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- Tasks: Lead a team to manage professional services and drive efficiency in operations.
- Company: Join the Home Office, a key player in keeping Britain safe and secure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of government operations and tackle exciting challenges.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial skills and leadership experience required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Home Office has one of the most challenging and critical jobs in Whitehall: to keep Britain safe and secure. We operate at the heart of the Government's agenda, leading on immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime policy, counter-extremism and counterterrorism and work to ensure visible, responsive, and accountable policing in the UK. The challenges the Department faces are significant and can change rapidly in the global environment in which we operate, making this one of the most exciting and stimulating Government Departments in which to work.
The Commercial Directorate manages the conduit between the Home Office and those supplier markets that help us provide key services to the public. It provides strategic commercial services such as market intelligence, procurement and contract management activities and its principal aims are to deliver efficiency savings, support the strategic agendas of our client groups by procuring the right products and services in a timely manner and dynamically managing contracts and suppliers, whilst delivering activities in a transparent and compliant manner.
As team lead for the Professional Services Team, you will draw on your commercial and leadership skills to drive the efficient and effective operation of this high demand category supporting Commercial Business Partner teams and the wider Home Office. You will be accountable for the day to day running of the sub teams who focus on:
- Contingent Labour & Agency Worker requests and governance
- Managed Services & Consultancy requests and governance
In addition, you will be responsible for setting up and embedding the new Post-award Assurance team which has been established to drive further value from high levels of spend on managed services and consultancy. While ensuring business as usual activities, much of the focus will be on driving continuous improvement including maximising opportunities for process improvements via Metis.
You will also be the subject lead for the Commercial Transformation pilot category, working closely with strategy colleagues to shape the team and adapt processes in line with best practice. You will be responsible for the transition from the Public Sector Resources framework to the Workforce Solutions framework, working with the team to introduce new service lines and minimise the impact of any changes.
You will own the relationship with the key Professional Service suppliers including Alexander Mann, Bloom and Constellia – regularly reviewing performance and managing escalations. You will be responsible for ensuring that Professional Services guidance and related materials are up to date and communicated as appropriate.
You will be the departmental lead for the Consultancy spend reduction target regularly liaising with Permanent Secretary and Ministerial offices to provide advice on Consultancy and wider Professional Services issues. This will require strong stakeholder management skills to support close working with senior leads across Corporate & Delivery and in the business to align to the Spending Review agenda. You will be the relationship lead for the Cabinet Office strategic partnership lead.
In addition, you will be responsible for reporting to the Productivity and Efficiency Board on the £27m pa savings target. This role covers a broad area of responsibilities and requires a combination of skills, both technical commercial expertise and strong people leadership and engagement skills, demonstrating how you embody the Civil Service Code and Home Office Values.
Associate Commercial Specialist - Professional Services - Operations in Manchester employer: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
Contact Detail:
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Commercial Specialist - Professional Services - Operations in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Associate Commercial Specialist role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the Home Office and its current projects. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for keeping Britain safe and secure!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially around stakeholder management and commercial expertise. We want to see how you can drive efficiency and improvement in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Commercial Specialist - Professional Services - Operations in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Associate Commercial Specialist. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission at the Home Office, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant expertise!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading teams and managing relationships, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Share examples of how you've successfully led projects or teams in the past, and how you’ve driven improvements in a commercial setting.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and get straight to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read and understand, so keep it professional yet engaging.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. This way, you’ll ensure your application reaches us without any hiccups, and you can easily track its progress. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the key responsibilities of the Associate Commercial Specialist role. Familiarise yourself with the Home Office's mission and how the Commercial Directorate operates. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading teams, be prepared to discuss your leadership style and experiences. Think of specific examples where you've successfully managed a team or driven improvements in processes. Highlight how you can motivate others and achieve results.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Given the importance of stakeholder management in this role, anticipate questions about how you've handled relationships with senior leaders or external suppliers in the past. Be ready to share examples that showcase your communication skills and ability to navigate complex situations.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
The role focuses on driving continuous improvement, so come prepared with ideas on how you would approach this. Think about past experiences where you've identified inefficiencies and implemented changes. Showing a proactive mindset will impress the interviewers.
