About the job

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the UK Government’s fourth largest spending Department with a budget exceeding £36Bn per year and net assets valued at over £100Bn. MOD is responsible for over 40% of the value of all Government contracts placed with the private sector each year.

As part of the MOD, Strategic Command (Strat Com) manages all allocated joint capabilities from the three services, Air, Navy and Army, comprising of Defence Intelligence, Joint Force
Development, Defence Medical Services, Information Systems and Support, Permanent Joint Headquarters, Permanent Joint Overseas Bases, Support to Operations and Defence Support, with permanent front-line bases spread across the UK and overseas.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Strat Com Commercial is offering an exciting and unique opportunity for a experienced Commercial professional to work within the high tempo operational environment, delivering professional and effective commercial outputs at a strategic level in order to support the diverse customer base, including contingent and enduring joint operations around the world.

The role is primarily Sourcing, involving the development of robust commercial strategies, leading end to end competitive and single source procurement activities, developing and interpreting Contract terms & conditions, contract negotiation and the engagement and development of effective relationships with key stakeholders, suppliers and the wider community. There will also be the opportunity to undertake effective commercial contract management. Although some of the workload is programmed, the nature of the work we do in Strat Com dictates that the successful candidate should expect to work in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment.

Working from home: At the moment location can be flexible as we continue to work from home however, if and when things return to working from the office, travel and subsistence costs incurred travelling to your normal place of work will be at the job holder’s expense.

Person specification

The successful candidate must perform in the position quickly and without the need for significant development therefore must already be working in a commercial environment, seeking to build on their existing skillset involving sourcing, stakeholder management, contract negotiation and supplier management. The successful candidate shall also be a self-starter with the ability to manage competing priorities, is confident with decision making and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Good communication skills are paramount as the successful candidate will need to initiate, develop and maintain effective relationships with possibly the broadest range of stakeholders and enablers in Defence, working closely with project and military colleagues to deliver innovative commercial solutions whilst managing a range of stakeholders in the commercial process within the MOD, Other Government Departments and Industry. The nature of the work requires a degree of face-to-face discussions with stakeholders, resulting in the need to travel and work from unit locations when required.

Line management responsibilities for members of staff where appropriate; encouraging training and development ensuring they are given the opportunity to broaden their commercial and broader skills.

Key duties include:

• Develop robust commercial strategies that will deliver effective contractual solutions
• Compile, issue and evaluate tenders whilst reviewing work and working collaboratively with the wider Strat Com Commercial Team on best practice and lessons learned
• Working with the Senior Commercial Manager to meet Strat Com Commercial’s vision and ‘Change 23’transformation programme
• Assist the Senior Commercial Manager in developing a network across Strat Com, MoD, OGD’s,Crown Commercial Services to enable effective engagement with all stakeholders
• Assist the Senior Commercial Manager in generating a Contract Management baseline and create,maintain and own robust Contract Management Plans for in-scope contracts
• Support the implementation and use of e-business procurement tools, promoting their use within the stakeholder community
• Assist the Senior Commercial Manager in actively seeking out and promoting ‘Commercial Awareness’ opportunities
• Act as a role model for others, demonstrating good leadership, effective communication and appropriate behaviour's, while ensuring compliance with standards and policies

This job description is a general outline of the key duties and responsibilities and may be amended as the function develops and expands. The successful candidate may be required to undertake other duties as reasonably required.

Person Specification

Strat Com is seeking to fill the role of Commercial Manager with a motivated individual who is proactive,able to use efficient time management and has excellent organisational skills. A self-starter with the ability to manage competing priorities, is confident with decision making and is able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate flexible approaches to procurement risk within the appropriate Regulatory and Policy framework to meet the demand of the customer and deliver agility, flexibility and advantage through taut contracting, using routes to market ranging from Crown Commercial Services frameworks to bespoke contracts.

Previous commercial experience is essential, with the successful candidate having a proven track record in a commercial environment, be a proficient user of the commercial toolkit and e-procurement tools, can demonstrate sound judgement, show a working knowledge of commercial policies & practices and have knowledge of the procurement regulations.

The successful candidate must provide evidence of CIPS level 4 (or equivalent) or be willing to work towards this by commencing study within one year of appointment. Additionally, the successful candidate will have passed the MOD Practitioner Commercial License assessment or must be willing to undertake the assessment when agreed by line management.

Successful candidates may be eligible for the Commercial Market Skills Allowance on the successful completion of CIPS Level 4 and Licensing Board.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,830, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,134 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.

Stage 1 - Application Stage

At application stage: if you meet the criteria required for this opportunity, please submit a CV to include:
• Employment history
• Full details of education and qualifications
• Previous relevant experience and skills

You will also be assessed against the Behaviours and Technical Competencies:
• Behaviour – Communicating & Influencing
• Behaviour – Delivering at Pace
• Technical Experience – Commercial Competency Framework -Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Practitioner Level)
• Technical Experience – Commercial Competency Framework - Contract Performance Management (Practitioner Level) 

Stage 2 - Interview
If successful at sift, you will be invited for interview. During the interview you will be assessed on all Behaviours and Technical Experience relevant to the post as outlined within the advert. 

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.