There is a clear need for a dedicated Business and Procurement Manager within the Government Communications Service (GCS) Professional Development team to provide expertise and support for our core learning and development curriculum and talent programme.

This is a pivotal business management role within the team and requires somebody who is flexible and adaptable with relevant experience.

The GCS has several major procurements to make in the next 6 months to ensure it can expand the new blended curriculum for the comms profession, and run its talent programmes.  Each major procurement exercise takes approximately 4-5 weeks full-time work.

You will be a self starter with the tenacity and resilience to manage obstacles and delays without losing focus.

You will also have a calm and professional attitude with the ability to build strong relationships across a range of external and internal stakeholders.

The post is responsible for a range of corporate support functions including, but not limited to:

• Providing dedicated procurement and financial expertise - responsible for procuring key GCS projects and managing the process from start to finish.
• Manage end-to-end process for several major procurements for the GCS Professional Development team.
• Deliver these procurement exercises to an agreed plan, working closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to deliver value for money contracts. 
• Facilitate the evaluation of tenders in accordance with advertised criteria and lead on financial and pricing evaluations. 
• Manage the notification and award processes including the supplier feedback correspondence. 
• Hold responsibility for documentation of the procurement process and contract drafting. 
• Identify operational and process issues or risks and proactively propose and implement mitigations. 
• Responsible for raising routine finance requests and approving budget across our Professional Development and Talent schemes
• Be one of the team leads for organising our core Aspire training programme for 1,600 staff across the year and supporting our early and senior talent programmes; including in advance and on the day of training, including preparing materials, setting up and down of venues and meeting trainers.
• Support our blended professional development programme including our new webinar training programme, and core GCS events. Travel outside London will be required.  
• Provide a wide range of administrative duties for the PD team such as booking travel, venues, meetings and rooms
• Manage the GCS inbox dealing with a wide range of queries daily across the communications profession and update Civil Service jobs page

Closing Date: 28th January 2018 at 23:55 hours

For further information about the role please contact Katie Williamson-Walsh (katie.williamson-walsh@cabinetoffice.gov.uk) or Jacqueline Williamson (jacqueline.williamson@cabinetoffice.gov.uk)

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally require 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement but supplementary checks may be required where individuals have not lived in the UK for the required period. This may mean that your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Due to the high volume of applications received for Cabinet Office vacancies, we regret that feedback is only available - at the discretion of the vacancy manager - following the interview stage.

Vacancy managers may also sift on one lead competency at the application stage.

Terms, Conditions and Benefits

This is a Permanent Post and is offered to applicants both inside and outside the Civil Service. There is the possibility of contract extension subject to future business need.

This role is at the Cabinet Office at Band TIS2  level with a salary range of £32,094 - £39,799 . Annual salary increases will depend upon individual performance and contribution to the organisation’s success. In addition there will be the opportunity to earn performance related bonuses.

There is an expectation that successful applicants new to the Civil Service will join on the pay band minimum.

There is a choice of excellent pension schemes. More information about pension provisions can be found at www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions 

Existing civil servants will take up the post on loan from their parent department for 6 months. Those joining on level transfer will retain their current salary.  Staff joining on promotion terms will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary or the pay band minimum whichever is the greater. Staff joining on promotion will adopt the modernised terms and conditions of employment which came into force in 2013.

Flexible Working

Flexible working including job-share arrangements may be considered for this role.

Leave allowances

25 days' paid leave per annum rising to 30 days after five years service. In addition, full-time staff receive eight public holidays and the Queen’s Birthday privilege day as well as competitive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave.

Probation

Staff new to the Civil Service will be required to serve a six month probationary period.

Location

The post will be based in Whitehall, London. 

Relocation Costs

No relocation costs will be available.

Equality and Diversity

The Cabinet Office is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. We will not discriminate on grounds of gender, gender identity, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, those with caring responsibilities, part time workers or any other factor irrelevant to a person’s work.

We encourage a diverse workforce and aim to provide a working environment where all staff at all levels are valued and respected, and where discrimination, bullying, promotion of negative stereotyping and harassment are not tolerated.

Assessment for recruitment, selection, appraisal, training and career progression purposes is based both on the individual’s ability and suitability for the work. We are committed to providing all staff with opportunities to maximise their skills and achieve their potential, offering flexible working arrangements wherever possible.

As public authorities departments have statutory duties placed on them that require them to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination. We expect all staff to assist the department in meeting these obligations. All staff should have due regard for the need to promote good relations between individuals from different groups and work towards achieving equality of opportunity for all.

Civil Service Code

All civil servants are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Code (see Annex A) which details Civil Service values, standards of behaviour, rights and responsibilities. Go to http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk  for more information.

Childcare

We recognise that many staff balance working lives with the demands of a family life. We offer support with childcare and holiday playschemes costs by providing childcare vouchers for staff who meet the eligibility criteria.

Recruitment and Selection Process

Nationality

You must be a British Citizen, citizen of the British Commonwealth* an EC national or national of specified Member States of the European Free Trade Area, together with certain members of their families. Certain Turkish nationals are also eligible to apply.  If you have any questions about nationality requirements contact the Recruitment Team on corecruitment@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. (*Commonwealth citizens not yet in the UK, who have no right of abode in the UK and who do not have leave to enter the UK are ineligible to apply.)

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Cabinet Office is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people and will guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Pre-appointment enquiries

The successful candidate’s appointment will be subject to a series of checks including security, nationality, health and references before a formal offer of appointment is made.  Subject to satisfactory completion of the pre-appointment enquiries, you will be invited to take up the post as soon as possible. The National Insurance numbers of successful applicants will be shared with the Ministry of Defence to aid the tracking of Armed Forces Reservist levels across government.

The selection process

Assessment at sift and interviews will be based on meeting any defined skill/qualification requirements along with competency based assessment. The competencies to be assessed will be outlined within the job advert. The general framework is publically available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework.

We would generally expect answers to follow the STAR or CAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application.

Recruitment into the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission which has two key functions.

• To maintain the principle of selection for appointment to the Civil Service on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
• To promote an understanding of the Civil Service Code which sets out the constitutional framework in which all civil servants work and the values they are expected to uphold, and to hear and determine appeals made under it. More detailed information can be found at on the Civil Service Commission website: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Complaints

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles details of which can be found at  http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk    If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Recruitment Team,  Human Resources, 4th Floor, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2WH, email corecruitment@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:

civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

info@csc.gsi.gov.uk

Civil Service Commission
Room G/8
1 Horse Guards Road
London  SW1A 2HQ