Procurement and Contracts Management

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS); London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government agency seeks a Procurement and Contracts Manager to deliver procurement services for Defence Digital. This full-time role offers flexible and hybrid working arrangements, along with fully funded professional qualifications. Candidates should have commercial experience and the ability to manage contracts effectively. Join a dynamic team focused on delivering value in procurement and enhancing operational efficiency.

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension with employer contribution

Commercial Market Skills Allowance

Fully funded training for professional qualifications

On-site parking and gym facilities

Qualifications

• In-depth experience in a commercial or procurement environment.
• Experience in developing and implementing procurement strategies.
• Experience of leading and managing teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with stakeholders and provide expert commercial advice.
• Lead commercial activities across the procurement lifecycle.
• Actively manage and monitor contracts in line with Contract Management Plans.

Skills

Commercial delivery

Stakeholder management

Procurement strategy

Contract management

Decision making

Education

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply Level 4

Job description

Procurement and Contracts Management

Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available: 1

Location

MOD Corsham (SN13 9ET) or MOD Main Building London (SW1A 2HB) as base location.

About the job Job summary

Due to the nature of the role, this position is open to UK Nationals only.

We are looking for talented and hard-working individuals with demonstrable commercial experience or transferable skills, to join us in providing a full procurement service for digital technology capability across Defence.

Defence Digital is responsible for delivering and integrating new digital capabilities, giving our forces the advantage on the cyber battlefield to combat an ever-evolving threat.

In support,Defence Digital Commercial is building a centre of procurement excellence, focusing on getting the best outcomes across all our contracts. We are developing a more strategic approach to supplier relationship management and implementing new ways of working that will embed good practice category management.

We are committed to developing our staff, providing opportunities to develop and grow within an inclusive and supportive environment. You will work within a highly capable, diverse team who will support you to develop your professional and personal skills, knowledge, and experience, including a fully funded professional qualification (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

This job role is suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (the permanent duty station), which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Job description

The aim within our Professional Services category team is to provide first class commercial delivery and advice relating to professional services to Defence Digital across the contract lifecycle and to drive market engagement to leverage insight, innovation, and best practice.

The Professional Services Team provides independent professional advice on commercial matters, ensures compliance with relevant legislation and MOD policy, and negotiates contracts that achieve value for money. It develops procurement strategies, runs tender exercises, negotiations, and awards contracts in accordance with legislation and policy.

Securing the capability or capacity we lack within the civil service, enables all delivery teams to keep their services on track and to deliver on time and cost.Professional Services supports all areas of Defence Digital delivery, including the Software, Hardware and Services, Networks and Military Technology Commercial categories, giving the Professional Services team exposure to the full spectrum of Defence Digital’s activity.

With contract values typically sub(<£10M) and often sub (<£1m), our commercial officers, manage all aspects of the commercial lifecycle:

• Early engagement with Business stakeholders to define the scope, requirements, route to market and define and procurement activity and documentation.
• Market and supplier engagement securing proposals from suppliers and getting market insight to shape commercial activity.
• 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 the Commercial activity (Competition through a Framework, Direct Award, Down selection, extension, contract amendments)
• Placement of the contract and liaising with suppliers and stakeholders
• IR35 Assessment support and advice
• Contract Management and administration.

Professional Services cover 3 primary sub-categories:

• Professional Services Delivery Support: specific skills brought in on an outcome basis to deliver specific activities alongside Crown servants.
• Interims & Contractors: provision of expert advice to the HR function who manage the sourcing activity for:interims and contractors typically within IR35; resources brought in to fill gaps while permanent recruitment occurs or to backfill long term sickness and maternity/paternity leave.
• Advisory Consultancy:provision of specialist advice regarding customer options to meet business objectives.

Key Responsibilities of the role are:

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver customer requirements.
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing expert commercial advice as required.
• Lead commercial activities across the procurement lifecycle from pre-market engagement, strategy development, procurement, contract management to closure.
• Develop sourcing strategies in partnership with project teams and wider stakeholders that align with legislation and MOD policy.
• Develop tender documentation and manage procurements, ensuring that value for money is achieved.
• Actively manage and monitor contracts in line with Contract Management Plans, ensuring compliance to the appropriate processes and operating procedures
• Manage commercial risk throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Be an active member of the Team, sharing best practice and lessons learned, and actively seek out opportunities to support the development of commercial skills both within the team and in the wider business.
• Act as a role model for others, demonstrating effective communication and appropriate behaviours, whilst ensuring compliance with standards and policies
• Line management responsibilities.

The post advertised is full time equivalent. There may be opportunities for part time candidates if a job share partnership can be established, subject to full time hours being achievable. Offers made to candidates below 37 hours per week (FTE) will be subject to business need and at the Authority's sole discretion.

As part of flexible resourcing, reserve candidates may be offered alternative roles within DD Commercial teams, although key responsibilities will remain the same.

Person specification

• Previous experience of sourcing, delivering, and managing contracts.
• Experience in developing and implementing procurement strategies.
• Experience of leading, managing and developing others.
• Ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships.

Specific skills and experience required for the role:

• In depth experience in a commercial or procurement environment, including managing tender processes and contract management
• Experience in developing and implementing procurement strategies.
• Experience in supplier management
• Experience of leading, managing and developing others.
• Stakeholder management and influencing, with strong communication skills
• Confident with making decisions and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to manage competing priorities, assess information rapidly and be flexible to respond to dynamic situations
• Hold Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, CIPS Level 4, or be willing to achieve this qualification by commencing study once in post. This will be fully funded and supported by MOD.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• People Standards for the Profession - Understanding Sourcing Needs and Options - Associate Commercial Lead
• People Standards for the Profession - Contract and Supplier Management - Associate Commercial Lead

Benefits

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.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• ACivil Service pensionwith an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Hybrid working options including some working from home where appropriate,although we expect the role to require office working on 4 days per week
• Commercial Market Skills Allowance of £1500 per annum, payable to staff on completion of CIPS Level 4 and mandatory commercial e-learning courses.
• Fully funded training for professional qualifications with Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), a global membership organisation
• MOD Corsham has on site parking, staff restaurant, coffee shops, sports facilities including fully equipped 24/7 gym for a fraction of the cost of a commercial gym. Classes run daily by fully trained PT instructors.
• MOD Corsham is a modern building surrounded by countryside, perfect for lunchtimes walks.

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.

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.

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