Assistant Commercial Manager in London

Join Police Digital Service as an Assistant Commercial Manager - Starting at £40,000 per annum.

The Assistant Commercial Manager will assist and support with allocated contract procurement and related procurement activities including market development, tendering, implementation, monitoring of procurement contracts and procurement administration. Support the monitoring of the over-arching supplier market and key market suppliers in terms of performance and stability and co-ordinate across the other service pillars. Highlight and track risks where appropriate. Support where required on complex, strategic, contractual and commercial negotiations.

Key Responsibilities

• To support and manage effective tendering activity for the whole procurement life cycle for high risk, high value contract procurements, in accordance with Procurement Legislation; implementation, monitoring and development of existing and new contracts, including negotiating and setting contract specifications.
• Utilise and support category management practices to profile, benchmark, research and assess the market.
• To assist in the management of procurement pilots, initiatives and product trials, and undertake market research for new or revised products, in conjunction with stakeholders, and record evaluations and recommendations, gaining customer, and where appropriate, supplier feedback.
• Manage and support supplier relationships and on-going negotiations across the Police Digital Service portfolio using procurement tools such as cost trend analysis, interpreting complex financial models and supplier performance reviews to monitor the quality and timeliness of goods and services provided.
• Ensure that an overall effective and efficient service is maintained to Policing.
• Assist the Senior Commercial Manager to mitigate risks, ensuring that all such contracts are operated in accordance with Financial Regulations, Contract Standing Orders, national/UK guidelines and best practice.
• Provide a comprehensive range of procurement assistance within the Commercial Team and to managers and staff across the Company and to ensure that the integrity and legal implications of procurement policies and activities, are fully identified and addressed.
• Engage with the supplier market to implement new products and services via various working groups and programme / project boards for forces.
• Promote the provision of a high quality, professional, and customer focused service to all forces.
• Work with the Senior Commercial Manager to undertake contract management and the periodic reviews of existing contracts as required.

What you need to succeed in the role

• Comprehensive analytical skills to align procurement solutions with customer needs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the gravitas and ability to liaise successfully with staff/officers of all levels and external individuals, and to influence stakeholders within forces and external organisations.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Good organisational, time management and project management skills to ensure delivery of results to agreed deadlines.
• Ability to travel to Police forces and suppliers as required throughout the UK.
• The post holder will hold a minimum of CIPS Level 4 (or equivalent) in-line with the CIPS structure guidance or be able to clearly evidence equivalent levels of experience, technical knowledge and expertise by having worked as a Procurement professional for a complex public sector organisation.

Knowledge:

• Essential Knowledge and understanding of contract law and the application of Public Procurement Regulations and legislation is essential.
• This to include supporting the preparation / evaluation of tender criteria as well as those operating under framework arrangements and UK directives.
• Experience of supporting procurement across a complex category and a broad, high-level understanding of various categories and services and how technology is advancing within these categories.
• The post holder will have strong influencing, interpersonal and communication skills, as are essential to the role.
• Proven success in working in a political environment showing sound judgment and impact.
• Provide innovative thinking and impetus to drive through change and enhance an integrated commercial and contract management function.

Desirable:

• Procurement experience with a blue light organisation.
• A track record of developing strong working relationships, with a wide number of stakeholders, particularly in managing expectations across many groups.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

We are committed to equal opportunities for all and will not discriminate on any grounds. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible span of experience. All applicants will be considered without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, nationality, neurodiversity or disability status.

Working Arrangements

This is a remote role with some national travel required to attend meetings. All applicants must be eligible to undergo NPPV3 (Non Police Personnel Vetting Level 3) and SC vetting clearances. Successful applicants will require NPPV3 clearance to have been cleared before starting with PDS.