Commercial Practitioner

Location

The locations for this role are Newport and Titchfield (Fareham).

This role is aligned to ONS hybrid working principles, which are based on attending the office with purpose. The postholder will be expected to contribute to the organisation’s overall 40% office attendance, in line with business and role requirements.​

​The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.

About the job

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime and migration.

Commercial Services sits in the Finance, Commercial, Audit and Systems (FCAS) Directorate. On behalf of ONS, Commercial Services deliver all procurement and contract management activity within the organisation and are looking to appoint six Commercial Practitioners.

The Government Commercial Function defines how all government departments should operate commercially to guarantee consistency of commercial behaviours and purchasing across government. Commercial Services uses their standards, benchmarks and training materials for staff involved in procurement and contract management to make sure best practice is followed. The strategic aim is securing optimum value for ONS through delivery of Commercial excellence.

Job description

In this role you will have an opportunity to support the Commercial Director in delivering the Commercial vision of being a key partner in strategic business decision making, adding value through innovation, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose. You will have responsibility for providing commercial support to ONS stakeholders that enables business goals through market knowledge, effective communication and teamwork. You will contribute to the aim of delivering value for money through innovation, cost reduction and efficiencies, with fairness, transparency, sustainability and diversity woven into everything we do.

You will work collaboratively with colleagues from within Commercial Services and stakeholders from across the business to ascertain demand and manage and deliver effective commercial activity in line with the new step-change approach to Commercial activity delivery within ONS.

You will ensure delivery compliance whilst driving successful application of quality and Value for Money (VfM). You will be accountable for ensuring complete end to end Commercial activity from pre-sourcing to contract management and the successful development and ongoing management of a comprehensive Commercial pipeline of work for your area of responsibility.

Your role will strengthen commercial oversight across our portfolio of strategically important supplier service provision, providing increased resilience and continuity within the commercial intelligent client function. We expect the postholders will deliver a range of commercial activity, providing development opportunities across the commercial cycle, including market engagement, procurement, contract management, supplier performance monitoring, risk and issue management, contract governance and change control, financial oversight, and governance reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the management of all commercial activities, including Census 2031 contracts, throughout their lifecycle.

• Contract management, including development and maintenance of effective contract management plans, performance monitoring and reporting, supplier relationship management.

• Maintain contract records, governance documentation and commercial reporting.

• Support contract change, extension and renewal activities.

• Prepare papers, briefings and recommendations for governance forums.

• Procurement projects, commercial pipeline and commercial lifecycle.

• Regulatory compliance such as publishing notices.

• Supplier performance monitoring including management information reporting, contract review activity and process mapping and management.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience of successful service delivery, coordinating and completing activities to agreed timescales that deliver outcomes.

• Experience of problem solving and dispute resolution.

• Experience of applying business acumen and judgement to develop strategies that demonstrate an understanding of actions required to support delivery of Value for Money (VfM) and efficiency.

• Experience of relationship management and working with stakeholders (at all levels) demonstrating strong communication skills (verbal and written).

• Sound commercial judgement and an ability to analyse information and data to support evidence-based decision making, identify risks and opportunities, and contribute to service improvements.

• Strong interpersonal, influencing and communication skills, with experience of building effective relationships with stakeholders and suppliers and supporting negotiations to achieve successful commercial outcomes.

Qualifications

• Relevant contract management, procurement, or commercial related experience, including qualifications such as CIPS, MCIPS, World CC (formerly IACCM) or Contract Management Capability Programme accreditation; or willingness to work towards.

• A non-pensionable allowance maybe available, depending on your qualification level: MCIPS (£3,000) or CIPS (£1,750).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing

• Delivering at Pace

• Making Effective Decisions

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,587, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,019 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.