About the job

Job summary

The nature of modern warfare is changing, with access to and exploitation of information becoming a vital way of securing military advantage. The Digital Strategy for Defence addresses this in three key elements, including the need to collect and use data appropriately to harness strategic advantage, further transform digital capabilities to enable military and business advantage, and to deliver this across all of defence both securely and at pace. The Defence Digital organisation is responsible for making sure that effective digital and information technology (D&IT) is put into the hands of the military and business front line.

Defence Digital Commercial is the core team responsible for delivering outstanding value for Defence across its exploitation of digital and information technologies, through our oversight and management of all third- party IT spend for Defence.

We are responsible for a large portfolio of complex contracts worth £2bn a year, through more that 300 suppliers. We have implemented Category Management and operate across five categories – Networks, Hardware and Services, Space, Software and Hosting and Professional Services – engaging with suppliers of all sizes and specialisms across the defence landscape. 

It is an exceptionally exciting time within Defence Digital Commercial and we are seeking procurement experts to join us to share knowledge and experience. Working collaboratively with multiple key internal stakeholders, you will deliver the Commercial approach to new and exciting projects, driving innovation, value and agility through the successful adoption of Category Management. 

We have several roles to fill in Defence Digital Commercial, if the opportunity to work in this critical fast paced environment excites you, we would be delighted to receive your application.

There has never been a more exciting time to join the Defence Digital team and we look forward to receiving your application. 

Job description

We have several Commercial Lead (Grade 7) positions to fill within the Ministry of Defence – Defence Digital Commercial Directorate.  These are:

• Professional Services Category – available in London and Corsham (Wiltshire)
• Software and Cloud Services Category - available in London and Corsham (Wiltshire) and Bristol
• Commercial Business Partnering - available in London and Corsham (Wiltshire) and Bristol

  Locations
  The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.

  Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

  This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

Person specification

Please read the attached PDF job specs for more detail that relate to the specific vacancies above. During the application process you will be asked to provide your preference (if you have one) on the vacancies above. 

Important Information for applicants

• Successful applicants must hold MCIPS or be willing to commence working towards CIPS Level 6 accreditation within three months of taking up post.
• All roles require SC level clearance before commencement in post and may be required to be DV cleared once in post.

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.

Please note that any move across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming 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 12th & 13th August and will require a full day's attendance. 

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates. 

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.