Commercial Category Manager

The DIT Commercial Team provides commercial advice and support across DIT (domestically and internationally), including to UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). As a team we are responsible for commercial governance, contract management, procurement, and sponsorship.

Working in one of these positions, you will be contributing to the procurement and managing of contracts and suppliers that provide the Department with the external services and expertise it requires. You will be playing your part in to fulfilling the mission of DIT: promoting UK exports and investment in the UK; overcoming barriers to free trade; establishing Free Trade Agreements; and ensuring no UK export fails for lack of finance.

You will have the opportunity to work directly with the business and with suppliers in the delivery of your work and be exposed to an exhilarating, challenging and diverse range of commercial challenges. You’ll also benefit from access to our corporate subscriptions to both IACCM and CIPS, providing a wide range of peer-to-peer learning opportunities and access to a global network of commercial professionals and expertise.

We are looking for motivated individuals, with a desire to learn about the business. Candidates should be able to demonstrate that they’re an excellent team player and leader with a strong customer focus. They should have strong interpersonal skills and be adept at tailoring messages for different audiences. Candidates should be self-starters comfortable with managing multiple projects concurrently with the ability to manage and prioritise personal workload.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting delivery of a category strategy for the relevant category team
• Undertake end-to-end procurements compliant with current UK regulation and practices
• Support the Commercial Lead for the category in commercial leadership across the organisation, both in the UK and DIT’s overseas network through key initiatives ensuring best practice and delivery of savings
• Maintain a thorough understanding of your customers business and culture, supporting them in your role as contract manager, helping to embed good contract management practices
• Implement, manage, improve, and promote the use of systems, tools, and data management to create useful management information to support the business in spend in your category
• Ensure communication is audience focused, clear, concise, and consistent in order to assist understanding and support for policy / process change and ensure implementation is positive and consistent
• Support and provide leadership to deliver effective results on time, to required quality standards and cost, to fulfil the business plan and achieve/ support environmental goals
• Conduct regular supplier relationship analysis and benchmarking activities
• Develop detailed knowledge of the obligations within DIT contracts, maintaining knowledge of the levers, performance standards, and KPIs etc
• Advise and support the business and internal stakeholders responding accurately with reference to contractual issues in a timely manner, seeking support when required

Essential Criteria

• Substantial experience managing in a goods and services procurement or contract management environment
• A proven track record of setting high standards and delivering results in a complex and demanding procurement function
• Able to analyse and apply essential procurement techniques and research skills to investigate supply markets, suppliers, and commodities
• Experience of working as an expert or lead role in the application of procurement tools and undertaking strategic procurement exercises to improve value for money
• Significant experience in establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with internal and external customers and stakeholders, and the ability to influence stakeholders and procurement decisions

Desirable Criteria

A member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A civil service pension

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

The assessment process will be sift based using your personal statement and CV as well as an interview based on strengths and experience, and the behaviours set out in this advert. The Civil Service recruits using a framework called Success Profiles. This means for each role we advertise, we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful.

The list of behaviours and what they mean at each grade is provided here

Behaviours

The Behaviours you will be assessed on are:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

Timetable

Sift will take place week commencing 20th October 2021

Interviews will take place week commencing 1st November 2021

Please note: Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

View Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.