About the job

Job summary

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform.

We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts.

The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve. We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our MOD DIO commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Job description

At the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) we manage the military estate. We are a Top-Level Budget Holder in Defence with a high-profile across the Department and wider Government. The DIO is on an exciting journey to transform the way we do business. Our role is diverse and the people who work for us carry out a range of exciting jobs spanning several professions; we offer a wealth of career opportunities for talented individuals looking to work as part of a team to deliver impressive results. 

As well as transforming the way we do business we are also responsible for a major Estate transformation programme to rationalise the Defence Estate. The Defence Estates Optimisation (DEO) programme is looking to reduce the Defence Estate by circa 30% by 2040.

The DIO Commercial Disposals team leads on all Commercial activities required to support DIO Estates in the Disposal of surplus estate. The current Disposals portfolio is split into two key areas:

Area one consists of contracts with Development Partners who oversee the regeneration of the former larger military sites by working with Local Authorities on the master planning and development of the sites and subsequent phased sales of land parcels to developers. The aim is to maximise sales receipts (estimated to be almost £2Bn) and to derive economic, environmental and social benefits from the regeneration projects.

Area two covers the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme (DEOP) and Business As Usual (BAU) activity. The DEOP programme was set up to review and rationalise the Defence Estate by disposing of sites declared surplus to requirements. This programme is estimated to generate £1.4Bn in sales receipts. Also within this area are contracts to support routine BAU sites that sit outside of the DEOP programme. The Reserve Estate Optimisation Programme (REOP) is a new major programme to rationalise the Reserve Forces and Cadet Associations (RFCA) estate, this is also supported in this business area.

Summary of the Role

This Associate Commercial Specialist role will lead on all the Commercial activity in the Estates Commercial team.  There are currently 8 contracts in Area 1 (6 bespoke complex site regeneration and 2 supporting contracts) and 12 contracts in Area 2 (6 complex contracts dealing with DEOP Disposal sites and 6 supporting contracts for Business-as-Usual Disposal sites). There is also a number of MOU’s/SLA’s with Other Government Departments.

 Key areas of accountability for this role are:

• Providing Commercial Leadership and direction to Senior Defence Estate stakeholders, customers, suppliers and central teams e.g. Providing direction and guidance on routes to market, strategies and support to teams through the approval/governance processes and Contract Management activities.
• Providing Commercial Leadership and direction to the Estates Commercial Teams delivering Commercial support to Major Site regeneration projects, DEO site rationalisation project, REOP site rationalisation project and Business as Usual sites.

Person specification

Leadership and Management 

• Demonstrate a personal commitment to the DIO Commercial Charter.
• Represent DIO Commercial at Senior Leadership meetings within DIO, MOD, Other Government Departments (OGD’s).
• Promote strong working relationships both within the team and with other parts of the functions across DIO, MOD and OGD’s. 
• Leadership of Commercial activity in support of Project Approvals at the key stages of the Approvals process within DIO, MOD, Cabinet Office and Treasury.
• Manage resources effectively to secure best value for money and best use of resource 
• Develop Business Cases and undertake effective scrutiny of Business Cases 
• Undertake Self-Assurance Commercial Compliance Audits on new and existing contracts. 
• Optimise commercial resource across the teams and seek to balance workload and minimise the impact of shortages in innovative ways
• Lead on providing Commercial input on Governance and Assurance into Memorandums of Understanding and Service Level Agreements with OGD’s.
• Represent the Estates Commercial team at the monthly DIO Commercial Management Committee
• Provide Disposals Commercial Team briefings to 1* Line Manager and other Senior Management. 
• Accountable for the achievement of In Year Savings targets in the Disposals Team.
• Represent 1* Commercial Head at Disposals meetings.
• Lead all Commercial support for Estates to Acquisitions, Disposals, Developments, SFA purchasing and to Sales contracts

Delivery of a wide and varied portfolio of contracts:

• Manage commercial activity within your Letter of Delegation threshold. 
• Creative input to Procurement Strategies and develop commercial strategy and associated contracting strategy
• Provide guidance and support to Commercial Teams developing and issuing tenders via OJEU and Crown Commercial Services Frameworks. 
• Provide commercial advice and guidance as required
• Ensure all commercial activity represents best value for money 
• Ensure compliance with regulations and policy, as well as best practice 
• Maximise use of procurement enablers and associated MIS to improve procurement
• Identify, report and manage on all associated Commercial Risks and Issues across Disposals business area. 

Commercial Scrutiny and assurance: 

• Ensure there is effective Scrutiny and Analysis of commercial strategies and contracting proposals that comply with Commercial Policy and Processes
• Undertake commercial assurance, internally and throughout the supply chain
• Provide timely inputs to returns as required both internal to DIO, MOD and Central Government

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Work closely with DIO Estates Deputy Heads, Assistant Heads and other DIO team members to deliver customer requirements 

• Manage a range of stakeholder engagements within the MOD, OGDs namely Homes England and Industry 

• Engage stakeholders on planning, tendering, contracting and contract administration 

Must have MCIPS level 6 or be willing to work towards obtaining it within 1 year of taking up the position.

Benefits

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.

For existing Civil Servants:  For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack.  Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers. 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 19th March and will require a full day's attendance. Please contact commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk in advance if you are unable to attend this date.

Details of schemes available are attached in the advert.

For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in 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 essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the attached Candidate Pack.

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.

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.

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.