Defra Group Commercial HEO - Corporate Solutions

Defra Group Commercial (DGC) is part of Defra, the government department 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 our customers achieve their objectives while delivering value for money for the taxpayer.

We are recruiting for two exciting Higher Executive Officer (HEO) opportunities 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 across the country.
• 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 work closely with customers and stakeholders to provide commercial support, advice and challenge throughout the procurement lifecycle. You will help deliver innovative and value-focused commercial solutions, ensuring contracts are awarded and managed in line with government and Defra commercial policies.

The roles provide an opportunity to manage and support a range of high-value, medium-risk procurements and contracts, applying commercial best practice to achieve successful outcomes. You will contribute to commercial governance, support effective contract management, and provide expert guidance on commercial issues to a variety of stakeholders.

Working within a collaborative and supportive team, you will build strong relationships across Defra Group, wider government and the commercial profession. These are excellent opportunities for motivated individuals looking to develop their commercial expertise while contributing to the delivery of important public services and environmental outcomes.

Whether your interest lies in fleet services or a broader corporate services portfolio, these roles offer varied and rewarding work with real impact across the Defra Group.

As a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Category Officer, you will play a key role in helping Defra Group deliver commercial solutions that support vital environmental, rural and public services outcomes.

Reporting to a Senior Category Officer (SEO), you will work across a varied portfolio of commercial activity, supporting procurement, contract management and supplier relationships. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your commercial expertise while working with a wide range of stakeholders across the Defra Group and wider government.

No two days are the same. Whether supporting a complex procurement, managing supplier performance, advising customers on commercial approaches, or helping shape category strategies, your work will directly contribute to delivering better outcomes and value for money for the taxpayer.

In this role you will:

• Deliver and support procurement projects, contract management activities and supplier relationships across the full commercial lifecycle.
• Provide commercial advice and guidance to customers and stakeholders, helping them navigate commercial policies, procedures and governance requirements.
• Build strong relationships with operational teams, understanding their needs and developing effective commercial solutions.
• Contribute to business improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance processes, increase efficiency and share best practice.
• Keep up to date with commercial legislation, market developments and government best practice to ensure informed and compliant decision-making.
• Support the development and implementation of commercial policies, processes and category strategies.
• Help ensure contracts deliver value for money, manage risks effectively and maximise wider social, environmental and sustainability benefits.
• Support colleagues and customers through training, coaching and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Use eSourcing and contract management systems to manage commercial activity effectively and deliver outcomes to agreed quality, cost and timescale expectations.
• Develop your market knowledge and commercial expertise, contributing to category and sub-category planning activities.

What you'll gain

These roles offer exposure to a diverse range of commercial activities and stakeholders, providing an excellent platform for building a career within the Government Commercial Function. You will join a supportive and collaborative team committed to developing people, delivering high-quality commercial outcomes and making a real difference across the Defra Group.

For the Fleet HEO vacancy:

In the Fleet role, you will support the procurement and management of vehicle, fleet and transport-related services that enable operational teams across the Defra Group to deliver their essential work. You'll help shape commercial solutions that support sustainability objectives, operational resilience and value for money.

For the Corporate Solutions HEO vacancy:

In the Corporate Solutions role, you will support a broad portfolio of common goods and services, including travel, office supplies and workplace services. You'll work with customers across the organisation to deliver commercial solutions that keep colleagues equipped, connected and able to deliver critical public services.

We're looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals who enjoy building relationships, solving problems and delivering great outcomes for customers. Whether you're already working in a commercial environment or have developed transferable skills elsewhere, we'd love to hear from you if you can demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• Confidence in building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and influencing decisions through clear, evidence-based advice.
• Experience of 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.
• A proactive and organised approach, with the ability to take ownership of work and deliver at pace.
• Good judgement and decision-making skills, with the confidence to identify issues, assess risks and recommend solutions.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team whilst managing tasks independently.
• An interest in developing commercial knowledge and applying it to deliver real-world business outcomes.

About the Role

This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in helping our customers deliver meaningful outcomes by providing high-quality, innovative commercial support. You'll work closely with stakeholders to understand their needs, develop commercial solutions and help them achieve their objectives, while also contributing to wider Defra Group priorities.

You will have responsibility for awarding and managing a range of high-value, medium-risk contracts in line with Defra's commercial policies and procedures. This includes ensuring value for money, maintaining commercial governance and applying commercial lifecycle principles from procurement through to contract management.

You'll have the opportunity to manage your own portfolio of categories and contracts, which may include:

• Fleet
• Communications and marketing
• Office supplies
• Print services
• Other corporate solutions requirements

Your work will span a variety of commercial activities, including:

• Single Tender Actions (STAs)
• Framework call-offs
• PA23 procurements
• Contract management
• Supplier relationship management
• Commercial advice and stakeholder engagement

This is a varied and rewarding role that combines hands-on commercial delivery with the opportunity to influence outcomes, improve ways of working and build expertise across a diverse portfolio.

What You'll Gain

In return, you'll benefit from:

• Hands-on experience managing live commercial activity across the full procurement and contract management lifecycle.
• Exposure to a diverse range of categories, suppliers and procurement routes.
• Opportunities to build confidence in commercial decision-making, negotiation and stakeholder engagement.
• The chance to develop specialist commercial knowledge whilst working alongside experienced commercial professionals.
• A strong professional network across Defra Group, the Government Commercial Function and wider public sector organisations.
• Excellent opportunities for learning, development and future career progression within the commercial profession.

Most importantly, you'll be part of a team that plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of Defra Group's environmental, rural and public service objectives, helping ensure public money is spent effectively and responsibly.