Job summary

The UK Parliament sits at the heart of our democracy and system of Government in the UK. Comprised of two Houses (the Lords and the Commons) UK Parliament works on behalf of UK citizens to check and challenge the work of Government, make and shape effective laws, and debate/make decisions on the big issues of the day.

This role sits within the Parliamentary Commercial Directorate (PCD). This Directorate is responsible for commercial strategy, commercial policy and standards, procurement delivery and contract & supplier management support across the organisation and plays a key role in the operation of the Houses. The PCD team sits within the House of Lords but is a bicameral service and supports both the Lords and the House of Commons. You will have the opportunity to work as part of a growing and ambitious function committed to delivering to both Houses, the goods and services required, when they are needed and at best value for the taxpayer.

You will be joining PCD at an exciting time. Over the coming 2 years we plan to undertake significant changes aimed at increasing our impact across the Parliament. This comes on top of continuing to ensure the value for money from our nearly £1bn in annual spend and supporting transformational projects across both organisations and our estate, including the Palace of Westminster itself which is a UNECSO world heritage site.

You will be responsible for setting and delivering against a category plan and the independent delivery of procurements and acting as a trusted advisor to the business units and projects you work alongside. As the post holder, you will apply your commercial knowledge to advise on and deliver procurement activities in one of the following categories:

  • Works (construction, hard facilities management, building refurbishment & maintenance and building security)
  • ICT (hardware, software, development, networks, cyber)
  • Services & Supplies (people services, professional services, catering, corporate services, soft FM, heritage services)

    • You will be an organised, self-motivated and engaged individual as well as an active team player and contributor and be a part of ensuring that the overall commercial function can operate at its best. There will also be the unique opportunity to learn more about the workings of the UK Parliament. 

    Job description

    The main duties of the post-holder will be to: 

  • Be responsible for a specific category or sub-category, supporting the development of category strategies and delivery of sourcing requirements that are in line with business needs, as part of the team supporting business as usual and project activities.

  • Be responsible for compliant end-to-end procurements, delivering demonstrable value for money and compliant goods and services contracts.

  • Develop key stakeholder relationships and enable critical early engagement that supports the development of effective specifications that deliver requirements in line with business needs, provision of commercial advice to stakeholders on all aspects of commercial, challenging business need and demand.

  • Manage own workload with competing priorities balancing operationally urgent and important tasks to deliver to key deadlines.

  • To engage, where required, with the relevant senior business lead, ensuring that business requirements are supported by category strategies.

  • Deputise for Head of Category if required

  • To lead work on sensitive projects within a secure environment as required.

  • Implement, manage, improve, and promote the use of systems, tools and data management to create useful management information to support the business in spend in your category.

    • Person specification

    The key criteria for the person in this role are:

    Essential Competencies

  • Experience of developing and leading commercial strategies and delivering procurement in the relevant category (Works/ICT/Services& Supplies)

  • A successful career in procurement with typically 5 + years category management experience with demonstrable achievements centred of best value and efficiency via leading edge category solutions

  • Detailed knowledge and significant relevant experience as a commercial professional. Delivering, advising and managing procurement exercise in compliance with public sector procurement regulations at pace, with focus and tenacity.

  • A comprehensive understanding Procurement Legislation (Public Contract Regulations and Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations and the Procurement Reform Bill.

  • Demonstrable ability of using MI from systems to inform decision making and deliver optimum commercial solutions

  • Experience of working at senior levels with internal and external stakeholders.

    • Desirable Competencies

  • Experience of delivering commercial strategies and procurements in more than one category

    • Benefits

    Details of our employee benefits can be found in the attached candidate application pack.

    Things you need to know

    Selection process details

    To apply for one of these outstanding opportunities at The Parliamentary Commercial Directorate, please click the below link to our microsite to find out more about the role and application process.

    Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

    Security

    Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is .

    .People working with government assets must complete checks.

    Nationality requirements

    This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

    • Working for the Civil Service

    The 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 .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.