Location

Spring Place, Southampton. SO15 1EG.

About the job 

We welcome applications from all communities and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.

Are you MCIPS qualified or willing to work towards this?

Do you have experience in a procurement role?

Would you like the opportunity to join a busy and diverse team?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

It’s an exciting time in the Procurement & Contracts Branch here at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as we expanding with three new vacancies. These are:

Procurement Support Officer
Procurement Business Partner
Senior Procurement and Contracts Business Partner

In this brand-new role of Procurement Business Partner, you will have the opportunity to shape the way you work, whilst also giving you the opportunity to understand and interact with the different business areas throughout the MCA. You will deliver an effective and expert procurement and contract function, providing advice and guidance to all internal and external stakeholders of the agency.

Within this role there is the potential for some travel to other MCA sites, suppliers’ premises, and other DfT offices. This may include overnight stays which can sometimes be at short notice.

No two days will be the same so if you love variety in your working day then this role is for you!
 

Responsibilities

The key responsibilities include:

• Provision of strategic procurement advice challenging existing arrangements and specification definition where appropriate (see attached amended job role)

• Ensure that Contract Management Plans are established for all above threshold or business critical contracts.

• Co-ordinate Procurement and Contract management activity with that of operational stakeholders to ensure congruence with Agency policy, process and strategic intent.

• Provide advice to the wider Agency on procurement issues ensuring that contract managers receive appropriate levels of expert advice and support.

• Apply appropriate governance of procurement by production and use of clear guidelines and review.

• Work effectively with DfT Procurement Staff on Department Category management and supporting the Group Operating Model concept.

• Support the MCA management approach to the procurement of common goods and services.

• Develop and apply innovative approaches to procurement wherever possible.

About you

We are looking for someone who is qualified or working towards MCIPS. If you do hold this qualification, then you must have experience within a procurement role.

As part of your previous experience, you will have the knowledge and understanding of the contract management lifecycle. We are keen to understand the processes and procedures you have followed in previous roles.

You will be a team player, always willing to support and share your knowledge and experience to the benefit of the team.

We are looking for someone who is proactive in seeking resolutions and can resolve issues that arise through their quick thinking, whilst following set guidance and regulations.

You will have exceptional communication skills with the ability to express yourself in a confident and concise manner with colleagues at all levels. You will be expected to professional in your representation of the Agency when delivering key messages to both internal and external stakeholders.

To be successful in the role you will need to have experience in the use of electronic tendering tools and systems.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Commercial Skills and Competency Framework - Level 2 - Knowledge of pre-market engagement, understanding how a market works and the impact on effective service and VFM. Able to provide advice and guidance on drivers.
• Commercial Skills and Competency Framework - Level 2 - Deep knowledge about government commercial and procurement policy objectives and accountable for ensuring organisational sourcing strategies contribute to cross government procurement policy goal

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

The Civil Service Nationality Rules has been updated following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. The new rules will come into effect on 1st January 2021. We urge people from the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland to be familiar with the updated Nationality rules prior to applying for this role.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For this role we will assess your Experience, Behaviour, and Technical skills. Please note: The Technical element will be assessed against the Commercial Skills and Competency Framework, however this is showing on the attached role profile as the Procurement Framework.

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and Statement of Suitability. For your CV, please tailor this to suit the role. For your Statement of Suitability, please utilise the word count to provide evidence of the following:
• Experience within a procurement role, and the processes and procedures you followed
• Experience of advising and sharing procurement knowledge with contract managers
• Use of electronic tendering tools and systems
• Knowledge and experience of the contract management lifecycle

The sift is due to take place on or around 22nd April 2021.

Interviews are likely to be held w/c 3rd May 2021.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include:
• an interview

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section

Further Information

To learn more about applying for a role within the Department for Transport, visit the Application Process page of our Careers website.

Before submitting your application, we encourage you to visit our Things You Need to Know page for further information about applying for a role within the Department for Transport and the Civil Service.

Throughout this job advert there are links to the DfT Careers website, which provides you further information to support your application. Should you be unable to access the information on our website, please email [email protected] for assistance.

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

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 (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• 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

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

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 :   Amanda Dunbar Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission