Commercial Practitioner X2

**X2 Commercial Practitioner **Inside IR35**

**Contract Term: 7 Months**

**Contracting Authority: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)**

**Location: Manchester, Blackpool, Leeds or London (Hybrid)**

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department, it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers. As such, we operate on a scale that is almost unmatched anywhere in Europe and most people in Britain come into contact with us at some point in their lives.

Working with DWP, you will be helping us to drive our priorities to:

- Run an effective welfare system that enables people to achieve financial independence by providing assistance and guidance into employment
- Increase saving for, and security in later life
- Create a fair and affordable welfare system which improves the life chances of children
- Deliver outstanding services to our customers and claimants
- Deliver efficiently: transform the way we deliver our services to reduce costs and increase productivity

**As a **Commercial Practitioner **your main responsibilities would be**:
The overriding responsibility is to seamlessly deliver commercial services throughout the department whilst providing the best service and value possible.
- Leading the development and on-going management of commercial strategies at a departmental level.
- Working with stakeholders at all levels (internal and external) to develop strategy and tactics for procurement category initiatives.
- Project manage necessary workstreams and initiatives within commercial directorate to ensure timely delivery of objectives, ensuring all necessary process, including formal stakeholder engagement and approval are completed.
- Develop contracts procedures to enhance / streamline commercial and operational efficiencies
- Deliver agreed cost savings objectives
- Provide commercial advice to a wide range of stakeholders
- Leading market engagement, sourcing, tendering and a wide range of procurement activities
- Build trusted relationships with suppliers to hold professional discussions regarding contract information such as KPI’s/SLA’s, payment models, clause interpretation etc.
- Drafting, reviewing and advising on governance documents and processes such as papers for Commercial Board, Programme Board, gated project submissions etc.
- Support the on-going development of a best in class commercial function, executing projects in line with processes and expected high-quality standards
- Identify and implement continuous improvements to drive best practice throughout the category

**You’ll have relevant experience in**:

- Experience of working on complex procurement / commercial project(s) including category and contract management, supplier management, managing commercial risk and a track record of delivery
- You will have good industry knowledge and category insights to provide knowledge-based challenges to senior stakeholders
- Be able to build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships
- You will be commercially astute with strong communication negotiation and influencing skills.
- Effectively manages multiple complex activities at any one time and can methodically prioritise
- A key team player - able to work well as part of a team, take ownership, give direction and feedback to colleagues
- Act as a role model - respond positively to change and influence future positive ideas and strategies
- You will have a realistic and pragmatic approach, keen eye for detail, be practical and focused on reaching a combined end goal

**Desirable Skills**
- An understanding of public services procurement and associated supplier markets is advantageous yet not necessary

**Qualifications**
- CIPS/IACCM desirable but not essential- Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas._