Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Leeds, London, Manchester. Frequent travel required to other MoJ offices in the UK for internal and supplier meetings and site visits anticipated to be occasional (2 3 times a month) This is a full-time post with the requirement of physical presence in the office of 2 -3 days per week combined with hybrid working for the remainder of the week. Reasonable flexible working options will be considered in line with the requirements of the role. About the job Job summary Welcome and thank you for your interest in joining us in our mission to make a positive impact on the national justice system through cutting edge commercial solutions. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department at the heart of our national justice system, employing over 90,000 colleagues. Responsible for the countrys courts (HMCTS), prisons and probation services (HMPPS), we work to protect and enhance the principles of justice. Never has there been a more exciting time to join us. As one of the most heavily outsourced departments in Whitehall, MoJ is at the heart of the Governments recent manifesto commitments. MoJ Commercial employees c640 professionals, manages over 1800 active contracts and spends c£5bn a year with ca. 900 third party suppliers. It provides commercial, procurement and contract management activities across a wide range of categories, ensuring value for money agreements are in place for the wider MoJ to source goods and services. Together the leadership has set a vision for Commercial to be the Governments best commercial team enabling world class justice. Within the Rehabilitation in Custody Services division, we are focused on supporting the department to deliver better outcomes, reduce reoffending and deliver value for money. I joined Commercial a year ago and have set a clear mission for my division To reduce re-offending through commercial leadership, collaboration and innovation. This mission was developed through a joint session with my divisional teams and supports the Commercial vision. I am personally motivated by delivering positive social outcomes at a national scale whilst challenging established ways of working to drive commercial innovation. Job description Both the Prisoner Education Services and Family and Re-settlement teams are an integral part of the Rehabilitation in Custody division and deliver contracts to support the education, skills and vocational training of prisoners in custody and beyond to integrate back with their families on release. You will line manage a small team (2- 4 staff) to lead the category development and contract management activities of the next generation of the service contracts. These are a range of regionally lotted multi-million pound contracts, up to 7-years in duration, across 104 prisons in the English HMPPS estate. These are the flag ship contracts of the new Prisoner Education Service, developed to meet the Prison White Paper and MoJ strategic objective of Reducing Reoffending. The Family Services and Resettlement contracts are also uniquely placed to provide further support to prisoners in family matters and integrating back into society. The roles will also contribute to the key areas of contract mobilisation & strategic post contract management. Following the conclusion of the contract awarding and mobilisation, the role(s) will pivot into creating category strategies and plans, working with the supply market to create innovative service delivery models & piloting new commercial options. This work will pave the way for the next generation of service contracts, a new commercial strategy and the re-procurement to commence over the next few years. Locations The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace. Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance. This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities. Person specification You will work with Senior Business Owners and a wide variety of stakeholders in cross-functional teams, including the existing contracts management team, to deliver our aspirations. Demonstrable skills and experience of developing category strategies through application of a data driven methodology and working with the supply markets to formulate delivery plans in order to realise and implement the category strategies to drive Value for Money outcomes. Manage the strategic supplier market development activities and maintain a healthy and agile supply market to meet current and future requirements. Be accountable for the system level commercial ownership of the relevant categories and contracts, including associated processes, to ensure these continue to consistently meet business requirements and adhere to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023. Deep experience of developing contractual documentation, working with external legal advisers, for regionally allotted contracts, including contract awards and variations, and work with the Senior Business Owners in building the business case and specification requirements. Superior forward planning, time management and organising skills to work on multiple priorities to manage personal outputs and team deliverables, ensuring oversight & monitoring of teams workplans. Lead, manage, motivate, inspire and develop your team, whilst ensuring alignment with operational delivery and timely progression of new Prisoner Education services and Resettlement and Family Services through to contract award,implementation and contract management. Develop and manage productive relationships with senior stakeholders in HMPPS and other functions to deliver effective commercial and contract management services. Ensure adherence to governance, legislative and policy requirements and adopt a robust approach to risk management across the team, including managing formal reports through MoJs internal governance routes. Drive a quality service and value for money to place it at the heart of the commercial process, together with enabling supplier collaboration to achieve improved outcomes. Highly numerate and ideally MCIPS qualified (or working towards achieving the qualification) Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Assertive Demonstrate an adaptive and assured style that inspires confidence to assert the commercial viewpoint, whilst engaging and challenging stakeholders, to influence positive commercial outcomes Manages Complexity Works efficiently in fast-paced environments to manage competing priorities across multiple-fronts (stakeholders, workstreams, contracts & projects) to deliver against targets whilst working within a commercial setting Decisive - Evaluate commercial challenges and recommend decisions, in short timeframes, based on robust risk-assessed options analysis, using qualitative and quantitative evidence focusing on delivering best commercial & service outcomes Builds Relationships Skills & experience of building & managing positive relationships with a range of suppliers & stakeholders, in different directorates with conflicting objectives, to successfully assert the commercial perspective Coaching Manager Experience of motivating & managing multi-site team members, with a range of skills and experiences, at different levels of professional development to provide career paths within the portfolio and encourage retention Procurement Process - Significant experience developing & implementing category strategies. Managing end-to end commercial process, setting timeline, risks, mitigations & deliverables, securing positive social & VfM outcomes Benefits As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK. For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills. Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 14th February and 3rd March 2025 and will require a full day's attendance. If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghubcabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates. Details of schemes available are attached in the advert. For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in the attached candidate pack. Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the attached Candidate Pack. Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview. IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghubcabinetoffice.gov.uk Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. 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) (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Lynsey Munro Email : commercialresourcinghubcabinetoffice.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : commercialresourcinghubcabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should direct this to the Head of Commercial Resourcing Hub at the following email commercialresourcinghubcabinetoffice.gov.uk quoting the vacancy reference number (if applicable) and the details of your complaint. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission via the following web page: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/ Attachments Guaranteed Interview Schemes (GIS) Opens in new window (pdf, 70kB) 384946 - Candidate Pack - Senior Category Manager x2 (Permanent Role).docx Opens in new window (pdf, 1038kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail