Procurement policy is a key component of the Government’s post-EU Exit and economic recovery work programme. Cabinet Office leads for the UK Government on procurement policy, including overseeing the UK’s procurement regulatory system and enabling access to international public procurement markets.
The Domestic team is the primary lead in maintaining the domestic policy framework governing public procurement, and ensures that its overarching objective remains the achievement of value for money as well as supporting the Cabinet Office’s role as national policymaker. The policies developed and implemented by the team influence c£70bn of central govt spend and represent best practice for many hundreds of organisations across the public sector. Much of our work attracts regular interest from the top of Government and Whitehall, including Ministers, Number 10, and the Government Chief Commercial Officer.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Commercial Policy team at the heart of the Government Commercial Function. An ambitious ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ programme is underway to reform public procurement including new procurement legislation, professionalising commercial teams, and streamlining and standardising how the government’s commercial activities are performed, to deliver the best possible results for the taxpayer.
The new regime will significantly change how we buy goods and services - from our e-procurement systems, to our commercial tools and operating processes, to our people and capability, and create a simpler and more flexible, commercial system, opening up public procurement to new entrants such as small businesses and social enterprises and embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle.
This role will lead a policy portfolio covering primarily Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Ethics, Security (including Cyber) and Data Protection. These areas of policy are highly technical, dynamic and topical that will require sensitive handling, potentially involving interactions with Ministers and industry experts as well as regular contact with senior officials across Whitehall.
This role will primarily be responsible for identifying key opportunities in using AI to support the government's commercial activities and ensuring the Government Commercial Function keeps in-step with wider government action on AI. In addition, the post-holder will lead on Data Ethics, and also lead the development of associated measures related to security and data protection.
This role would suit a highly confident, commercially-minded team player with knowledge of these policy areas and wider digital adoption.
You will be joining a small, close knit and friendly team of committed and passionate policy experts, where you can expect a high focus on support, training, development and leadership opportunities.
This is a hybrid-role, with at least 2-3 days per week based in your designated office. Frequent travel to other Cabinet Office locations may be required.