About the job

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.

Here you’ll find a community to belong to – whether that’s alongside project teams with a shared vision or as part of an employee network of like-minded individuals. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

Discover more about our work:

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 27%, to help work work for you.

For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

Are you experienced in contract management, excited by the opportunity to shape and define the some of the biggest and complex defence programmes in the UK today? The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) are currently seeking an enthusiastic and driven Commercial Manager to join our team in Barrow-in-Furness.

You will be a part of our Submarine Acquisition Programme in Barrow, providing Commercial guidance more broadly within the SDA. The Submarine Acquisition team are responsible for the delivery and future in-service support of the Dreadnought Submarine Programme, the Astute Class Programme and the delivery of a future class of manned nuclear-powered submarines. They also manage the strategic relationship between SDA and its Primary Supplier, ensuring coherence across the SDA contracts and owning the supplier development plan.

Want to hear what one of the current team thinks about working in Commercial SDA?

“I’ve been a commercial professional for 20+ years. Recently joining the SDA has reignited my passion for commercial work. This gives me high levels of motivation, engagement, and satisfaction with my daily work. Moving to the SDA has been a great choice for my career, professional growth, and mindset.”

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role. Please note interviews will be taking place on Teams Video, this will be the WC 27th May and WC 3rd June.

External and internal candidates may be entitled to relocation expenses for this position. This will depend on the outcome of an eligibility check by Defence Business Services (DBS).

What you’ll be doing

• Ensure all contracts adhere to procurement regulations and Government policy. Lead in identification and collation of supplier data for SDA strategic and critical suppliers to inform supplier deep dives, supplier strategies and road maps.
• Develop and deliver pre-qualification questionnaires, invitation to tender and contract documentation in accordance with MOD policy and legislation.
• Negotiate terms and pricing, place and manage contracts and contract amendments up to a maximum delegation of £10M in accordance with set guidelines and conditions outlined in the individual’s delegation letter and the MOD policy.
• Lead or support negotiation and contract placement above level of delegation when required and highlight novel and contentious issues to Senior Commercial Officer to ensure satisfactory resolution.
• Conduct assurance and due diligence of commercial activity within own area of responsibility in order to provide confidence in commercial outcomes. Participate in peer reviews as required.
• Communicate in a timely manner with a range of internal and external stakeholders including suppliers and subject matter experts.
• Contribute to wider commercial functional and SDA initiatives as required.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Previous experience of sourcing, delivering, and managing contracts
• Experience of managing, leading and developing others
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office or equivalent and ability to use IT systems and programmes

If not already held, successful candidates will be supported to undertake the required training below:

• Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply (CIPS) level 4/or equivalent within one year of appointment
• MOD Practitioner Level Accreditation Panel assessment when agreed by line management
• Leadership development and defence commercial professionalism courses to develop commercial skills and ensure on-going Continuing Professional Development

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Tender and Bid Process Practitioner
• Contract Management Practitioner
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,500, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,015 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

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

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

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.