Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Senior Commercial Officer (EGS Programmes)
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Leeds, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Peterborough, Warrington, York
Job Summary
This is a really exciting opportunity to work within Defra Group Commercial and use your commercial expertise to directly contribute towards improving and protecting the environment. We are recruiting into 1 SEO role within the Environmental Goods & Services (“EG&S”) Strategy & Programmes Team.
We are a team of 7 responsible for commercial support to Defra’s major environmental projects and programmes such as the Water System Reform providing programme, the Natural Capital Eco Assessment (NCEA) programme and the Collection and Packaging Reforms programme.
As well as this, we provide strategic advice and procurement support to Defra’s Environmental Goods and Services category which sources environmental goods and services across four sub-categories - Vets and Labs, Research and Development (R&D), Land User & Biodiversity and Monitoring & Related Services. We also manage Defra’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contracts that are strategically significant agreements to help Defra group measure, assess and continuously improve the effectiveness of its policy interventions, research and evidence programmes and grant schemes.
Job Description
In this role you will lead procurement activity that supports delivery of key programmes such as Natural Capital Eco Assessment (NCEA) and lead the management of Defra's suite of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contracts.
The Role Will Involve The Following:
- Provide support that facilitates delivery of projects, procurements and contract management roles providing functional / specialist input to improve ways of working and business change & efficiency.
- Responsible for explaining specialist commercial guidance to operational teams to influence compliance with Defra policy / legislation / best practice ways of working and contribute to the delivery of business plans.
- Keep up to date on changing legislation / best practice externally, to inform internal priorities and appropriate alignment.
- Contribute to the development of Defra policy / process at national / local level and monitor and advise on effective implementation in the business, in line with environmental targets.
- Build and sustain effective relationships with operational staff and customers to understand issues and provide effective response / steer for operational needs.
- Provide support such that in the delivery of contracts sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle.
- Mentor and coach others on commercial procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner.
- Manage team members to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and cost to fulfil the business plan and achieve / support environmental goals.
- Maximise the efficient and effective use of resources (including electronic sourcing) and people to ensure that all activities are completed to time, cost and quality targets.
- Provide support to facilitate the development of Defra sub-category and category plans.
Person Specification
We are looking for candidates who are building their commercial experience. We want you to be able to challenge and influence across complex and varied customers as well as enjoy developing innovative solutions to challenges. You will excel in building networks and see good relationships as a key part of your expertise. It is important for you to feel rewarded by having provided a high-quality professional service with measurable outcomes. Finally, you will enjoy building a positive team spirit and supporting your team to deliver expert outcomes that are valued by your customers. In previous roles we expect you will have:
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- Led and supported the delivery of a range of procurements, and ideally managed contracts or suppliers to achieve successful outcomes.
- Cultivated positive working relationships with colleagues, customers, and suppliers, effectively influencing and challenging to achieve optimal commercial results.
- Demonstrated a thorough understanding of regulatory frameworks, adhering to agreed policies and processes, and actively promoting these standards in your work.
- Implemented initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, drive business change, and improve ways of working.
- Used your commercial acumen to deliver commercial benefits, efficiencies and savings. Proactively identified risks and issues, developing and executing plans to mitigate them.
- Participated in and potentially chaired meetings to facilitate decision-making, including setting agendas, leading discussions, and documenting actions and decisions.
- Presented well-founded conclusions and recommendations supported by analysed information, including financial data.
- Provided support and training to colleagues, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and efficient work delivery.
- Utilised IT systems and applications proficiently to carry out tasks effectively.
- Invested in your own professional development, which may have involved staying abreast of legislation changes, best practices, or enhancing industry knowledge.
The following experience is essential to these roles and will be tested at sift and interview.
- An accomplished Commercial professional with a track record of setting high standards and delivering results in a complex and demanding environment.
- Experience at influencing Commercial decisions at an operational level.
- A proven contract manager with experience of leading strategic contract award negotiations and resolving dispute resolutions through negotiation.
- Working with stakeholders in a commercial environment and being able to influence and constructively challenge when necessary.
- Building and maintaining strong and productive working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
- Making effective decisions from analysing financial and non-financial information and identifying key risk and options and then making recommendations to senior colleagues.
- Communicating confidently and concisely. Effectively communicating with a wide range of stakeholders (at all levels) both in a technical and non-technical environment.
- Delivering improvements to ways of working and embedding change.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Commercial judgement - can develop commercial strategies taking into account risk and value.
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £42,665, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,360 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).
Defra offers an attractive and competitive benefits package, including:
- Basic Salary
- Based on grade, skills, and experience, in which salary ranges and individual salaries are subject to review each year.
- Pension Scheme
- Payable to Death Benefit Nominee, should you pass away whilst in service.
- Flexible Working
- Flexible working patterns including job share.
- Holidays
- Attractive annual holiday entitlement starting at 25 days rising over 5 days to 30 days plus statutory bank holidays (pro-rata for flexible workers, i.e. part time, job share employees). We also offer 1 privilege day for the King’s birthday and up to 3 volunteer days.
- Enhanced Statutory Policies
- Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity leave, and sickness absence provisions.
- Performance Management
- Individual performance plans, learning and development matched to your agreed career objectives and progression plans.
- Learning & Development
- A range of training courses, apprenticeships, leadership development initiatives and access to L&D materials are available, covering technical, managerial, and personal skills.
- Examination Leave
- Paid leave for exams and revision for approved studies.
- Professional Subscriptions
- We will pay the membership fees for one relevant professional association.
- Travel & Transport Benefits
- A range of travel and transport benefits. Access to the cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme that enables you to buy a bike up to the value of £4k.
- Shopping & Leisure Benefits
- A variety of discounts at online stores and leisure experiences available via Mylifestyle.
- Interest Free Loans
- For season tickets and/or bicycles and safety equipment as well as tenancy deposit scheme.
- Financial Education Hub
- Providing guidance on how to manage your finances including information on credit scores, pensions, buying your first house and getting debt-free.
- Health Discounts
- Optional discounts provided by several external providers and health clubs.
- Eye Care
- Free eye tests.
- Local Benefits
- These vary from region to region.
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- We offer access to a salary sacrifice Cycle to Work Scheme. This means we loan you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit.
- Occupational Health
- Access to Duradiamond Healthcare advisory service.
- Employee Assistance Service
- Access to Workplace Wellness available to you and your family.
- Sports & Social Club
- Opportunity to benefit from a wide range of subsidised events and discounts.
- Special Leave
- Additional paid leave is available for employees taking part in public duties, trade union activities, special/trained forces and for health & safety representatives.
- Charity for Civil Servants
- Provide support and advice for thousands of people, both past and present, when they need it.
- Headspace
- Free access to Headspace which is a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.
- Give as You Earn
- You can make regular deductions directly from your salary in support of a chosen charity. This is simple and tax efficient.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a tailored 2 page CV, 250 word personal statement and assessed on your technical skills. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Your personal statement should describe how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification & technical skills.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location