Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£42,616 per annum

About the Role
Defra Group Commercial (DGC) is part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, responsible for growing the rural economy, protecting and improving the environment, and safeguarding animal and plant health. DGC delivers expert commercial and procurement services across the Defra Group, helping customers achieve their objectives while delivering value for money for the taxpayer.

We are recruiting two Higher Executive Officer (HEO) roles within our Corporate Solutions category:
- Commercial Officer (Fleet): supporting a diverse portfolio of fleet-related contracts and services that keep Defra Group organisations operating effectively nationwide.
- Commercial Officer (Corporate Solutions): supporting a broad range of common goods and services, including travel, office supplies and workplace requirements that enable colleagues to deliver critical public services.

In both roles, you will provide commercial support, advice and challenge throughout the procurement lifecycle, delivering innovative and value-focused commercial solutions. You will manage and support high-value, medium-risk procurements and contracts, applying commercial best practice to achieve successful outcomes, contributing to commercial governance, contract management, and providing expert guidance on commercial issues.

Working within a collaborative and supportive team, you will build strong relationships across Defra Group, wider government and the commercial profession. These roles offer varied and rewarding work with real impact across the Defra Group, whether your interest lies in fleet services or a broader corporate services portfolio.

As a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Category Officer, reporting to a Senior Category Officer (SEO), you will support procurement, contract management and supplier relationships across a varied portfolio of commercial activity. Your work will include delivering procurement projects, managing supplier performance, advising customers on commercial approaches, and helping shape category strategies to deliver better outcomes and value for money for the taxpayer.

Key responsibilities include:
- Delivering procurement projects, contract management activities and supplier relationships across the full commercial lifecycle.
- Providing commercial advice and guidance to customers and stakeholders.
- Building strong relationships with operational teams to develop effective commercial solutions.
- Contributing to business improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance processes and share best practice.
- Keeping up to date with commercial legislation, market developments and government best practice.
- Supporting the development and implementation of commercial policies, processes and category strategies.
- Ensuring contracts deliver value for money, manage risks effectively and maximise social, environmental and sustainability benefits.
- Supporting colleagues and customers through training, coaching and knowledge-sharing.
- Using eSourcing and contract management systems to manage commercial activity effectively.
- Developing market knowledge and commercial expertise, contributing to category planning.

These roles provide hands-on experience managing live commercial activity across the full procurement and contract management lifecycle, exposure to diverse categories and suppliers, and opportunities to build confidence in commercial decision-making, negotiation and stakeholder engagement. You will develop specialist commercial knowledge while working alongside experienced professionals and build a strong professional network across Defra Group and the wider public sector.

Most importantly, you will be part of a team that supports the delivery of Defra Group's environmental, rural and public service objectives, ensuring public money is spent effectively and responsibly.

Experience
- Confidence in building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and influencing decisions through clear, evidence-based advice.
- Experience working in a structured and accountable environment, managing competing priorities and delivering quality outcomes to agreed timescales.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and tailor your approach to different audiences.
- Experience of analysing information and applying judgement to recommend solutions, balancing customer requirements, risk, governance and value for money.

About you
- Enthusiastic and motivated with a proactive and organised approach.
- Ability to take ownership of work and deliver at pace.
- Good judgement and decision-making skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team whilst managing tasks independently.
- Interest in developing commercial knowledge and applying it to deliver real-world business outcomes.

Qualifications
- No specific qualifications required; however, a commitment to learning and development within the Government Commercial Function is essential.