About the job

Job summary

DE&S Deca is a specialist part of Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) tasked with supporting a vast range of Defence avionics, electronics and components to provide high-quality, cost-effective support to the UK Armed Forces. We have a rich heritage as the MOD’s in house repair, maintenance, overhaul and upgrade service provider by offering innovative solutions to guarantee best value for Defence.

This is an exciting time to join our business, equipping and supporting the UK's armed forces. The role will provide commercial leadership to DE&S Deca on the development of commercial strategies, provide direction and recommendations to ensure prosperity of the business as an operating centre within DE&S. 

Being mindful of the scrutiny on Public Sector pay and in accordance with Civil Service Terms and Conditions, salary on appointment is normally at the minimum point of the salary range and this should therefore be the expectation. Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the normal Civil Service pay rules.

This role is 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.

Job description

With responsibility for all customer account management, commercial and procurement activities for the business. The role is also accountable for the delivery of Managed Services output. A collaborative approach to relationship management with military and industry stakeholders is key to delivering our growth agenda.

You will lead a team of commercial practitioners, oversee and supervise delivery of the team’s commercial outputs and be responsible for multiple teams providing coaching, mentoring and development. The role requires excellent communication with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. 

The role can be based at any DE&S Deca locations but regular attendance at the Sealand site is a requirement of the role.

Person specification

Responsibilities of the role include but are not restricted to:

• Provide proactive commercial advice and direction to DE&S Deca to include deliverables, the identification of risks and issues.
• Lead the development and delivery of the Commercial and Contracts strategy.
• Provide commercial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets and business drivers including the implementation of pricing strategies.
• Lead the Commercial, Account Management and Managed Services Teams to ensure delivery of commercial activities.
• Coach, mentor and develop team members as appropriate.
• Accountable for a complex portfolio of contracts, including pre-sourcing analysis, contract sourcing, contract management, corporate activities, sales and disposals.
• Lead customer and contractor performance management assessments including monitoring of contractual obligations.
• Oversee and conduct assurance and due diligence of commercial activity ensuring adherence to commercial policy and statutory obligations.
• Lead the development of acquisition strategies for procurements.
• Network to develop beneficial and long term relationships and partnerships; determine and drive the external reputation of DE&S Deca with stakeholders.
• Oversee major competitive or single source procurements, including the development of commercial models and approaches, invitations to tender, negotiations and contracts requiring non-standard/bespoke conditions.
• Lead supplier relationship management activities.
• Contribute to the development of the DE&S Deca Strategic Plan, taking ownership for establishing and agreeing commercial priorities, business forecasts and tangible targets for commercial & contracts activity. 

Essential Criteria

• Level 6 CIPS qualification, ideally with or working towards MCIPS (or equivalent qualification in commercial contract management).
• Proven record of influencing and negotiating complex, high value commercial contracts at a senior level.
• Extensive commercial knowledge and proven ability to challenge assumptions and support effective decision-making on complex commercial and pricing issues.
• Experience of leading and managing commercial teams.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge and/or experience of the Defence industry and in government contracting, procurement and pricing.
• Ability to analyse financial information and challenge decisions.
• Proficient IT skills including MS Office and the ability to use IT systems and programmes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £72,601, DE&S Deca contributes £19,602 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, Experience and Technical skills.

At application you will need to provide a CV and personal statement of up to 750 words clearly evidencing against all listed essential criteria, as well as your overall suitability for the role.

At interview you will be asked to give a fifteen minute presentation on a topic to be advised. 

You will also be required to provide specific competency examples against the following behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

As well as the following technical skills:

• Tender and Bid Process
• Contract Management

Candidates will also be expected to achieve Government Commercial Function (GCF) professional standard at Associate Commercial specialist level - obtained through an additional Cabinet Office assessment.

All successful candidates who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six month probation period effective from the employment start date.

We are a smoke-free organisation, with the use of all tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping devices prohibited on DE&S Deca sites.

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

Security

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.