At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage commercial activities and develop solutions for critical DWP services.
- Company: Join the Department for Work and Pensions, a key player in UK public services.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and support for your professional development.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public services while developing your commercial expertise.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement or contract management is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 55442 - 67762 £ per year.
£44,447, 28.97% pension contributions, hybrid working, and flexible working.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) delivers services that support millions of people across the UK. Behind these services sits one of the largest Commercial functions in Government, helping ensure public money is spent responsibly and delivers the best possible outcomes for citizens and taxpayers. Digital Category alone manages contract spend of around £3.2 billion across some of the UK's largest suppliers.
We are recruiting Associate Commercial Leads across two areas of the Commercial Directorate: Digital Category and Automated Buying, Business Services & External Resources (ABBSER).
Digital Category supports the procurement and delivery of technology, infrastructure, software, digital services and specialist resources that underpin some of DWP's most important services. From cloud transformation and cyber security to digital platforms, networks and technology solutions, the team helps ensure DWP has the tools and capability required to deliver services to citizens across the UK.
ABBSER supports a diverse portfolio of commercial activity across business services, consultancy, professional services and external resourcing. This includes sourcing specialist Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) expertise, agency workers, contractors and consultancy support that help DWP deliver strategic priorities, transformation programmes and operational services.
In the public sector, being commercial means understanding business needs, engaging with suppliers and markets, managing procurement and contracts, and making informed decisions that balance cost, quality and risk to deliver value for money and positive outcomes.
As an Associate Commercial Lead, you will manage a portfolio of commercial activity, working closely with stakeholders to understand requirements, develop solutions and deliver successful outcomes. You will manage a portfolio of commercial activity that supports critical DWP services and strategic priorities.
Working with stakeholders across DWP, you will help shape commercial solutions by understanding business requirements, providing commercial advice and leading activity across different stages of the commercial lifecycle. This may include market engagement, sourcing, procurement, contract implementation and contract management.
- Managing a portfolio of commercial projects, procurements and contracts.
- Working with stakeholders to understand requirements and develop effective commercial solutions.
- Leading procurement and sourcing activity, including market engagement and competitive tender exercises.
- Developing recommendations that balance cost, quality, risk and value for money.
- Evaluating supplier proposals and supporting fair, transparent and evidence-based procurement decisions.
- Identifying opportunities to improve commercial outcomes, deliver efficiencies and generate savings.
- Building effective relationships with stakeholders across commercial, finance, digital and operational teams.
- Contributing to business improvement and wider organisational objectives.
Success in this role comes from taking ownership, building trusted relationships and delivering commercial outcomes in a fast-paced and changing environment. This role offers the opportunity to develop your commercial expertise within one of the largest Commercial functions in Government. You'll gain experience across a range of commercial activities, develop valuable stakeholder management and decision-making skills, and be supported through ongoing professional development, including opportunities to work towards recognised qualifications such as CIPS and MCIPS.
Commercial Knowledge and Judgement
You can demonstrate an understanding of how commercial decisions support business objectives and deliver value for money. This may have been gained through procurement, contract management, supplier management, financial oversight or a related environment. You can assess information, balance cost, quality and risk, and use sound judgement to support effective decision-making and positive outcomes.
Commercial Delivery Experience
You have experience delivering commercial activity and achieving successful outcomes. This may include procurement, sourcing, contract management, supplier engagement or similar activity. You can understand business requirements, develop practical solutions and see activities through to delivery. You take responsibility for delivering high-quality outcomes and managing your own workload.
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 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (prorata 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 years 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.
Locations
Procurement Business Partner Full Time Temporary in Cheshire, Warrington employer: DWP
DWP is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With competitive pay, a generous pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements, employees can enjoy a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful digital transformation initiatives that impact millions across the UK. Join us in our vibrant digital hubs in Blackpool or Newcastle, where you'll be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to excellence and innovation in public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Business Partner Full Time Temporary in Cheshire, Warrington
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Business Partner Full Time Temporary in Cheshire, Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show DWP that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, DWP can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows DWP that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let DWP know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
