Senior Policy Advisor - Domestic Policy (Economic Growth)
Government Commercial Function
- Department
- Government Commercial Function
- Location
- London, Glasgow, York, Norwich
- Openings
- 1 post
- Grade
- Grade 7
- Salary
- £74,340 to £81,774
- Closing
- 27 days left
- Profession
- Finance
- Contract
- Permanent
- Security clearance
- SC
- Working pattern
- Flexible working, Full-time
Job summary
In these times of global economic uncertainty, public procurement has a crucial role to play in bolstering domestic competitiveness, making the economy stronger and more resilient, and providing a solid foundation of security for British businesses. As a cornerstone of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, public procurement must be designed to drive growth, and leverage the UK’s unique strengths and untapped potential.
At the heart of public service reform is the transformation of public procurement. With the UK’s annual £400 billion spend on goods, works, and services, procurement is not merely a function; it is a powerful lever for national renewal so people around the UK feel this government spend through investment in their skills and opportunities to access high quality jobs close to home.
Strengthen the UK’s economic resilience and supporting British businesses, by strategically leveraging our annual public procurement spend, is the way to protect our supply chains, open up new opportunities for local small businesses and social enterprises, create good local jobs, and deliver greater value for taxpayers.
We can do this by designing, developing and implementing innovative procurement policies to ensure that every buying decision contributes towards the government’s plan for national renewal.
What they’re looking for
- Lead the design, development, and implementation of policy measures in line with the government’s Missions, Foundations and Plan for Change, specifically in one of the following clusters: Social & Missions, Environment & Technology, Economic Growth.
- Conduct thorough research and analysis to inform policy proposals, ensuring alignment with governmental priorities and legal requirements.
- Lead and contribute to stakeholder engagement activities, such as Trade Organisations, Crown Representatives, Strategic Suppliers, International Governments etc, to promote our activities and direction of travel and to seek feedback on policy design and new measures to ensure stakeholder buy-in.
- Lead on, and Support Team Leader to present policy ideas and proposals to Ministers as required.
- Prepare high quality strategic reports, briefing papers, and presentations that clearly outline policy recommendations and implications, using data-driven evidence to support proposals.
- Engage with contracting authorities across central government and the wider public sector, providing guidance and support to aid in the practical implementation of new procurement policies.
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of implemented policies, collaborating with peers across the team and outside to identify areas for synergy, efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Horizon-scanning to maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in public procurement, and of relevant policy areas to provide insights to the team and make recommendations for adjustments as necessary.
- Take on line management responsibility and development of SEOs in the team, as required/determined by the G6.
- Lead on and support the Grade 6 Team Leader in co-chairing cross-departmental meetings where necessary, leading sub-groups to develop and deliver specific initiatives.
- Provide developmental support and mentorship to junior team members, fostering an environment of learning and professional growth within the team.
Job description
Senior Policy Advisors play a crucial role in supporting the Grade 6 Team Leader in the development, implementation, and evaluation of procurement policy measures. This is a fast-paced environment and Senior Policy Advisors will be responsible for leading a mixed portfolio of policy priorities, taking the lead of all aspects of policy development and implementation using a proactive, collaborative approach.
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.
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)
Selection process
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 Monday 12th October 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.
Practise before you apply
Civil Service panels score every answer against the Success Profiles behaviours at Grade 7 level. Practise STAR answers and get them marked against the same framework.
3 free questions · No card needed
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