Senior Commercial Manager - Defence Support Major Programmes - #1675773

This position can be based out of MOD Abbey Wood, BS34 8JH

Job Summary

Led by a 2* Director the Defence Support Major Programmes team is responsible for a £80m portfolio of work of 10 contracts across several projects in 2 programmes all dedicated to improving the way Support operates, formalising the rules of how Support functions and introduce an operating model, as well as making changes to processes and systems that are inefficient or difficult to maintain.

Major Programmes includes Business Modernisation for Support (BMfS). A key part of the Defence Support Priorities which is an ambitious portfolio of change programmes aimed at improving the way support is delivered to the front line and those working within Defence Support

Future Defence Support Services (FDSS) is to seeks to integrate services on a functional basis and align with the principles of a category-managed approach. In doing so, FDSS is to deliver a solution that contributes to the Defence Support Services Performance Ambition through functional alignment as far as is practicable. This will ensure that FDSS enables the Strategic Base and sustain global operations and other Defence activities, maintaining resilience within its core services and giving Defence the ability to affect a strategic outload at the speed of relevanc

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

Commercial are offering a unique opportunity to work in a diverse, interesting environment delivering essential procurement and contract management activities including

• Developing Sourcing strategies in conjunction with Business stakeholders - establishing requirements and appropriate route to
• Preliminary market engagement
• Support to the approvals process and Business Case process (Requisition, financial and commercial approval, as well as MOD/Cabinet Office approvals if required)
• Delivery of Procurement's
• Contract Implementation and liaising with suppliers and stakeholders
• Develop and maintain excellent Customer and Supplier relationships throughout the sourcing and contract management phases.
• Contract Management and administration. Document Management – Creation and management of Commercial documentation in accordance with good data handling practices
• Meetings with customers, suppliers to manage all aspects of the procurement life cycle
  
  

This role is leading the Defence Support Major Programmes team and offers you the opportunity to be a leader in a diverse and interesting environment. You will play a crucial role leading and cultivating the team, displaying significant commercial experience across the full spectrum of Commercial activity including Pre-Sourcing, Sourcing and Contract Management.

Commercial are offering a unique opportunity to work in a diverse, interesting environment delivering essential procurement and contract management activities including

• Developing Sourcing strategies in conjunction with Business stakeholders - establishing requirements and appropriate route to
• Preliminary market engagement
• Support to the approvals process and Business Case process (Requisition, financial and commercial approval, as well as MOD/Cabinet Office approvals if required)
• Delivery of Procurement's
• Contract Implementation and liaising with suppliers and stakeholders
• Develop and maintain excellent Customer and Supplier relationships throughout the sourcing and contract management phases.
• Contract Management and administration. Document Management – Creation and management of Commercial documentation in accordance with good data handling practices
• Meetings with customers, suppliers to manage all aspects of the procurement life cycle
  
  

This role is leading the Defence Support Major Programmes team and offers you the opportunity to be a leader in a diverse and interesting environment. You will play a crucial role leading and cultivating the team, displaying significant commercial experience across the full spectrum of Commercial activity including Pre-Sourcing, Sourcing and Contract Management.

Person specification

You will be an enthusiastic and proactive individual who loves problem solving; the ability and confidence to engage and establish/form excellent working relationships with key collaborators

Responsibilities

Working closely with your team and wider stakeholders to provide leadership to meet the Commercial vision.

Developing networks across UKStratCom, Ministry of Defence, Other Government Departments, Crown Commercial Services, to enable effective engagement with all stakeholders.

Develop tender documentation and run procurement's, ensuring that best practice and lessons learned are incorporated from the wider StratCom Commercial.

Actively manage and monitor contracts in line with Contract Management Plans, ensuring compliance to the appropriate processes and operating procedures.

Develop sourcing strategies in partnership with project and customer stakeholders in line with current legislation and Government/MOD policy and procedures.

Actively seek out and promote 'Commercial Awareness' opportunities.

Being an active member of the UKStratCom Commercial community, sharing best practice and LFE, actively seeking out opportunities to support the development of commercial skills both within the function and in the wider business. You will also be expected to be an active member of wider Commercial Programmes and work stream activities such as People and Diversity and Inclusion work streams.

Act as a role model for others, demonstrating effective communication and appropriate behaviours, whilst ensuring compliance with standards and policies

Essential Criteria

• Studying towards CIPS level 4 or above or must be willing to complete CIPS Level 4 within 18 months of joining Air Commercial.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with the Microsoft Office 365 Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word etc.)
• Experience in establishing and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
• Willing to undertake travel to relevant MOD Locations on occasion.
• The ability to work from one of the nominated locations for 60% of working time.
  
  

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
  
  

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Practitioner Level)
• Contract Performance Management (Practitioner Level)
  
  

Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

UKStratCom Commercial is passionate about delivering excellent commercial outcomes for our customers but we also understand you will have a life outside of work; we respect your priorities, and our industry leading flexible workings practices will give you real freedom to balance work and life. We employ talented people who challenge and guide each other whilst providing a culture of inclusion and diversity.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year.
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments.
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing.
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms.
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
  
  

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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

To Apply For This Job, Please Submit

CV – A CV outlining your job history, full qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Personal Statement – A Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the role description and responsibilities.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability and the following

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
  
  

Technical Skills -

• Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Practitioner Level)
• Contract Performance Management (Practitioner Level)
  
  

You should ensure that you read and understand the criteria within the Success Profiles: Behaviours and the Commercial Skills and Competency Framework documents and provide evidence of those criteria using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format.

Stage 2 – Sift

We will sift all applications week commencing 19/05/25. We aim to release sift results to applicants week commencing 26/05/25 Depending on the volume of applications, these dates may be subject to change.

Stage 3 – Interviews

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will be invited to undertake a single virtual video interview which will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and will take around 60 minutes. During the interview we will be asking questions to assess you against the Civil Service Behaviours and Commercial Technical Skills as referenced below.

At Interview, You Will Be Assessed Against The Following

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
  
  

Technical Skills -

• Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Practitioner Level)
• Contract Performance Management (Practitioner Level)
  
  

Interviews are scheduled to take place between 09/06/25 and 13/06/25. These dates may be subject to change depending on the volume of candidates we have to interview.

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.

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: [email protected] .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It 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.

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Please read this document prior to completing your application.

Please note: internal candidates must include their staff number when prompted during the application process.

Should you have any queries relating to the vacancy information or sift and interview process, please contact the recruiting line manager using the contact details listed on the vacancy. Please do not direct vacancy related queries to the recruitment team as they will be unable to advise.

FURTHER INFORMATION

CV’s

Should the selection process require a CV, you will be prompted to complete the required criteria during the application process. CV’s sent directly to the recruiting line manager will be deleted immediately to maintain anonymity.

Civil Servants (all grades)

Applicants should monitor their Civil Service Jobs application centre regularly for updates.

Some of MoD’s Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) changed from 3 February 2014. Those TACOS changes applied to Broader Banded and Skill Zone staff who were new recruits to MoD or who were appointed to a post on substantive promotion, progression or advancement. On the same basis, the TACOS for Departmental Retained Grades changed with effect from 01 September 2014.

Applicants should be aware that any move across the Civil Service on or after 5 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Please see link below to Civil Service Recruitment Principles http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/RECRUITMENT-PRINCIPLES-April-2018-FINAL-.pdf

Please see the MOD Privacy notice which informs how we will use your personal data, explains your rights and gives you information you are entitled to under Data Protection legislation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-privacy-notice/mod-privacy-notice

Non Civil Servants

All employees joining MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period effective from the employment start date.

COMPLAINTS

Please be aware that the selection and interviewing of applicants is the responsibility of the Recruiting Line Manager (RLM) and not the Defence Business Services (DBS) Resourcing team. DBS does not play any part in the selection and interview process itself.

Therefore, if you wish to discuss your feedback, or you are dissatisfied with your markings, you should in the first instance raise this with the Recruiting Line Manager of the vacancy.

If You Are Dissatisfied With The Service You Have Received From DBS, Or Believe That DBS Has Failed To Follow The Recruitment Process In Line With The Civil Service Commission Principles Of Selection For Appointment On Merit On The Basis Of Fair And Open Competition, You Can Raise a Formal Complaint. By Writing To DBS At The Following Address

Defence Business Services

Scanning Hub

Room 6124

Tomlinson House

Norcross Lane

Blackpool

FY5 3WP

FOR EXTERNAL VACANCIES If After Raising Your Complaint With DBS You Remain Dissatisfied You Can Complain Directly To The Civil Service Commission At The Following Address

Civil Service commission

Room G/8

1 Horse Guards Road

London

SW1A 2HQ

Or by email: [email protected]

Cabinet Office Fraud Checks

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant whose details are found to be held on the IFD will be refused employment.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

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.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Colin Reader
• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [email protected].