Associate Director of Commercial & Senior Commercial Business Partner – Strategic Contracts Location: Liverpool, Darlington or National We are currently seeking an Associate Director of Commercial as a Senior Commercial Business Partner – Strategic Contracts to lead on Strategic commercial activity across a range of categories. You will primarily be responsible for leading the Strategic Contracts side of the Commercial Team and partnering with stakeholders across DBS to understand the business needs. As a key member of the Finance and Corporate Leadership Team, you will work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure customer and stakeholder needs are met and that all commercial activity is delivered compliantly. Leading a team of 7, you will play a pivotal role in the design and development of the DBS Commercial Strategy and associated Category Strategies. Key responsibilities As a Senior Commercial Business Partner you will lead the development and management of senior Departmental relationships to support the organisation in reducing unnecessary spend and deliver value for money. Develop and implement the DBS Commercial Strategy Plan, lead and oversee the procurement of strategic services and contracts across all relevant categories Design and develop new and innovative approaches to the commissioning of services including market development, new delivery models, different approaches to market/procurement, and support DBS in supplier relationship management and contract management strategies Lead and develop best practice approaches in strategic commercial contract management Lead the team in identifying and mitigating contractual risk Set the strategic direction to commercial activities around the commercial life cycle Collaboratively lead (with other organisational leaders) the effective delivery of contract management strategies for cross functional services Ensure compliance with, and support in driving awareness of, any developments in procurement law, government accounting and best commercial and procurement practice, including compliance with the Government’s Sourcing Playbooks and Contract Management Professional Standards Ensure positive relationships with relevant stakeholders, including suppliers are developed and maintained Analyse and resolve escalated contractual issues About you An experienced and effective leader Strategically led complex portfolios/programmes involving novel and non-standard commercial and contractual mechanisms, with the ability to identify improvements A highly effective communicator with the ability to build relationships with all levels of stakeholders Well versed in the design of strategic MI from a variety of sources Experience in leading the most strategic and key procurements and contracts for an organisation, delivering with and through others; reducing/mitigating potential reputational risk, ensuring security of supply and a focus in managing costs and driving best value Qualifications/Technical Ability CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) membership, qualified to Level 6 Diploma Experienced in managing compliance with the Gov.uk Sourcing Playbook, the Contract Management Professional Standards and all associated policies Successful candidates must meet BPSS security requirements before they can be appointed. Why Join us This is an exciting opportunity to join DBS as it builds and strengthens its Commercial team. We’re currently revisiting our Corporate Strategy and embarking on a technological transformation program, both of which require strong commercial leadership and support. The newly restructured Commercial team will play a key role in advancing these strategic priorities and driving key changes. You will have the opportunity to apply your skills and experience to shape the strategic direction of both the Commercial team and the wider organisation as DBS embarks upon its new strategy. As an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), DBS operates with more independence than many government organisations, so you’ll enjoy more autonomy and flexibility than typical government department Commercial teams and you’ll have the ability to drive commercial strategy across the organisation. At DBS we have made a real success of flexible working and are not mandating the 60% ‘in office’ requirement that other government departments are bound by. We welcome applications from across the UK, with a willingness to travel as needed. Alongside your salary, we contribute (28.97%) towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. In addition, we offers a number of excellent benefits for its employees. These can include: Generous annual leave entitlement Excellent maternity, paternity and adoption schemes (after a qualifying period) Employee Assistance Programme Flexible working opportunities Eyecare voucher scheme Occupational Health Service including referrals for counselling and physiotherapy 24/7 Counselling and Wellbeing Service Car parking/bike to work scheme Discounted gym memberships Dental insurance policy benefit 5 days per year for learning and development About The Department: DBS was established under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 on 1 December 2012, operating from two sites, Liverpool and Darlington. We operate on behalf of government delivering Disclosure functions in England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, and Barring functions for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We operate in the complex world of safeguarding alongside our multi agency partners. Safeguarding means protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. We provide a service that enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make better informed, safer recruitment and other decisions. We do this by providing information to enable them to determine whether individuals are unsuitable or unable to undertake certain work, particularly with occupations involving regular contact with vulnerable groups, including children. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Benefits: Company pension Work Location: In person