About the job

Summary

This is a significant opportunity for an experienced and influential leader to join the team at the Single Source Regulations Office – the body that plays a key role in the regulation of the UK government’s ‘single source’, or non-competitive, procurement of military goods, works and services.

The SSRO is a public body that supports the regulatory framework for single source defence contracts. The framework places controls on the prices of qualifying defence contracts and requires greater transparency from defence contractors. In carrying out its functions, the SSRO aims to ensure that government obtains good value for money in its expenditure on qualifying defence contracts, and that contractors are paid fair and reasonable prices.

Since the regime came fully into force in 2015, the MOD has entered into more than 400 single source contracts with a total estimated price of some £60 billion with a wide range of suppliers. The SSRO engages at the highest level with some of the world’s largest defence contractors, including BAE Systems, Babcock International, Boeing, General Dynamics, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, QinetiQ, Raytheon and Rolls Royce.

The Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) plays a crucial role, at the SSRO Board and working with leaders in industry and MOD to support them in implementing the regime and maximising the benefits to both industry and the Government of applying the regulations. With the recent Integrated Review “Global Britain in a Competitive Age”, and publication of the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, the CRO will play a crucial role in leading and managing the work of the SSRO, ensuring the delivery of its statutory functions whilst rising to meet the challenge of improving the operation of the regime.

Job description

You will be required to provide the necessary leadership to facilitate the delivery of the following functions:

• Assessing and recommending the appropriate baseline profit rate, SSRO funding adjustment and capital servicing rates for use in calculating contract profit rates.

• Publishing guidance on Allowable Costs, Contract Profit Rate steps, Reporting, Penalties and Referrals.

• Giving opinions and making determinations on matters referred to the SSRO concerning the regulatory framework.

• Keeping under review the extent to which reporting requirements are being complied with.

• Analysing reported data on request for the Secretary of State.

• Keeping an up-to-date record of qualifying contracts and receiving statutory reports from defence contractors under the regime.

The Chief Regulatory Officer will have a direct reporting line to the SSRO’s Chief Executive and will be a member of the Executive Committee. Subject to Secretary of State approval, the Chief Regulatory Officer will be designated as the Chief Operating Officer for the purposes of Schedule 4 of the Defence Reform Act 2014 and a full board member. The Chief Regulatory Officer would be expected to deputise for the Chief Executive in their absence.

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What will I be doing?

Responsibilities

• Contributing to the SSRO’s corporate management and direction through the Executive Committee and providing vision, direction and leadership to your team.

• Holding oversight responsibility and ownership for the delivery of the SSRO’s statutory functions, advising the Chief Executive where appropriate:

• Leading on acceptance of referrals, responses to referrals and providing advice and support to the Referral Committees.

• Leading on the SSRO’s requirement to keep under review the provision made by Part 2 of the Defence Reform Act and the Single Source Contract Regulations under section 39

of the Act.

• Coordinating and leading on the provision of statutory and other external facing guidance drawing on expertise and support from across the SSRO, including: Allowable Costs;

the baseline profit rate and application of the six steps; reporting guidance; penalties; and referrals.

• Assessing the baseline profit rate, capital servicing rates and SSRO funding adjustment and providing the Secretary of State with the appropriate assessment under section 19 of

the Defence Reform Act.

• Keeping an up-to-date record of QDCs and QSCs, and their duration, under section 36 of the Defence Reform Act, and managing the development of DefCARS.

• Analysis of evidence and data, including that requested by the Secretary of State, and preparing associated reports under section 36 of the Defence Reform Act.

• Providing assistance or services pursuant to arrangements made under section 37 of the Defence Reform Act.

• Keeping under review in accordance with section 36 of the Defence Reform Act the extent to which persons subject to the requirements under section 24 or 25 of the Act are

complying with them.

• Providing overall leadership and management of the SSRO’s statutory and supporting functions under your control, and ensuring the provision of timely, high-quality advice and

recommendations to SSRO Board, senior management and colleagues.

• Considering public interest disclosures from whistle-blowers who work for industry, the MOD and third parties.

• Leading the SSRO’s communications and engagement with stakeholders. Leading on the production of the Corporate Plan and the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, the

provision of speeches and responses to parliamentary select committees and consultations.

• Providing direction on the SSRO’s data strategy, to ensure that the quantitative data collected is fit for purpose, that the data infrastructure supports the analytical requirements

of the SSRO in a highly secure environment.

• Identifying, assessing and managing potential areas of legal, policy or technical risk to ensure that decisions are legally robust, evidence-based and consistent with government

and SSRO policies and guidance. Ensuring that all activities and operations are performed in compliance with the SSRO’s legal responsibilities and in accordance with the

Framework agreed between the SSRO and the Ministry of Defence as the sponsoring department.

• Ensuring the Board and its sub-Committees are briefed in a timely manner on all matters falling under your remit. As required, providing written reports to the SSRO Board and

attendance at SSRO Board meetings.

• Appointing and managing staff within your team.

• Promoting the SSRO’s values.

Responsibilities

Person specification

To meet this challenge you must have extensive senior and Board-level experience. You will need to be an excellent leader of people, have a track record of working successfully in complex, dynamic environments, and the credibility and ability to work with a diverse set of stakeholders across government and industry. You will have the ability to work in a pressurised environment and a proven track record of delivering data and evidence related projects, on time, within budget and securely.

Essential

• Experience gained working in or in relation to financial or economic regulation at Director level.

• Solid experience in overseeing the discharge of statutory functions at a senior level.

• Experience of working collaboratively and building strong working relationships internally and externally, if necessary, engaging with senior decision makers and stakeholders in

business and Government.

• Strong communication skills, with ability to express complex issues in easy-to-understand plain English.

• Able to manage multi-disciplinary teams delivering multiple work streams across distinct business areas.

• A team player who enjoys working collaboratively.

• Exhibits the highest standards of integrity at all times with a commitment to promoting Equality and Diversity.

• Qualified to at least graduate degree level in an appropriate academic discipline (e.g. economics, law or accountancy) or a comparable professional qualification.

• Demonstrable recent experience of operatingas a Director or Board member, with budgetary responsibility.

Desirable

• A good understanding of the defence sector.

• Knowledge of public sector procurement and its regulation.

• Postgraduate qualification in an appropriate academic discipline, as above, or a comparable professional qualification.