Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Commercial Core Policy and Controls Lead
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Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA
Blackpool* - Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES,
Sheffield** – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD
Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA
Birmingham - 3 Arena Central, Birmingham, B1 2DE
Glasgow - 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson St, Glasgow, G2 8JB
Newcastle*** - Benton Park View, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE98 1YX
Pontypridd - Tŷ Taf, The Willowford, Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd CF37 5YN
For candidates requesting to work in Blackpool Peel Park, please note these roles will initially be based at Blackpool Peel Park and will then move to Blackpool Fylde View by April 2027 For candidates requesting to work in Sheffield Hartshead Square, please note these roles will initially be based at Hartshead Square and then move to 1 West Bar by early 2028 For candidates requesting to work in Newcastle, Benton Park View, these roles will be based at 1 Pilgrim Place in Newcastle city centre by the end of 2027.
Job Summary
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is one of the UK's biggest government departments, building services that make a real difference to the lives of millions of people. Commercial Directorate (CD) is one of the leading government procurement functions and has an overarching Commercial Operations and Strategy (COS) team, providing critical input to DWP’s successful commercial delivery. Commercial policy sits within COS and is there to develop expert knowledge, advice and guidance on commercial policy and control areas.
Job Description
This is an exciting opportunity in enabling the DWP Commercial Strategy. Our strategy is fundamental to the achievement of departmental objectives priorities and delivery of government missions, including the National Procurement Policy Statement.
The Commercial Policy and Process Lead is a key role in our structure. The post holder will be implementing government policy through procurement to secure additional value from the annual commercial spend in DWP. The policies support ministerial priorities and better outcomes from our suppliers, including sustainability with social value.
Policy is also vital to creating a collaborative and innovative environment in the commercial function by embedding the new Procurement Act and reforms working with commercial teams and stakeholders to drive maximum value through adoption of new regulations. The post holder will also work with other teams and wider stakeholders across DWP and government to continuously improve processes and ways of working, creating opportunity to streamline and automate processes, facilitating the use of system-based tools in the end-to-end procurement process where appropriate.
The post holder will report to the senior Commercial Policy Lead and will be supported by a small, dedicated team with access to relevant subject matter experts across the enabling functions. The post holder will also work closely with key stakeholders, including Category Teams, Finance, Legal and Cabinet Office and will act as the cen
Person specification
- Collaborate with central government policy teams to shape and influence general commercial policy as it develops and to understand key priorities and how they align to DWP objectives.
- Develop, maintain and communicate commercial policy technical guidance to commercial and non-commercial staff.
- Draft submissions to senior commercial staff about procurement policy and legislative changes.
- Present policy and process overviews and updates to CD staff via appropriate channels such as MS Teams on Commercial Policy.
- Create best practice forums with commercial colleagues in DWP and across government teams.
- Build deep expertise in social value and sustainability commercial policy and process and implement the DWP National Procurement Policy Statement policy, driving opportunities to create improved contract delivery, wider societal outcomes and value for money.
- Contribute to cross government forums and ensure policies and process are clearly communicated and guidance maintained to cover the Outsourcing Playbooks, Cabinet Office commercial toolkits, Model Contracts and devise ways to improve commercial policy support to category teams.
- Build relationships across a wide range on internal and external stakeholders including finance and legal functions and build trust through delivering high quality, expert advice.
- Ensure policy changes are impacted across relevant areas and implemented effectively via implementation plans.
- Ensure effective governance and controls are in place to support policy delivery.
- Assign and manage work within a small, expert team.
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Essential Skills Required For The Role
- Experience of working in a policy or advisory role at a senior (lead) level in a large, complex organisation
- Demonstrable experience of delivering a significant change to commercial process
- Excellent stakeholder management skills - ability to establish professional credibility quickly.
- An excellent communicator able to influence senior stakeholders and with the skill to present complex messages simply and effectively.
- Ability to use initiative and judgement to tailor your approach to suit different implementation requirements and stakeholder needs.
- Solution orientated and resilient– motivated to look for new opportunities and find new ways of overcoming problems, dealing positively with setbacks and delivering successful outcomes.
Desirable Skills
- Worked in a commercial or financial/legal environment.
- Knowledge of Public Contract Regulations, Procurement Act and Government Commercial Function/Cabinet Office commercial policies.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £57,946, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £16,786 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
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Application Process
The application process will involve uploading a CV and personal statement. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed below. Further information under ‘Application process’.
Stage 1 Assessment - Sift
At sift, we will assess your application by using your CV and personal statement only. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed in the job advert above.
Please note that you are not required to produce behaviour-based examples in the content of your CV or personal statement.
Stage 2 Assessment - Interview
If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to a face to face interview at DWP Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA, where you shall be assessed on the Behaviours listed below.
Interview Assessment Elements (Success Profiles)
We will assess the following Behaviours at interview;
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
Indicative Timeline
- Sifting Panel: W/C 21 September 2026
- Final Panel Interviews: W/C 5th October 2026
Further Information
At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.
Disability Confident Scheme
If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.
Reasonable Adjustments
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
Name : Katherine Harrison
Email : KATHERINE.HARRISON@DWP.GOV.UK
Recruitment
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