Commercial Manager reference: 5857058570

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

You are invited to join a short presentation about this role and ask questions on 19th May at 11:00. Please use the following link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NDQxNjhiOWQtMDA3Yi00Nzc1LWE1NjEtNzlkOTA3MTdiYWIw%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22c6874728-71e6-41fe-a9e1-2e8c36776ad8%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f6ef88c0-de43-40fb-990f-79258f287950%22%7d

About the Department

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the largest government organisations with more than 80,000 staff in offices, courts and prisons across the country. The department is delivering ambitious plans to make sure prisons are safe, secure and provide genuine rehabilitation, to provide a modern courts and justice system and to support our world-leading legal sector.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

The Commercial and Contract Management Directorate

The MoJ has one of the largest and most complex spend profiles in central government. The Commercial and Contract Management Directorate (CCMD) is responsible for coordinating procurement and contract management across the MoJ, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

The MoJ spends circa £5.36bn each year through its contracts and we provide expert commercial business partnering and advice to support the delivery of front-line justice services, all of which are sourced and managed by CCMD. We deliver some of the most ground-breaking and innovative commercial work in the country, including the modernisation of the Court and Tribunals Service and the ambitious new prison build programme. The MoJ is at the heart of Government transformation and we continue to support, develop and deliver cross government initiatives.

CCMD is organised into category teams, each with an interesting portfolio of contracts and diverse customers and suppliers to manage. We continue our crucial work to reduce reoffending and restore the justice system, while being innovative in the reforms we make to our services. The Ministry of Justice continues to support victims to access justice in a way that ensures they feel protected, cared for and safe. ​

About our teamOur team leads a portfolio of contract with an annual value of c.£200m, working closely with suppliers and stakeholders across the MoJ and the wider government on a varying range of unique contracts and procurements to maximise their value to the public. Through effective and efficient procurement, contract management and expert advice, our team enable quality performance, value for money and commercial solutions.

As a team we have a proven track record of developing our people both within the team and within the wider directorate. If you are keen to grow your commercial skills, gain experience working on complex government contracts and keen to become a commercial leader in the future don’t miss this opportunity to apply.

Because of it’s exciting pipeline and high agenda deliverables which are essential to the MoJ’s objectives and ministerial commitments, the team is growing rapidly. We have 7 new posts to recruit across all three areas of the team; Electronic Monitoring, Residential Accommodation and Youth Custody.

Electronic Monitoring (3 posts)

The Electronic Monitoring category is a key priority for the MoJ with ministerial priorities to grow the existing and future service. To support these aspirations the team are embarking on a procurement to replace the existing service in 2024, with the roles involved leading the commercial requirements in the procurement providing great experience of public sector procurement, supplier management and commercial delivery. The procurement activity is alongside responsibility for the delivery and management of the current EM service delivered across multiple contracts working with Strategic suppliers and partners. The roles advertised are involved in all aspects of both the current and future service ensuring our existing contracts continue to deliver and supporting the transition to the new service, providing role holders opportunity to be involved and experience all aspects of the commercial lifecycle.

Youth Custody Service (1 post)

This category procures and manages contracts for secure custodial estate settings for children aged between 10-17. The youth custodial estate is currently comprised of the following settings: secure children’s homes (SCHs), secure training centres (STCs), and youth offender institutions (YOIs). There are also plans in place to open the first secure school within coming years. The children within these settings are vulnerable, often with complex needs and the services we procure and manage in this category are designed to meet all their needs whilst they are remanded in custody. The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to be involved in managing the commercial life cycle of these high profile contracts, alongside internal and external stakeholders, to ensure they provide the best value and the right outcomes for children and young people.

Residential Accommodation (3 post)

The Residential Accommodation category procures and manages contracts that deliver essential accommodation in the community for people who may otherwise be held in prison or be at risk of homelessness. The category is broken down into three key areas of Community Accommodation Services (CAS-1, CAS-2 and CAS-3) each providing different levels of accommodation and support for people with varying needs, and at different stages of their journey. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be involved in a range of contracts and projects, working on market engagement activities and events, complex procurements and contract management activities, by the joining the exciting and fast-moving category.

More about the roles

All roles offer a great opportunity to develop and grow your commercial skills working on high-profile major projects and is a fantastic chance to be at the forefront of supporting a fast growing and very high-profile commercial portfolio. Our plans are ambitious and challenging, but also very exciting too. ​Reporting to a Commercial Lead, the post holders’ primary responsibilities will be to:

Develop collaborative relationships with our customers, stakeholders and suppliers to deliver outstanding customer service;Manage the contract administration of a range of contracts, including developing and managing contract variations and change control and other contract mechanisms;Assuring the pay and performance mechanisms work correctly and validation of contractor performance and assurance of payment applications;Support the end to end sourcing activity including pre-procurement activity, requirements definition, strategy development, market engagement and producing the invitation to tender pack (including specification, technical and financial evaluation and contract drafting);Support contract implementation and management activity, working closely with stakeholders to deliver mobilisation, performance management, contract variation, negotiation and exit activity;Strategy development at contract level, using business acumen and market insight to drive commercial opportunities to deliver continuous improvement, value for money and/or savings;Ensuring compliance with governance, legislative and policy requirements as appropriate;Ensuring a robust approach to contract and commercial management within the team.

Person Specification

Essential

A proven track-record of delivering effective contract management in a commercial environment and/or experience of delivering public procurement competitions;Strong business acumen and ability to show evidence-based decision making;Excellent stakeholder management skills;Excellent communication (written and oral) and influencing skills;Awareness and practical application of public sector procurement legislation;Relevant commercial (or supplier management) experience and a good understanding of managing contracts and/or procurement principles and practices.Well organised and able to work to deadlines as part of a team.Can work at pace and able to prioritise effectively to manage own workload in demanding situations.

Desirable

Knowledgeable of public sector procurement legislation including EU Rules and UK interpretations;The ability to drive improved outcomes by influencing and developing the market.

Skills and personal attributes

More than anything, we are looking for people with the right personal qualities – enthusiasm, energy, proactivity, prepared to work under their own initiative and to be flexible and adaptable in a demanding environment.

Location

The successful candidates will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

As we return to the office, a typical employee based in an HQ building should be spending two days a week in an office. There will be cases where, due to the nature of a person’s role, or a team’s allocated space, two days a week is not possible – but these will be by exception and will need to be agreed with your senior leaders.