Commercial Officer - Newport in Colchester

The Commercial team supports the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to spend public money responsibly through effective procurement, contract management and supplier management. A key part of the role is ensuring compliance with procurement regulations and the IPO Spend Policy. Commercial is split into three category teams: DDaT contracts, People Services contracts and Corporate contracts. This post sits within the People Services category team, providing commercial advice and support across the IPO. The portfolio includes Consultancy and Professional Services, Human Resources, Resourcing, and Learning and Development.

You will contribute to all aspects of public buying activity, including procurement, contract and supplier management, and the maintenance of commercial records and data. We are looking for a proactive self-starter who works well with others, communicates clearly and has strong attention to detail. You will lead and support activities across the IPO's buying process, helping ensure business needs are met through compliant and effective commercial approaches. You'll use your procurement knowledge while building and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.

This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport Office. The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.

Main duties consist of but are not limited to:

• Lead and support the full procurement lifecycle, from identifying needs and drafting tender documentation through to contract award and ongoing contract management.
• Support the development and delivery of procurement strategies that achieve value for money and comply with organisational policies and procedures.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with public procurement legislation, regulations and organisational guidance.
• Advise internal stakeholders on compliant routes to market, providing clear guidance on commercial options and requirements.
• Build and manage relationships with suppliers and stakeholders, resolving issues promptly and maintaining effective communication.
• Support supplier performance reviews to confirm delivery against contract terms and identify improvement actions.
• Identify, assess and help manage commercial risks linked to contracts and supplier performance.
• Monitor and report on procurement spend, supporting budget management and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Ensure procurement activity aligns with organisational policies and procedures and complies with public procurement regulations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of procurement activity, contracts and suppliers in line with audit and compliance requirements.
• Undertake market research to identify potential suppliers and understand market trends to inform sourcing decisions.
• Keep up to date with changes in procurement regulations, market conditions and best practice.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement processes, tools and templates to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to innovate and add value within commercial and procurement activities.
• Use the e-tendering system to publish tenders.
• Maintain contract and purchase order information in the e-tendering system.
• Approve Requests to Purchase (RTP) within the purchase-to-pay (P2P) process.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience in a procurement or commercial role, ideally within the public sector or another regulated environment.
• Experience of contract management.
• An understanding of central government frameworks and how to use them.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and influence stakeholders.
• Ability to manage and prioritise your own workload with minimal supervision.
• Experience using procurement systems (for example, e-tendering systems).
• Knowledge of PCR 2015 and PA23 regulations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Benefits:

• Alongside your salary of 32,816, Intellectual Property Office contributes 9,506 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities.
• 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave.
• Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities.
• A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group.
• Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments.
• The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups.
• A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities.
• Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office.
• On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office.