AMS PSR

On behalf of The Home Office, we are looking for an Asylum Support Payment Card Procurement Support - SEO (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract based Hybrid working (2/3 days per week in London office and remaining WFH)

The first duty of Government is to protect the public. Since 1782, the Home Office has led work to keep the country safe from those who seek to do it harm; in doing so, we make a vital contribution to HM Government’s plan for a stronger, fairer, outward-looking and united Britain.

The Home Office covers three systems Homeland Security, Public Safety and Borders, and Immigration and Citizenship. These systems work collaboratively to deliver our cross-cutting priorities, whilst providing increasingly efficient and secure services for the public. These are difficult areas that can rapidly change in the global environment we work in – this makes us one of the most exciting and stimulating government departments in which to work.

Description: 

We recently ran a mini competition for Asylum Support Payments (ASP) using a CCS Framework Agreement and this led to a legal challenge from the second ranked bidder. Over the last six months we have been working on defending this challenge, but a decision was recently made to abandon the procurement and run a new competition. We are now in a position where we need to set up a new team of 2x resources to lead on the activity to inform, plan and run the new procurement. 

We anticipate that the team would be needed for a period of 12 to 14 months to support with the procurement and mobilisation. 

This is a medium value yet critical contract that enables the Home Office to meet its legal obligations to asylum seekers. It will be a great opportunity for anyone who may be interested in providing Commercial capability outside of their current business area. Given the backdrop of the legal challenge, it will be quite a demanding yet rewarding role and a great platform for people to showcase their commercial acumen and procurement expertise.  

Please note, SC clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum candidates must be eligible and willing to complete security checks.

The main duties and responsibilities of the ASP Card Procurement Support would be to:

• Support the G7 Commercial Lead on the pre - procurement and procurement activities related to this project and avoid a further legal challenge.
• Support development of procurement plans setting out the timetables and owners for all key aspects of the procurement process. 
• Support on the delivery of market analysis and market engagement activity to inform the development of the above strategies. 
• Provide options and opportunities from commercial perspective looking at aspects such as requirements, solution options, risks, benefits and sustainability.
• Support on the development of business cases, presenting commercial options to business stakeholders and presenting commercial cases for approval at governance boards, increasing market knowledge relevant to the procurements to obtain credible insights into current market capabilities, innovations and future market developments.
• Support on the development of procurement documentation including, but not limited to, procurement strategies, instructions to bidders, evaluation strategies and contracts. 
• Support delivery of the procurement processes, including supplier negotiations (where appropriate) in a timely and compliant manner.
• Support commercial due diligence prior to contract award.
• Support on the execution of the contract in readiness for contract signature. 
• Successfully hand contracts to the asylum support contract management team for ongoing commercial management. 
• Keep procurement systems (Jagger) up to date.

Essential:

• Demonstrable procurement skills with 2+ years’ experience in the public sector.
• Experience of building and influencing strong, productive relationships at all levels and with a variety of stakeholders with different backgrounds, perspectives and drivers, in a highly complex, fast-moving, commercially focused environment.
• Experience of building successful procurement strategies considering all relevant policy and procedural processes are adhered to. 
• Commercial contract management.
• CIPS

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the Home Office guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

The Home Office guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".