Assistant Commercial Director – Pre-Award (Corporate Services)

The vacancy has arisen as a result of the current role holder securing a SCS1 promotion, an indicator of the development opportunities that we have exposure to at HMRC Commercial.

The Commercial Corporate Services provides specialist support to HMRC business areas through delivery of commercial strategies and plans that underpin programmes, project and BAU strategies for the delivery of HMRC services. Working collaboratively with the business customer, as a business partner and with our colleagues in Commercial Contract Management we provide a seamless strategic commercial service that includes analysis to support make or buy decisions, market engagement/ development and delivery of the competitive processes used to select/ appoint suppliers and award contracts for all goods and services.

Reporting to a Commercial Deputy Director for Corporate Services and Property FM (Pre-Award) pillar and alongside three Grade 6 peers within the pillar, the role holder will lead a team of category and sourcing specialists and be accountable for the overall category strategy ensuring that it delivers innovative, competitive and compliant commercial outcomes that are aligned to HMRC objectives and maximise value for money.

The role holder will also develop highly effective and trusted relationships with key senior internal and external stakeholders. As part of the Extended Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for providing leadership to your Category Team and wider Commercial Directorate, whilst taking a proactive approach in talent development within your area of responsibility and beyond.

Virtual Recruitment Event

We are hosting a virtual recruitment event on Tuesday 25th of August at 13:00 – 13:50 to discuss this role in further detail.

You’ll hear from the senior management team talk about duties and responsibilities, but also what it’s like to work for HMRC. A member of the GCO Recruitment team will provide guidance and advice on how to submit a successful application and you’ll also be given the opportunity to ask the panel questions.

We strongly encourage attending this event, so you have all the information you need before applying for this fantastic opportunity.

Sign up for the event here.

Locations:

The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.

Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on the 17th of September 2026 and will require a full day's attendance.

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team on commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.

For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the attached candidate pack.

Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the Technical Skills (essential criteria) and your Job History (CV) that you will be asked to provide during the application process. Further help and advice on our application and selection process can be found at this web address https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-how-to-apply/

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.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-recruitment/

IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.