SEO Senior Procurement Officer

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 Commercial Sourcing Team sits within Financial Management, Accounting and Procurement and has been newly introduced to support all aspects of outsourcing, with particularly focus on procurement, and the compliant identification of providers to support the GLD in achieving its objectives. We work closely with the new Contracts Management Team and will have strong links and common working practices.
About the Role
The Role
There are two SEO roles available with the developing, Commercial Sourcing Team, within Financial Management, Accounting and Procurement, with a focus on Procurement.
Our team focus is to develop and build on existing systems to ensure security and compliance in our procurement processes, to successfully navigate the implementation of the Procurement Act 2024. We are also committed to delivering a procurement function that is trusted and relied upon for its reliability and creativity in delivering credible sourcing solutions., + Oversee, implement, and manage procurement processes from inception of project to contract signature for GLD at the direction of the Head of Commercial Sourcing. This includes accessing government frameworks, engaging in quotation exercises and where necessary tendering activity.
+ Work with the Contracts Management Team to support, as necessary, with supplier relationship management to maximise the value of our procurement particularly with common suppliers.
+ Work in collaboration with suppliers to identify and drive on internal client focused initiatives, networks and forums that will drive better buying behaviours and value for GLD – this includes contributing to savings targets.
+ Proactively engage with stakeholder engagement management activities that build strong relationships with key internal clients to allow the team to better comprehend their business needs and intent; to define how we can better support them.
+ Effectively contribute and support the risk and issue management processes, ensuring mitigation and escalation are implemented as appropriate.
+ Act as a source of knowledge and advice for internal clients, influencing their buying behaviours and aiding and adding value to their call-off activities and commercial strategies where required in accordance with GLD’s strategy.
+ Assisting the Head of Commercial Sourcing by contributing to and implementing new policy and strategic intent as identified with the Head of Commercial Strategy.
+ Lead on marketing and communication activities for procurement projects as necessary.
+ Contributing to the development of other team members, ensuring resilience in the team through peer-to-peer support and with a strong focus on CPD activity.
+ Identifying and providing recommendations for improvement of processes and implementing solutions.
+ Communicating effectively to a variety of stakeholders of differing levels of seniority, using a variety of styles and methods that match the audience.
+ Work in a collaborative manner and on occasions direct and represent the Commercial Sourcing Team on agreed corporate initiatives.

Person specification
Behaviours
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:
+ Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
+ Working Together
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Managing a Quality Service, The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of you and other civil servants. These are based on the core values which are set out in legislation. As a civil servant, you are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of:
+ ‘integrity’ is putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests.
+ ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open.
+ ‘objectivity’ is basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
+ ‘impartiality’ is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions.
These core values support good government and ensures the achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the Civil Service does.
For further information about Civil Service recruitment processes and Success profiles, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Working Together
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace, During the application stage you will be assessed against the skills and experience outlined below and you will be asked to:
1. An online CV required setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. The CV will be scored and assessed on Experience.
2. Provide examples in no more than 250 words for each behaviour listed against the essential criteria:
+ Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
+ Working Together
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace
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 behaviours, experience and Technical skills outlined in the person specification. Please note, if a high number of applications are received, we will sift on the Lead Behaviour, alone.
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 strength-based questions.
+ Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
+ Working Together
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace
As part of this interview candidates will be required to deliver a short 10-minute presentation on Experience and Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour). The title of that presentation will be confirmed at the time of notification of being shortlisted to interview. Please note, Candidates may be asked follow up questions in relation to their presentation at interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Interviews will probably take place remotely via video conference, full 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).

+ Led and supported delivery of procurement projects to a successful outcome using a range of public procurement approaches including extensive use of frameworks.
+ Formed positive working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including influencing and challenging to gain the best outcome and ability to engage with internal and external customers or stakeholders particularly when resolving problems and challenges.
+ Delivered improved ways of working, business change or efficiency.
+ Proactively identified risks and issues and managed plans to mitigate.
+ Presented conclusions and made recommendations evidenced by analysed information including financial information on both standard and complex procurement to those with either weak or strong knowledge of procurement.
+ Invested in your own development which might have included keeping up to date on legislation, best practice or developing industry knowledge. Hold or be prepared to study towards MCIPS qualification.
+ Understand regulatory frameworks, ideally some exposure to Public Contracts Regulations (and awareness of the Procurement Act 2023), working within agreed policies and processes and promoted those standards in the way you work.

Alongside your salary of £41,727, Government Legal Department contributes £12,088 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%