74897 - Assistant Commercial manager x 4 (Offender, Security, Food & Retail) - Sourcing and Contract management

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
5
12 Months
National
National
NATIONAL
Please note: Some of our MoJ Office locations, such as our Liverpool Justice Collaboration Centre, require higher levels of National Security Vetting. The MoJ is working to open more Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices over time. Click here to learn more about where our currently open Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices are, to identify where you may be based and understand National Security Vetting requirements of each location.
HEO
HEO
Permanent
Full Time
Procurement and Contracts Management

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:    Assistant Commercial manager x 4 (Offender, Security, Food & Retail)

Job Grade:    Band C (HEO)

Reporting to:    Commercial Manager

Job Location:     National (click here to find your nearest location)

Contract Type:    Permanent

Business Area:    MOJ – Commercial & Contract Management Department

Type of role:    Sourcing and Contract management Assistant

Working pattern:     Full-time, Flexible working

Number of Posts:    4

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 £6.7bn 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 His 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.

About the Teams

Offender Welfare x 2 post 

The Offender Welfare Category forms part of the team responsible for sourcing and managing contracts aligned to His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
This team covers areas such as Specialist Health Services, Psychology Services, Drug Testing, Substance Misuse, Behavioural Therapies & Support, Clinical & Medical Supplies and Services linked to offender health and wellbeing.  All of these services are focussed on supporting offenders while in prison to aid rehabilitation and reduce rates of re-offending. 
This exciting and interesting category delivers critical contracts such as Drug Testing and Psychology Services.
The vacant roles require the postholders to lead on commercial sourcing and contract management of some low value contracts (bronze or silver) as well as providing support on the other contracts within the category.

This is a great opportunity to have ownership of your own contracts and develop your skills and learn from other members of the Offender Welfare Category.

Food and Retail x 1 post 

The Food and Retail Category forms part of the team responsible for sourcing and managing contracts aligned to His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
This operationally critical category plays a key role in maintaining stability and security within prisons and contributes to the departmental objective to reform offenders. The team are responsible for managing 5 contracts with a total annual spend of approx. £140m.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a category that contributes to providing more than 80million meals per annum across prison establishments in England and Wales, and supports 66,000 weekly prisoner retail orders which are picked, packed and distributed by our contracted provider who works closely with serving prisoners. 
The vacant role requires the postholder to lead on commercial sourcing and management of our Catering Disposables contract (silver) and Light Catering Equipment contract (bronze), as well as providing support on our other three category contracts

Security Category x 1 post 

The Security Category forms part of the team responsible for sourcing and managing contracts aligned to His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
Managing over 30 contracts with an exciting and interesting pipeline to deliver, the team is responsible for a wide range of goods and services which support building and operational security in prisons and contributes to the national intelligence capability of HMPPS.
The vacant Assistant Commercial Manager post is anticipated to be primarily responsible for the commercial sourcing and management of surveillance technology used across the HMPPS estate. This post will sit within the Control & Restraint/National Intelligence sub-portfolio of the category and will be required to lead on/assist with other projects in that area. Some projects in this portfolio will require SC vetting, which can be conducted once in post.
This is an exciting opportunity to join an evolving team developing counter-measures against the latest threats to the HMPPS estate and ensuring the safety of prisoners and staff.

Key Responsibilities – relevant to all posts

Assistant Commercial Managers will have an opportunity to create a real difference and contribute to public service, with the associated development exposure this brings. Key responsibilities include:

•    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
•    Lead and 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.
•    Analysing market, spend and 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, including presenting to different stakeholders.
•    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

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Your application and interview must demonstrate experience in the following areas: 
•    Effective stakeholder management skills
•    Strong communicating and influencing skills 
•    Ability to present to stakeholders
•    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:

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.

Allowance - The specialist allowance applies to suitably qualified candidates (CIPS, World CC etc). We will consider applications from non-qualified candidates, who are willing to develop and work towards a recognised qualification in order to meet the full requirements of the role. Further details can be provided during the recruitment process.

Application Form (Sifting):

An initial sift will be performed against the following elements:

Experience:
Statement of suitability (750 words)
Please demonstrate your suitability against the Key Responsibilities and Essential Skills & Criteria in the job description.

Behaviours: 
•    Making Effective Decisions (250 words)
•    Managing a Quality Service (250 words)
•    Seeing the Big Picture (250 words)

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview and will be assessed on the selected success profile elements at the interview stage. Please carry a valid proof of Id that has your photo on it (passport, BRP, driving licence etc) at the interview.
For any specific reasonable adjustment please email helena.agus@justice.gov.uk
Interview:
There is one interview stage and you will be assessed on the following success profile elements – 

Behaviours:
•    Changing and Improving
•    Working together
•    Delivering at pace
•    Communicating and Influencing

Experience:
Verbal presentation - At interview the candidate will be asked to review a short scenario, the candidate will then be asked to present any findings back to the panel. The scenario will be shared on the interview day, and you will be allowed around 20 minutes to read and prepare.

The candidate will be assessed on:
•    Ability to use judgement to take a considered approach to situations
•    How to prioritise
•    How to seek out and analysing information based on the best available evidence

The candidate is not expected to prepare a PowerPoint, the panel are looking for a verbal presentation to discuss what actions would be taken.

Please use STAR approach to structure your examples for the ‘Application stage’ and in the ‘Behaviours’ at the interview stage.

·    Situation – Describe the situation you found yourself in and what happened.

·    Task – The Hiring Manager will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation that you found yourself in.

·    Action – What actions did you take and how did you do it. Make sure to use “I”, not “we” to explain how your actions lead to a result.

·    Result – Use facts and statistics to demonstrate the results that your actions produced. Explain whether it was a successful outcome, and if not, what you learned from the experience. 

Further information on the Success profile elements can be found on Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

The specialist allowance applies to suitably qualified candidates (CIPS, World CC etc). We will consider applications from non-qualified candidates, who are willing to develop and work towards a recognised qualification in order to meet the full requirements of the role. Further details can be provided during the recruitment process.

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) 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.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

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.

To Be Confirmed - 28th June onwards

09/06/2023, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 74897.

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

  • You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
  • You were studying abroad
  • You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit
Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit
Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit
Experience
Statement of Suitability - 750 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
Verbal presentation - At interview the candidate will be asked to review a short scenario, the candidate will then be asked to present any findings back to the panel. The scenario will be shared on the interview day, and you will be allowed around 20 minutes to read and prepare.

The candidate will be assessed on:
• Ability to use judgement to take a considered approach to situations
• How to prioritise
• How to seek out and analysing information based on the best available evidence

The candidate is not expected to prepare a PowerPoint, the panel are looking for a verbal presentation to discuss what actions would be taken.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

This Vacancy is closed to applications.