Deputy Director DDaT Commercial

OFGEM
DDaT Commercial is responsible for designing, developing, managing and evolving the full range of DDaT Commercial activities across Ofgem. This will include DDaT Commercial Strategy, supplier and vendor Management, contract management, commercial performance management, GDS and CCS engagements and, commercial coherency with other pan-government initiative such as Shared Services Strategy.

For the avoidance of any confusion, this role will not be accountable or responsible for discharging procurement activities (e.g. completing competitive processes). This will be undertaken by the existing Ofgem procurement team.

CDIO Digital Commercial Strategy

Working with the newly forming CDIO Leadership Team, and the Ofgem Procurement Team, develop the Commercial strategy for CDIO and DDAT (where appropriate). This will encompass the balance between Ofgem and supplier provided services, mix of vendors and associated commercial arrangements, forward roadmap of strategic changes, ownership of the pipeline of Ofgem Digital Commercial Business and the forward planning of suitable commercial vehicles.

In addition to the above strategy, the post holder will be expected to put forward options to refine current delivery models, enhance service and better engage with services provided across the DDAT market. For example, the balance between internal and external, the bundling of services, and the way Ofgem packages activities.

Vendor relationship management

Personally and in conjunction with their team and procurement, build and manage the strategic relationships and tactical, day-to-day management of Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) vendors. The incumbent in this role will liaise with senior representatives for large Technology vendors, serving as a point of escalation where required to enable Ofgem to achieve the best value from its supplier base. This will include providing support during supplier negotiations and supplier performance improvement efforts.

Personally and through the teams, oversee contract changes for the largest vendors in conjunction with procurement teams where appropriate, and ensure that these represent Ofgem’s best interests.

Lead and mentor a team of dedicated DDAT contract and vendor managers. This will include providing strategic direction (e.g., regarding how we can better leverage existing suppliers), setting quality standards, and ensuring that all contract and vendor management activities are being performed effectively and efficiently.

Act as single point of contact for other DDAT Deputy Directors and senior stakeholders across the business on DDAT contract and vendor management matters.

Operating model

Work with the CDIO leadership team and wider Ofgem stakeholders to revisit the current approach to DDAT contract and vendor management including structure, people and processes so as to enable optimal performance and ensure the model fits with the future of the Technology function as a whole.

Budget, risk and governance

Manage the contract and vendor management budget, striving to achieve maximum value for money, including through licensing cost efficiencies.

Personally and through the teams, manage the contract and vendor management risk register, ensuring that an approach is in place to mitigate key supplier-related risks.

Act as the DDAT contract and vendor management representative at all required governance forums, producing briefing materials as needed (e.g., supplier compliance forums).

More information about the role and the application process can be found in the attached documents below.

Person specification

• Managed relationships with large DDAT vendors (contracts worth £50M+), both on the service and software spaces, in complex and growing organisations with complex technical requirements (Lead)
• Extensive experience with UK Government Procurement Policies, including (but not limited to) Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and wide-ranging familiarity with Government/Crown Commercial Services frameworks, their applications and utilisation. (Lead)
• Experience managing and working with multi-skilled teams, in particular within the Commercial function
• Experience of working in situations requiring strong interpersonal/communication skills across a range of stakeholders, including senior stakeholders and user groups
• Experience of creating and enacting a digital commercial strategy.
• Experience of identifying appropriate commercial arrangements to find the right balance between internal and external skills and capability.

This role requires the post holder to apply for SC level vetting clearance but it may be a requirement to obtain DV clearance in the future.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• Please see Candidate Pack for Details.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, OFGEM contributes £20,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; Hybrid working, flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities. You will also be asked to complete questions on the lead criteria which will be scored as part of the sift process.

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

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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 security check (opens in a new window) .

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition . click apply for full job details