Growing the Welsh public sector procurement and commercial profession is central to achieving value, sustainability and social benefit from the £11.4 billion spent annually across the Welsh public sector.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape and strengthen public procurement and commercial capability across Wales. Working as part of a dedicated Capability team, the post holder will help design, promote and deliver programmes that support professional development across the public sector and contribute to the delivery of Welsh Government’s Programme for Government commitments.
Reporting to the Senior Capability Manager, the Capability Manager will support the delivery of national capacity and capability initiatives and, in some cases, lead discrete capability projects.
These may include supporting the development and implementation of procurement and commercial apprenticeship pathways, the design and continuous improvement of eLearning and blended learning solutions, and the creation of practical guidance, tools and resources to support knowledge building and professional standards across the sector.
The role involves working closely with colleagues across Welsh Government and the wider public sector to identify skills gaps, respond to sector changes and ensure programmes remain relevant, prioritised and impactful.
The post holder will play an active role in strengthening procurement and commercial capability across Welsh public sector organisations, supporting continuous improvement and professional standards, and helping to build a confident and connected procurement community in Wales.
While this role does not hold direct responsibility for Cyd (formerly the Procurement Centre of Excellence for Wales), it sits alongside and complements Cyd’s work. The post holder will be expected to stay informed of developments and will have opportunities to contribute to, promote and support the continued growth and embedding of Cyd as a core part of the Welsh public sector procurement landscape.
This role would suit candidates with some experience in procurement, commercial, workforce development or improvement programmes.
Job overview
Programme Delivery, Reporting and Evaluation
- Support the Capability team to deliver the objectives set out within the programme strategy and delivery plan.
- Support the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) in delivering a portfolio of capability projects and initiatives.
- Lead some capability projects fitting with grade and responsibilities.
- Implement project management techniques to ensure effective and efficient delivery of capability projects.
- Ensure project administration and governance, including accurate record-keeping from initiation to implementation and delivery.
- Develop business cases and draft update reports to support programme approvals.
- Monitor and report progress of initiatives, providing evidence-based feedback on operational and delivery issues.
- Identify any issues and challenges during delivery of the projects and escalate.
- Support contract management of externally commissioned services as required.
- Assist in the development and maintenance of existing programmes to ensure continuous improvement and best value for money.
- Identify opportunities for programme improvements.
Communication and Engagement
- Liaise with policy and programme officials across Welsh Government Departments, UK Departments, and external stakeholders to support successful project development and delivery.
- Support the SEO on programme and project groups and lead stakeholder groups as required.
- Develop communication resources to inform, promote, and engage stakeholders in the projects.
- Communicate key messages and persuade audiences through public speaking, presentations, workshops, and written reports.
- Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote capability and capacity initiatives.
Leadership and Resources
- Line manage the Capability Officer (Executive Officer), providing guidance and support.
- Deputise for the SEO at meetings and events with external organisations.
- Support, the SEO in delivering seminars, events, and workshops focused on capacity and capability.
Person specification
As Procurement undergoes a significant period of change, the role presents an exciting opportunity to develop initiatives that aids procurement teams across Wales to implement the change.
The varied initiatives include the development of professional upskilling programmes, apprenticeships and new qualification development which will provide the post holder the exciting opportunities to be involved in projects at a national level.
This may involve exposure to shaping and supporting national steering groups and developing digital content where they will be required to engage with the sector across Wales to shape programmes that meet their needs.
The post will support someone looking to progress their career in procurement or someone new to the profession with an appetite to gain the professional qualification.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Application of project and programme delivery techniques, including planning, tracking progress, managing risks and operating within agreed governance arrangements.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £37,111, Welsh Government contributes £10,751 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%.
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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
- In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Experience: Ability to engage and collaborate with stakeholders, to identify requirements, and co-create solutions that delivers improved outcomes. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
- A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
- Pan Wales. (The team predominantly works from the Cardiff, Swansea or Merthyr offices alongside colleagues across Wales operating on a hybrid basis, with regular office attendance, agreed in line with business need).
- Application of professional allowances will be as per the current WG Professional Allowances policy:
- Rates of purchasing allowance - Band Team Support, EO, HEO & SEOCandidates who have level 4 Certificate of Competency will receive an allowance of £1,728.
- Candidate who have full Membership of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply will receive an allowance of £4,607.
- Note that allowance will be capped at £1,000 above maximum of SEO pay band.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact
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