JOB SUMMARY

Defra group Commercial is looking to appoint an Assistant Commercial Officer to the Monitoring And Related Services (MARS) commercial team within our Environmental Goods and Services spend category. This will be a key support role for the team which could also include leading on your own procurements. This would be an excellent role to either start your career within the commercial/procurement profession or build upon your existing experience.
Defra Group Commercial (DGC) is part of Defra, the central Government Department responsible for growing the rural economy; improving the environment; and safeguarding animal and plant health. DGC is responsible for providing a commercial service to organisations within the Defra Network.
This post requires the post-holder to assist customers and commercial teams to deliver value effectively and innovatively so that the customer organisation outcomes and objectives can be met alongside the fulfilment of Spending Review targets.
The post-holder will be required to award and monitor supplier contracts in accordance with Defra’s commercial policies and procedures. They will be expected to deliver propriety and value for money whilst applying the Commercial DNA principles
The work requires a positive and proactive approach to customer service. Typical activity includes reviewing and interpreting requests from internal customers, advising on commercial policies and procedures and providing advice to on commercial issues and governance.
The post holder will be expected to engage with colleagues across the country, building the Commercial network both internally and through the wider Defra network and Government Bodies.
The Environmental Goods and Services category manages a high volume of scientifically focused commercial agreements in the environmental science field. The work predominantly consists of low- to medium-value projects. The role holder will play a pivotal part in achieving an efficient procurement processes and enhanced customer service.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Commercial Officer role will report to a Senior Category / Commercial Officer (SEO). The job description is generic and may apply to all Assistant Commercial Officer roles.

You will

• Support and assist in delivery of projects, procurements and contract / supplier management roles across the full Commercial DNA at the appropriate level providing functional / specialist input to improve ways of working and business change & efficiency.
• Be responsible for explaining Commercial guidance to operational teams at the appropriate level in order to influence compliance with Defra policy / legislation / best practice ways of working and facilitate contact with relevant members of the Commercial team to support them.
• Keep up to date on changing legislation / best practice internally, to inform internal priorities and appropriate alignment.
• Sustain effective relationships with operational teams and customers to understand issues and provide effective response and facilitate contact with relevant members of the Commercial team to support them.
• Support team members to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and cost to fulfil the business plan and achieve / support environmental goals.
• Manage own resources to meet business needs, including electronic sourcing and contract management applications, to maximise the efficient and effective use of finances and people in order to ensure that all activities are completed to time, cost and quality targets.
• Support the development of Defra sub-category and category plans and develop own market category knowledge.
• Provide a comprehensive administrative support service to the line manager / team, ensuring efficient systems are in place to maximise the effective use of line manager’s / team’s time.
• Support the delivery of contracts such that sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

TYPE OF ROLE

Administration / Corporate Support
Commercial
Environment and Sustainability
Procurement and Contracts Management

THE POST-HOLDER WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR:

• The provision of day to day advice on straightforward commercial issues and governance, identifying savings opportunities to contribute to the Commercial groups savings target.
• Assisting Commercial colleagues with the delivery of more complex procurements
• Research, compile and analyse relevant information to support sourcing strategies, and contribute to business plans
• Supporting and helping to deliver market engagement exercises.
• Preparing pre tender and tender documents in conjunction with team members
• Assist Commercial colleagues in publishing all requests for information documentation, assist with supplier queries, assist with opening the information documentation and help prepare for evaluations
• Assist with the preparation of contract management documentation in conjunction with stakeholders
• Supporting the commercial and contractual interaction with suppliers and assist Commercial colleagues with the management of more complex (Gold and Silver) Contracts.
• Researching, compiling and analysing relevant information to support the management and development of key supplier relationships.
• Maintaining a strong customer focus to ensure effective relationship building and partnership working to raise the profile of Commercial activity within the customer base.
• Participating in meetings with internal stakeholders and support commercial colleagues as required.
• Monitoring information on commercial and contract management IT systems and applications to support decision making and conduct regular reviews to ensure it is stored accurately and is up to date.
• Their own continuous professional development to improve commercial awareness and skills and using this knowledge to support development of the Category and Sub category plans.