Can I negotiate on job offer (public sector)

[Toopolitetoask]

I imagine I'll sound very naive asking how to go go about this, but please bear in mind I've always worked in the public sector where job offers are usually 'what you see is what you get' eg fixed salary grades, hours etc. I'm also a people pleaser, no experience in bargaining!
For context there is a recruitment crisis in my sector currently and my qualification and experience is in high demand, lots of reliance on agency staff etc.

I applied for two jobs (permanent), same role different places. Both advertised interview dates the same week. Received interview to job A, nothing for job B. Went for interview for job A, got the job, verbally accepted. Feedback was they were very keen to have me. Verbal offer only so far, subject to references, DBS etc.

Job B got in touch and said they'd been delayed in sending out interview dates due to sickness. Had an interview and have also been offered job B.

Job A is lower money than what I'm on now, reasonable commute. Job B is better pay but longer commute, enough to potentially cause issues, also seemed keen to have me and they've offered condensed hours to reduce the impact re commute.

If I were to go back to job A and ask whether they'd consider condensed hours, or some negotiation re salary (they won't be able to match as their pay is just lower generally, but I think they could offer me mid band because of my current salary) what is the appropriate point to do this? Should I wait until I get the offer from HR, or go to the manager who interviewed me? Ask straight away or wait until I get a written offer?

I feel weirdly grabby for asking in a public sector job, but don't want to lose out just because I agreed to one post before the other. I genuinely don't know how to go about it without giving a bad impression though!

Also in case anyone asks why I'm looking to change jobs for less money and more awkward commutes, some management changes/bullying culture at my current workplace, not affecting me directly yet but think it's time to move on. I can afford lower pay, but obviously would prefer not to have to if I have a choice. No difference in the roles/responsibilities/workload etc just how different local councils pay.

Any advice, especially from those with experience in public sector would be very appreciated!

Yes, you can negotiate on pay and hours. I always do. Jobs will be set at a pay band but employers do have flexibility on that and also can pay market supplements, honoraria, car allowances, training etc Go back now rather than waiting for a written offer.

It's worth asking if they can go to mid band, if that's where you are now, they should have budgeted for mid band, depends how tight things are though.

Yes it is possible to negotiate on salary for public sector jobs, but you will only be able to negotiate within a relatively narrow band so don't expect any big increases.

If the role is within the same field you are currently in or doesn't offer some clear development opportunities or work-life balance improvements I'd think really hard before accepting a pay cut.

Thanks for the quick responses.

@AutumnBride I'm mid band now, but actually still higher than the top of what job A pays for the same band.

Current job and job B are paying market supplement to attract staff hence the higher wage, though in most places wages have been frozen (which is the case at job A). I've only ever come across it being a decision for a department to offer market supplement, not for an individual though, at least for permanent staff. I think otherwise they are vulnerable to other staff requesting pay reviews?

@Eleganz I understand what you're saying, though the reason for the recruitment crisis is that the jobs (conditions, workload, training offer) is a bit crap everywhere. Staying in my current workplace doesn't feel like an option. There is scope to climb the ladder in all of them, but I'm not actually looking to go higher, I don't think the stress/responsibility is worth it past a certain grade.

Forgot to mention but the commute to job B means using a motorway that is prone to accidents/delays, hence thinking about trying to negotiate with the first job instead of taking the job that's further away. If I knew I just had to leave early and chill with an audiobook that would be one thing, but it could potentially be quite a stressful commute.

I would have negotiated public sector pay but generally only within band for the post. Did get salary match to grade above on one occasion but I had a training/experience which met one of their gaps. Maybe more scope on other things - condensed hours, training opporrunities or additional leave. I secured an additional 5 days leave when moving between local authorities when there was no scope to go beyond salary band.

@Mikkismum do you mind me asking how you went about it, eg did you go back to the interviewing manager, or did you deal with HR?

I am planning to ask for some simple reasonable adjustments due to a disability that I haven't yet shared with them (nothing too drastic, things like a fixed desk and special keyboard) and I'm just a bit anxious of seeming like I'm going back and forth with lists of demands!

That said I've come across plenty of situations where people accept jobs and just ghost the employer, don't even have the courtesy of telling them they're not planning to turn up on the start date, so I don't know why I'm so worried about making a good impression. Most of my working life I didn't have a skillset that was in any way unusual/in demand (retail, bar work etc) so I guess I'm used to being grateful to have a job rather than recognising my worth (not that people in retail aren't valuable, but employers take advantage because they get lots of applicants)