Legal Department
+ To ensure compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, and other sources of good practice, in all areas of Contract Management.
+ To ensure the Contract Register is maintained and updated.
+ To develop and deliver Contract Management Training across GLD
+ To ensure that all contracts are ‘Tiered’ prior to contract signature and handover from the procurement team
+ To ensure that all contract management plans are agreed prior to handover from the procurement team and subsequently adhered to.
+ Conduct audits and deep dives to provide assurance on contract management.
+ To liaise with all Business Owners and provide support as required.
+ To monitor Contracts that are coming up to expiry and ensure there are clear plans in pace, liaising with the procurement team where necessary.
+ To own key Contract Management Risks and ensure that effective mitigations are in place and are monitored.
+ To line manage the Contract Manager Support Officer
(Note this list is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time)

Person specification
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role.
You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview and/or selection stage.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
Develop and implement systems to ensure delivery of professional excellence.
Deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money.
Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently.
Establish ways to find and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided.
+ Communicating and Influencing
Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.
Build awareness, positivity and enthusiasm towards our area of work.
Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, and in a timely and effective manner.
+ Changing and Improving
Work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes to use fewer resources.
Clearly explain the reasons for change to colleagues and how to implement them, supporting individuals to adapt to change.
+ Working Together
Encourage joined up teamwork within own team and across other groups.
Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders.
Essential Experience
+ Liaising with a wide range of stakeholders
+ Providing assurance on governance compliance
+ Line management
+ Delivering training sessions and presentations to a wide range of audiences
Technical
The following technical skills are required for the role at Commercial Practitioner level:
+ Leadership Skills and Capability
+ Contract and Supplier Management
+ Analysing data, identifying patterns and trends and making evidence-based recommendations.
For further details on these technical skills please see Microsoft Word - 2021-03-25 GCF People Standards for the Profession Version 3.0.docx (publishing.service.gov.uk) for details

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Changing and Improving
+ Working Together, 2. Please provide a statement for the following behaviours listed below in no more than 250 words each.
+ Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service (Lead behaviour) (250 words)
+ Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing (250 words)
+ Behaviour: Changing and Improving (250 words)
+ Behaviour: Working Together (250 words)
Assessment
Data Exercise
If you successfully pass the sift you will be invited to undertake a data analysis exercise. You will be emailed data and asked to prepare recommendations. This exercise will be conducted online at a pre-agreed time. This will assess your Technical Skills ‘Analysing data, identifying patterns and trends and making evidence-based recommendations’.
You will be invited to undertake the data exercise at one of the following times of your choice below:
+ Tuesday 26th Nov – 11am to 12.30pm or 4.30pm to 6pm
+ Wednesday 27th Nov - 11am to 12.30pm or 4.30pm to 6pm
+ Thursday 28th Nov - 11am to 12.30pm or 4.30pm to 6pm
You will need to have access to and be able to use Microsoft Word and Excel in order to be able to complete the data exercise.
Presentation
You will also be provided with a presentation question in advance of your interview and given time to prepare a 5 minute presentation to present in your interview which will assess the behavior Communicating and Influencing.
The presentation question will be emailed to you in advance of the interview.
Your final presentation will need to then be emailed to Hannah.lowryGCO@Governmentlegal.gov.uk the working day before the interview.
Your scores on the data exercise and the interview will be considered together to inform the outcome of the process.
Selection Process
After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the experience outlined in the person specification.
Interview
Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in all essential criteria as listed in the Person Specification, alongside behaviours and strength-based questions. Candidates invited to interview will be given further information on the day and time to prepare.
+ Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service
+ Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing (assessed at Presentation)
+ Behaviour: Changing and Improving
+ Behaviour: Working Together
+ Experience
+ Technical
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Interviews are planned to take place face to face at our location at 3 New Bailey, Manchester. Details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.
The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Offer
Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview.
We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.
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).

Alongside your salary of £31,393, Government Legal Department contributes £9,094 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%