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.
Job Title:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Assistant Commercial Manager (Procurement/Contract/Category Management)
Grade:                       Band C – Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Reporting to:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Commercial Manager
Job Location:           National         Â
Pay Range:               The national salary range is £31,265 - £34,446, London salary range is £35,405 - £39,000. Your salary will be dependent on your base location.
Number of Posts:Â Â Â Â Â 3
About the Department
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. Responsible for courts, prisons and probation services, we work to ensure sentences are served and offenders are given rehabilitation opportunities to become law-abiding citizens.
The Ministry of Justice (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 £3.5bn a year and manages over 1000 active contracts, all of which are sourced and managed by CCMD. We are running some of the most groundbreaking programmes such as Prison Reform and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service Reform. The scope of our contracts ranges from building, maintenance and the operation of Prisons, Courts and Young Offender establishments through to food for prison dogs. The directorate also buys and manages contracts for feeding up to 80,000 prisoners, the secure escorting of prisoners from numerous establishments based around the country and translation services.
CCMD is organised into category teams, each with an interesting portfolio of contracts and diverse customers and suppliers to manage. We also have systems, programme management office, supplier relationship and risk management teams who work across all areas. These vacancies are within category teams that are responsible for sourcing and managing contracts aligned to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
CCMD is advertising, in this campaign, vacancies for 3 Assistant Commercial Managers across 3 different categories as detailed below.
The category teams are based in Leeds so some travel may be required when undertaking an Assistant Commercial Manager role. At the moment employees attend a MoJ office or commuter hub two days each week.
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About the Team
Prison Industries Category x 1 post (current base Leeds)
The category team is responsible for sourcing a wide range of goods which support HMPPS Prison Industries (PI). This is a team of 7 people managing over 30 contracts and with an exciting and interesting pipeline to deliver.
PI have the responsibility to provide essential employment places for prisoners and opportunities for them to gain skills, qualifications, and work experience to improve their employment prospects upon release with the overall aim of reducing re-offending.
PI manage industries that run in 95 prisons in England and Wales, including some private sector prisons, and currently operate 465 manufacturing workshops employing 1056 staff and around 11,500 prisoners and detainees. PI supports other Government Departments by using offender labour to manufacture over £3million pounds worth of goods annually. PI manufacture a variety of goods in their Engineering, Woodwork, Textile, Print, Laundry, Plastics and Land Based Activities workshops.
The category team procures and manages a variety of contracts to supply capital equipment, machinery/tools, and the raw materials (including timber, textiles, metal, plastics, paper, paint) required to manufacture those items.
Operational Goods Category x 1 post (current base Leeds)
The Operational Goods Category is of critical importance to the effective running of the Prisons. This is a team of 7 people with over 25, predominantly goods, contracts. The category is diverse and includes:
- Prison Officer Uniform
- Physical Fitness Equipment and sports goods
- Cleaning and Hygiene goods
- Electrical Goods
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Fleet and Transport
As an Assistant Commercial Manager, you will deliver sourcing and contract management activities to achieve commercial outcomes across the business. Working within a fast-paced environment, you will bring excellent communication and organisational skills to ensure contracts are working effectively, and stakeholder relationships are managed appropriately.
Security Category x 1 post (current base Leeds)
The Security Category forms part of the team responsible for sourcing and managing contracts aligned to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) based in Leeds. Managing over 25, predominantly goods, contracts with an exciting and interesting pipeline to deliver the team is responsible for a wide of goods and services which support building and operational security in prisons and contributes to the national intelligence capability of HMPPS.
Part of the category supports mitigating threats and contraband entering prisons including but not limited to X-Ray Body Scanners, X-Ray Machines, Mobile Phone detection and interference technology. The other part of the portfolio provides support to operational security for staff and establishments and covers specialist Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Public Order Equipment, Body Worn Cameras
Key Responsibilities
Relevant to all posts, Assistant Commercial Managers will have an opportunity to create real difference and contribute to public service, with the associated development exposure this brings.
- Support the delivery of sourcing activities working with Commercial colleagues and stakeholders including the production of: specification, procurement strategy and contract development and producing the Invitation to Tender pack, leading on sub-threshold or framework procurements.
- Supporting contract implementation and management activity, working closely with stakeholders, commercial colleagues and operational contract managers to deliver mobilisation, performance management, contract variation (including reviewing and processing digital change control notes), negotiation and exit activity.
- Analysing spend, market intelligence, performance data and producing reports for a wide variety of audiences to support commercial activity and reporting requirements.
- Supporting the Senior Commercial Manager and Commercial Manager, leading on activities which support the development of category management procedures, tools and ways of working.
- Assist the Commercial Manager in the resolution of disputes, obtaining and managing input from operational colleagues and others as directed (e.g. legal).
- Stakeholder engagement and strong relationship building including managing communication or escalation of issues from customers, predominantly in HQ or prisons
- Delivery of continuous improvement to drive best practice.
- Complying with governance, legislative and policy requirements as appropriate.
- Supporting the response to Freedom of Information requests and Parliamentary Questions.
- Assistant Commercial Managers may also have line management responsibilities.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- Effective stakeholder management skills
- Strong communicating and influencing skills
- Ability to work with minimal supervision, taking responsibility for outcomes
- Ability to use judgement to take a considered approach to situations
- Able to seek out and analysing information based on the best available evidence
- Ability to manage multiple competing actions, prioritising according to business criticality
 Desirable Criteria:
- Working knowledge of Procurement Systems, e.g. Oracle (ERP) and/or Jaggaer (Bravo)
- Commercial sourcing experience (ideally within public sector)
- Knowledge of dynamic purchasing systems
- Knowledge of public sector procurement legislation including EU Rules and UK interpretations
- Contract Management experience
Most importantly we are looking for people with the right personal qualities: enthusiasm, energy, proactivity and self-motivation while being flexible and adaptive to a demanding and changing environment
Qualifications:
There are no required qualifications. Candidates should either hold, be working towards or willing to commence studying for a professional commercial qualification such as:
- Member of a relevant professional body, e.g., CIPS, WCC (previously IACCM) or similar
- Contract Management Capability Programme, Foundation level (available through Government Commercial College)
Interview process:
Success Profiles (Behaviours)
- Managing a Quality Service
Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and services to ensure delivery of professional excellence. Work with stakeholders to set priorities, objectives and timescales. Successfully deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money. Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently. Involve a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and delivery partners in developing suggestions for improvements. Establish ways to find and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided.
- Communicating & Influencing
Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact. Encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness. Ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs. Share information as appropriate and check understanding. Show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same. Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.
- Making Effective Decisions
Understand own level of responsibility and empower others to make decisions where appropriate. Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions. Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making. Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular. Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.
Encourage joined up teamwork within own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another. Put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team, including consideration of your own needs. Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable. Actively seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
For more information, please see information on Gov.UK (click here)
Experience
Areas of experience that we’ll assess during the selection process may include:
- Commercial experience (e.g. sourcing, contract or category or supplier relationship management)
- Relevant public sector commercial experience against one or more key elements of the commercial life cycle (define, procure, manage).
- Demonstrate initiative being a proven self-starter who is hard working and shows drive and enthusiasm.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan, organise and manage your time and that of others effectively.
- Interpersonal and communication skills, evidence of building relationships and communicating with clarity and confidence with stakeholders at different levels of seniority.
- Being a team player and working well with others.
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