Head of Category

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 226300**Salary**:

- £70,176 - £96,909- GCO Pension, GCO Terms. Up to 15% performance-related-pay available on accreditation.**Grade**:

- Grade 6- Associate Commercial Specialist**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- GCF - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs**Type of role**:

- Commercial**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Compressed Hours**Number of posts**:

- 2Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Bristol, Exeter, Leeds, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Peterborough, Reading, YorkAbout the job

**Summary**:

- Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform.
- We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts.- We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commercial team delivering departmental objectives.**Job description**:
**Role 1: Head of Category - Environmental Goods and Services (EGS)**

We have an exciting and challenging opportunity for an experienced commercial procurement professional; with proven experience in the procurement, implementation and management of environmental & science contracts.**Role 2: Head of EGS Programmes**

Whilst we operate under a Category Management, supply market facing approach we frequently get asked to provide commercial support to new, often novel, high value programmes of work. This is a brand-new role to be the senior commercial leader for such programmes, where they closely align to our Environmental Goods and Services Category. You will be the initial contact influencing at a senior level, forming high level procurement strategies, agreeing commercial resourcing needs and retaining ongoing close involvement and oversight.**Responsibilities**:
In both these roles you will hold a business-critical senior leadership role within the DGC team, providing strategic and operational support to the Director of Category Management / Deputy Director for the Category and other senior leaders. You will promote commercial principles within the Defra network and wider Government, including the Government Commercial Function, influencing where appropriate.

You will lead, motivate and direct professional commercial team(s) to develop and implement corporate initiatives to control and secure compliance with business outcomes and to ensure continuous improvement in the field of procurement.

**Role 1: Head of Category - Environmental Goods and Services (EGS)**

You will be leading 3 sub-category teams (c. 44 commercial staff) specialising in supporting Evidence (Scientific Research), Land Use & Biodiversity Technical Services and Veterinary and Laboratory requirements.

**Role 2: Head of EGS Programmes**

We are looking for an experienced commercial procurement professional, with a proven track record of working on a broad range of requirements, often novel to the contracting authority and large scale/high value (min £10m to £50m), utilising a variety of procurement models to best meet the specific needs. In addition, experience of attracting external finance / securing matching funding to support delivery and specific experience of working in waste, consultancy and all business process outsourcing categories, would be advantageous.

A key programme you would be supporting is the Collection and Packing Reforms Programme. There are two high value, novel, high profile requirements, the Deposit Return Scheme and Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility. In addition, we are being asked to provide significant commercial advice and input to support discussions with some Local Authorities and their suppliers to help minimise any adverse implications from changing the approach to waste management. The total throughput cost of these 2 schemes alone could be in the region of £5bn.

In the role, you will:
Your accountabilities and responsibilities will include being:
**Financial Scheme of Delegation**

All Senior Category Managers have a delegated authority at all stages of the commercial process:
- Sign off of Commercial Strategies and Contract Award Reports upto £5 million
- Make commercial commitments upto £5 million
- Single Tender Action (up to £250k)

**Qualifications/Certifications**

Whilst not essential, a profes