Senior Commercial Manager

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

Job summary

Join the Ministry of Defence as a Senior Commercial Manager, where you will leverage your extensive procurement experience to enhance digital capabilities for Defence. Collaborate with a diverse team, develop procurement strategies, manage contracts, and support the transformation of Defence operations, all while working in an inclusive environment committed to your professional growth.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension

Flexible working

Fully funded professional qualification

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Stakeholder management

Supplier management

Negotiation

Decision-making

Education

CIPS Level 4 Certification

Job description

Senior Commercial Manager

Ministry of Defence

Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 17th July 2025

Details Reference number: 411520

Salary: £44,590

ACivil Service Pensionwith an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade: Senior Executive Officer

Contract type: Permanent

Business area: MOD - Strategic Command - Defence Digital Commercial

Type of role: Commercial Procurement and Contracts Management

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

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

MOD Corsham, Wiltshire (SN13 9ET) as the base location but with at least monthly trips to MOD Abbey Wood, (BS34 8JH) for team meetings. 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.

About the job Job summary

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 Commercialis 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).

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.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Tactical Systems (TacSys) Service Executive is a unique and exciting team within the Ministry of Defence, which provides front line users with the latest tactical communications and information technology. Being part of TacSys means directly contributing to the provision of vital war winning capabilities.

The TacSys Commercial 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. It leads on the management of TacSys contracts working, with the project team to deliver some of the most complex and challenging commercial requirements within the department.

The team also engages with a multitude of suppliers in the tactical communications field to understand the market to ensure that up to date advice is available when required.

The team is based in both Bristol and Corsham, consists of 30 experienced, motivated and supportive commercial professionals, and is an ideal environment for personal and professional development.

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 TacSys Commercial 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
• Directly line manage a team of up to 4 Commercial Officers

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

• 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.

We are looking for a person who:

• Is a team player and sees the added value that a team contribution to achieving results can bring
• Demonstrates energy and personal drive to deliver business outputs
• Is responsive, innovative and seeks out opportunities to effect creative change
• Is flexible and adaptable to meeting business priorities, and accepts that these are often subject to change
• Builds positive and effective relationships that enable both commercial and/or project team goals to be delivered.
• Willingly contributes commercial advice and judgement in the acquisition process
• Empowers others
• Is fair, honest and transparent in all personal and professional activities
• Seeks continuous improvement and builds it into a personal development plan

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