Category Officer - Application Development

Details
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Reference number

459414

Salary

£34,765 \- £41,375
National: £34,765 \- £37,080

London: £38,795 \- £41,375

For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28\.97%
GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer### Contract type

Permanent### Business area

DEFRA \- DGCS \- Commercial \- Join Defra’s Technology Category Team and Drive IT Transformation Be part of a forward\-thinking team that is revolutionizing how Defra delivers its IT services — making them simpler, faster, and more sustainable. Working within our Technology Category, y### Type of role

Commercial### Working pattern

Flexible working, Full\-time, Compressed hours### Number of jobs available

2
Contents
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• Location


• About the job


• Benefits


• Things you need to know


• Apply and further information

Location
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Birmingham, Bristol, London, Peterborough, ReadingAbout the job
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Job summary

Defra group Commercial are looking to appoint Category Officers to support a variety of customer groups to

• Support and lead the delivery of projects, procurements and contract / supplier management roles across an allocated customer category.


• Support the management and development of key supplier relationships to deliver exceptional performance in cost, service and quality.


• Build and sustain effective relationships with category customers.


• Provide day to day advice on commercial issues and governance across the relevant category, taking full account of risk, exploiting commercial opportunities whilst maximising value of money and savings.

Brief Overview:

Join Defra’s Technology Category Team and Drive IT Transformation

Be part of a forward\-thinking team that is revolutionizing how Defra delivers its IT services — making them simpler, faster, and more sustainable. Working within our Technology Category, you’ll have the chance to make a tangible impact in a dynamic, challenging, and high\-profile environment.

Our team is responsible for sourcing a wide range of IT needs across Defra — from user devices and digital applications to connectivity, geospatial, data, and cybersecurity. With a market\-focused and agile approach, we stay ahead of emerging technologies and collaborate closely with customers to streamline and consolidate the IT products and services we procure for the entire Defra Group.

The post\-holder will be required to award and monitor high value, medium risk contracts in accordance with Defra’s commercial policies and procedures. They will be expected to deliver propriety and value for money whilst applying commercial life\-cycle principles.

The work will involve promoting commercial policies and procedures whilst influencing the final outcomes. It includes the provision of expert advice to the business on commercial issues, contract management and governance and operational support to the team.

Job description

The Category Officer will report to a Senior Category Officer (SEO) and will undertake activities at the agreed level.

As a vital member of our Technology Commercial Category Team, you will play a key role in delivering low to medium value projects, procurements, and contract/supplier management within an agile, market\-facing environment.

Your mission will be to develop and execute commercial strategies that align with the Category Strategy, directly contributing to our overall business success. You will take charge of planning and managing all market engagement activities for your assigned sub\-category, fostering strong partnerships both internally and externally.

In this role, you will:

Deliver and support in the delivery of projects, procurements with contract and supplier management across the full commercial life cycle providing functional / specialist input to improve ways of working and business change and efficiency.

• Be responsible for explaining specialist commercial guidance to operational teams to influence compliance with Defra policy / legislation / best practice and agreed ways of working and contribute to the delivery of business plans.


• Keep up to date on changing legislation / best practice externally, to inform internal priorities and appropriate alignment.


• Contribute to the development of Defra policy / process at national / local level and monitor and advise on effective implementation in the business, in line with environmental targets.


• Build and sustain effective relationships with operational customers to understand issues and provide effective response / steer for operational needs.


• Train and help others on policies, procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver their work in an effective and efficient manner.


• Support team members to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and cost to fulfil the business plan and achieve / support environmental goals.


• Support the delivery of contracts such that sustainable impacts and opportunities are identified and managed throughout the commercial lifecycle.


• Manage your own resources to meet business needs, including electronic sourcing and contract management applications, to maximise the efficient and effective use of finances and people to ensure that all activities are completed to time, cost and quality targets.


• Support the development of Defra sub\-category and category plans and develop your own market category knowledge and expertise.

Person specification

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking candidates who are actively developing their commercial expertise and thrive on challenging and influencing a diverse customer range of customers. You will enjoy crafting innovative solutions to overcome challenges and excel at building strong networks, recognising relationship\-building as a core strength.

You will deliver high\-quality, professional services with measurable impact, taking pride in achieving strong commercial outcomes. You are highly analytical, with the confidence to challenge and influence across varied and complex customer groups.

In addition, you will contribute to a positive team environment, supporting colleagues to deliver expert outcomes that are highly valued by customers. You are motivated by providing excellent service, achieving tangible results, and fostering collaboration within your team.

You will have the following essential experience and skills (which will be tested at sift and interview) : Experience influencing operational and commercial decisions.

• Supported the successful delivery of a variety of procurements, with experience in managing contracts or suppliers being an advantage.


• Demonstrating a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, ensuring compliance with policies and processes, and championing these standards in all aspects of your work.


• Driving operational improvements by implementing initiatives that enhance efficiency, promote business transformation, and refine ways of working.


• Applying your commercial acumen to generate tangible benefits, efficiencies, and cost savings.


• Proactively identifying risks and issues and formulating and executing robust mitigation plans.


• Delivering well\-reasoned conclusions and recommendations, backed by thorough analysis of data — including financial information.


• You will hold or be willing to pursue, a CIPS Level 4 qualification progressing to qualifications in MCIPS (Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement \& Supply) or have IACCM/WorldCC ( International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM), now known as World Commerce \& Contracting (WorldCC)). Other professional qualifications, such as Prince2, Lean or APM qualifications would be considered.

If these are not applicable, then we will be looking for robust evidence of equivalent experience.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service


• Communicating and Influencing


• Working Together


• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Please include any technical skills in your prestentation (should you progress to interview). further details will be provided prior to your interview

Benefits
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Alongside your salary of £34,765, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,071 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Learning and development tailored to your role

• An environment with flexible working options


• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity


• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28\.97%


• Career progression


• Established Commercial Mentor Programme available.

Things you need to know
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Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.### Selection process details

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

As part of the application process, you will b

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