About the job

Job summary

This is a hugely exciting time to be joining Air Commercial and its Senior Management Team. Through our continued transformation and investment in people, processes, and relationships we are seeing increasing demand for our support across the whole of the commercial lifecycle at both an operational and strategic level to deliver technologically pioneering capability and support services for the RAF. 

This role provides a genuine opportunity to make a significant difference to the capability, efficiency and effectiveness of the Royal Air Force and UK Defence.  You will be joining a highly capable commercial team as well as being part of a wider network of professionals across MOD and Government.   

If you have the following attributes, enthusiasm, and interest to help shape the future Royal Air Force through delivery of best-in-class leadership and commercial practices – we look forward to hearing from you. 

The Air Commercial team is a Front-Line Commercial Branch, a part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Commercial Function and the Government Commercial Function (GCF). We are embedded within the Royal Air Force (RAF) operating out of their HQ, Air Command, at RAF High Wycombe with regional representation through our location Hubs across the UK. A fast-tempo, strategic and progressive Military Headquarters, the Air Commercial team deliver innovative commercial solutions and maximum value for the RAF. 

We play a vital role in supporting Defence outputs by contracting across a diverse portfolio of requirements from Space Command to digital demand, helping aircraft take off and safely land, from trialling warfighting capabilities to training our new recruits. 

The Delivery Hub within Air Commercial is responsible for the management of 300 plus contracts with a total combined value of £3.6Bn, the delivery Hub covers Contract Management for complex and high value requirements, Major Programmes contracted solutions and Delivery of Strategic support to the command at the Category D level (20m and below). The Delivery Hub is the focal point of all delivery and interacts with stakeholder to ensure the commercial strategy delivers the capability requirement of the command, this is a highly responsive area with opportunities to develop and grow rapidly within a supportive environment. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Job description

The post holder will provide a prompt and efficient commercial service in accordance with departmental policy and best practice, whilst delivering best value for money.  
 
The Air Command Commercial Team provides the ideal platform to develop an understanding of the procurement and commercial processes within the MOD and includes areas such as sourcing, contract management, supplier management and category management all to meet the customers’ needs.  

Main responsibilities 

• Responsible for the effective leadership and management of a dedicated team of Commercial Officers. 
• Placement and Management of service contracts from Cat A to Cat D (10k to 400M+), working closely with stakeholder and contractors and resolving any contentious or problematic issues.  
• Ensure contracts continue to provide value for money throughout their duration and that the contractors fully meet their contractual obligations. 
• Participate in tender exercises and evaluation of bids, including carrying out procurement from Advert, Pre-Qualifying Questionnaires, tender exercises and evaluation of bids through to Contract Award working closely with the requirement owner/customer.  
• Investigation and research of requirements to assist in commercial process. 
• Attending contract review / governance meetings at defined periods in accordance with the Contract Management Plan. 
• Provide letters, briefs, reports and statistics for project and senior management as required. 
• Production and maintenance   of contract documentation, management of records, performance metrics and KPI monitoring and support to the team. 
• Build and maintain, appropriate effective working relationships within the Delivery Team, and with internal and external stakeholders including Military and non-Military customers and Defence Suppliers.   
• Keeping abreast of departmental commercial policy and procedural and administration directives, and to apply that information accordingly. 
• Administer internal Management Information’s Systems and ensure records and data are up to date and correct and that policy is adopted and applied accordingly. 
• Maintain and improve levels of competence by implementing a personnel development plan, reflecting the necessary training requirements associated with the post. 

Air Commercial is part of the Commercial Customer Delivery Directorate encompassing six distinct Commercial teams located around the UK, delivering critical commercial outcomes directly to military and non-military customers across the Defence portfolio as part of the wider Defence Commercial function.

Although this post is advertised for a role in Air Commercial, should there be more successful applicants than currently required we will establish a Merit List that may be used to offer successful applicants the opportunity to fulfil similar commercial vacancies in the Commercial Customer Delivery Directorate teams based at various locations across the UK and may not necessarily be the same as those stipulated in this particular advert. 

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

Person specification

We are passionate about delivering great things for our customers. But we also know you will have a life outside of work; we respect your priorities and our industry leading flexible working practices will give you real freedom to balance work and life.  
 
We employ talented people who challenge and guide each other. At Air Commercial you will work within a highly capable team who will support you to develop your skills, knowledge and experience. 

Previous experience in commercial is essential, training and development will be provided to the successful candidate, a background in Project or Financial Management will be useful in adapting to the role. Problem solving and balancing multiple requirements will be of benefit in the role as will the ability to plan and prioritise at short notice.

Key Skills and Experience 

Essential 

• Studying towards CIPS level 4 or above, or willing to study CIPS Level 4 within 6 months of starting the role
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience in establishing and maintaining stakeholder relationships
• Experience in procurement contracting and delivery
• Previous public sector procurement experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,361 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

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

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include: job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

At sift, you will be assessed against and the following Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing 
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing 
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you use the information in the attached guide to Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience. Candidates must provide evidence of commercial experience in the areas of Sourcing and or Contract Management in their examples to meet the essential criteria for the role.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.  

Candidates should on there application or at interview declare if they have a preference for Contract Management or Define and Procure (Strategic Support). 

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk . 

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.  

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.