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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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 Senior Commercial Managers to join our team at Barrow-in-Furness.

We are currently seeking Senior Commercial Managers for our Submarine Acquisition Programme in Barrow, and to provide Commercial leadership more broadly within the SDA. The Submarine Acquisition team are responsible for 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 submarine. 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.

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

• Advise senior team on acquisition strategies for procurements of varying risk and complexity in accordance with procurement regulations and Government policy. Determine and enact strategies within own delegation limits.
• Manage major competitive or single source procurements, including the development of commercial models and approaches.
• Lead development and delivery of complex Invitations To Tender, negotiations and contracts requiring nonstandard/ bespoke conditions.
• Negotiate terms and pricing, place and manage contracts and contract amendments up to a maximum delegation of £50M in accordance with set guidelines outlined in the individual’s delegation letter and MOD policy.
• Conduct assurance and due diligence of Commercial activity within own are of responsibility by enforcing adherence to Commercial policy. Participate in Peer Reviews as required.
• Lead contractor performance management assessments to enable effective delivery of the requirement.
• Lead a team of commercial practitioners, oversee and supervise delivery of team’s commercial outputs and be responsible for multiple teams providing coaching, mentoring and development as required.
• Communicate in a timely manner with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Senior Leadership, suppliers and Subject Matter Experts.

Person specification

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

• Experience of managing Sourcing and/or Contract Management activities on a large scale on more complex projects and programmes
• Experience in leading and managing professional teams

If not already held, if successful you will be supported to undertake the following:

• CIPS Level 6/Chartered Status or Equivalent, or a willingness to work towards this by commencing study within one year of appointment. This will be funded and supported by the SDA.
• Attend Government Commercial Function Assessment & Development Centre prior to Interview

Please note, Assessment and Development Centre attendance is a mandated element of this recruitment campaign and all slots have been scheduled to take place on Tuesday 15th April 2024. A specific time on this day will be confirmed to you if you have been successful at CV sift.

Once you have passed the Government Commercial Function Assessment & Development Centre, you will be invited to interview in late April/Early May 2024. If you have already passed the Government Commercial Function Assessment & Development Centre, your interview may be scheduled before this date.

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Contract Management
• Tender & Bid Process

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,500, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,795 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. Attend GCF Assessment and Development Centre on Tuesday 15th April. Details will be sent a minimum of 2 weeks prior to this date.

4. 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.

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.