Job Description
Commercial Support Manager
Location: National
Closing Date: 1st March
Interviews: expected w/c 16th March
Grade: SEO
(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)
Salary: London: £49,325 - £53,081
National: £42,914- £46,182
Working pattern: Full time, part time, Flexible working
Contract Type: Permanent
Vacancy number: 14881
*We are currently offering hybrid working which includes 2 days per week in your local office. Office locations can be found HERE
The Role
We’re recruiting for a Commercial Support Manager here at Justice Digital, to be part of our warm and collaborative Legal Aid Agency team.
Introduction
At Justice Digital, we have a clear vision - to develop a digitally-enabled justice system that works for users. We’re looking for talented people to help us achieve this.
We’re building adaptable, effective services and making systems that are simple to use for staff and citizens. As well as doing great work, you’ll join a place that’s great to do work in, investing in you and your career through our networks and training opportunities. On top of that, you’ll find flexible working, an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued.
About the Function
The Ministry of Justice Digital and Technology team is made up of around 900 digital and technology specialists, located throughout the UK with hubs in London, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham and Glasgow. We support the 80,000 staff working within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) who do important, even life-changing work, with citizens and legal professionals.
As a function, we provide digital services, technology and support for the digital transformation of prisons, probation and wider justice system through:
- Fixing the basics, providing modern and secure technology to users across the department.
- Making things more efficient by providing access to justice through simpler services such as applying for legal aid online
- Thinking about the whole system - working with colleagues across the justice system to design and deliver services that really work for those that use them
- Building diverse, inclusive and brilliant teams to reflect the users that we serve
About the role:
Commercial Support Managers are part of LAA Digital’s Business Operations team and support the smooth and effective running of the unit.
This is a varied role that requires a good understanding of the work and priorities of the unit. The team as a whole are responsible for managing finances, people, engagement, portfolio and contracts while optimising the efficient operation of the unit.
The successful candidate will be an integral part of the team. They will lead our small supplier relationship management team, working closely with colleagues across the function to ensure our commercial arrangements are managed appropriately. In addition, the candidate will manage our relationship with software vendors, an external stakeholder group who provide commercial software for legal aid solicitors and barristers.
We’re looking for a proactive and energetic individual who can self-organise and prioritise a varied and interesting workload, can communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders and can work in collaboration with colleagues across the department to ensure we meet and exceed our objectives.
To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital please take a look at our blog and our Digital and Technology strategy 2025
Key Responsibilities:
Provide leadership and people management for a small team, ensuring they are provided with the support and guidance to continue to be effective in their roles
Manage communications with the software vendor community, ensuring appropriate controls are in place to manage access to our systems, that queries are responded to in a timely manner and that software vendors are provided with the information required to develop their services
Work in collaboration with our colleagues across the department to ensure LAA Digital’s commercial relationships are managed effectively, building effective relationships with our suppliers and using best practice approaches to the management of our contracts
Ensure contracts are tracked and renewals are managed in a timely manner
Oversight of our management of software licenses, supporting the team as an escalation point should any issues arise
Build up effective relationships with teams across Justice Digital and beyond to ensure LAA Digital are compliant with legislation, regulations and all local policies
Contribute as a member of the leadership team for LAA Digital Business Operations, providing cover for the Head of Business Operations as required
Lead ad hoc projects to improve operations and the efficiency of the team.
Maintain processes, systems and information/records.
If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!
Benefits
37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.
We are committed to nurturing our staff and provide lots of training and development opportunities with learning platforms such as: Linux Academy, O’Reilly, Pluralsight, Microsoft Learning, Civil Service Learning, GDS Academy, etc.
10% dedicated time to learning and development with a budget of £1000 a year per person
Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 26-30% depending on salary.
25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the Kings’ birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service.
Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!
Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.
Nurturing professional and interpersonal networks including those for Careers & Childcare, Gender Equality, PROUD and SPIRIT
Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location)
Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.
5 days volunteering paid leave.
Free membership to BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.
Person Specification
Essential
Experience of commercial and contract management
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and succinctly. With the ability to be and collaborate confidently with senior leaders, users, and key stakeholders using appropriate styles and methods
Quickly building a sound, high level knowledge of a function or organisation and providing clear updates, whilst managing a wide range of issues with diplomacy and discretion
Ability to work under pressure, in a demanding environment, with the capability to quickly determine what is needed, to address an issue. Proactive and efficient with the ability to deliver at pace
Experience of leading a team, including delegating or commissioning actions and tasks and tracking progress of work shared with others.
Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance
We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate on the basis of culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.
Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.
How to Apply
Candidates must submit a CV along with a Statement of Suitability divided into two clear sections. The sections must answer the questions below and be a maximum of 250 words each (giving a maximum total of 500 words for both answers). The two questions to be answered in the Statement of Suitability are:
Please provide a recent example of the following criteria: Experience of commercial and contract management (250 words)
Please provide a recent example of the following criteria: Experience of leading a team, including delegating or commissioning actions and tasks and tracking progress of work shared with others. (250 words)
**Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift based on’ Experience of commercial and contract management’ will be conducted before the sift.
In Justice Digital, we recruit using a combination of the Digital, Data and Technology Capability and Success Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:
Communicating & Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Managing a quality service
Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 45 mins panel interview held via video conference.
Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.
A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.
Use of 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.
Terms & Conditions
Please review our Terms and Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact digitalanddatarecruitment@justice.gov.uk
