Senior Commercial Manager - Fixed Networks

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

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence is seeking a Senior Executive Officer for its Defence Digital Commercial team. The candidate will manage complex contracts and engage with various suppliers. A focus on procurement excellence and a commitment to professional development are key features of this role. The position offers a salary of £44,590 along with opportunities for hybrid working and professional qualification support.

Benefits

Fully funded training for CIPS qualification

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension

Access to on-site gym and facilities

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a commercial or procurement environment.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong communication skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage a large portfolio of complex contracts.
• Engage with suppliers across technology sectors.
• Oversee contract management and sourcing activity.

Skills

Commercial experience

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Decision making

Supplier management

Education

CIPS Level 4 (or willingness to achieve)

Job description

Reference number: 405162

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

Number of jobs available: 1

Location: MOD Corsham, Wiltshire (SN13 9ET) as base location. 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

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 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

Defence Digital Commercial is responsible for a large portfolio of complex contracts worth £2bn a year, through more than 300 suppliers.

We operate across five categories – Networks, Hardware and Services, Space, Software and Hosting and Professional Services - engaging with suppliers of all sizes and specialisms across the technology sector for Defence. Defence Digital Commercial contracts are typically high value, long lead time projects, often spanning several years.

The Fixed Connectivity Networks Commercial Team is split into three sections each with different responsibilities: Global Connectivity (GC), Defence Fixed Telecommunications Service (DFTS), and Next Generation Communication Network (NGCN). The team undertake contract management of critical network contracts, as well as sourcing future network services.

This role sits within the GC part of the team and will have key focus on contract management; however, the chosen individual will also feed into NGCN sourcing activity. You will benefit from working with a welcoming and exceptionally skilled team that promotes mutual assistance, knowledge sharing and autonomy. The role will have 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

Specific skills and experience required for the role:

• In depth experience in a commercial or procurement environment, including sourcing through to contract management
• Category Management experience, able to work confidently engaging with the market and helping to implement the Networks Category Strategy
• Stakeholder management and influencing, with strong communication skills
• Experience in negotiating with suppliers to achieve savings and Value for Money
• Experience in supplier management
• 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 Needs and Sourcing 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
• 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 athttps://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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