About the job

Summary

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform.

We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts.

The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve. We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government. This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our MoD commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

Job description

The world is changing – Digital is at the heart of this and in Defence we are working to place the latest technologies in the hands of operational and business users.

Defence Digital Commercial (DDCmrcl) is the core team responsible for delivering outstanding value for Defence across its exploitation of digital and information technologies, through our oversight and management of all third-party IT spend for Defence. Where else will you have the opportunity to buy software to satellites, encrypted networks to people, bespoke procurement for the Armed Forces that enable you to make a real difference.

We are 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, Military Technology, Software and Hosting and Professional Services - engaging with suppliers of all sizes and specialisms across the technology and Defence landscape aiming to reduce third-party costs and ensure tax-payer value.

Our wide-ranging Strategic Supplier Management programme is building a centre of commercial excellence, with a team of almost 200 people focused on getting the most financially astute 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.

This is an exceptionally exciting time within DDCmrcl and we are seeking commercial experts in IT categories to share their experience and to influence to help run the business of Defence with greater creativity, collaboration, business rigour and value creation.

The roles offered will be working across a number of specific categories, not limited to but including:-

Software/Military Technology/Professional Services/Networks/Hardware & Services

Responsibilities

• Effective stakeholder engagement and management – building influential internal relationships to ensure that commercial objectives are fully understood and embedded within the plans that deliver the client areas’ organisational strategy;


• Developing and implementing market facing category strategies – building on a clear understanding of historical and forecast spend and future technical strategies to ensure that there is an effective route to market and the products and services required to deliver the digital strategy can be sourced successfully;
  


• Commercial management of large value projects - Leading the commercial approach, ensuring commercial processes are understood by stakeholders, executing commercial deliverables and taking responsibility for the success of the commercial aspects of the overall project;


• Supplier Management - building effective relationships with current and future suppliers. Enabling the market to better understand our requirements and ensuring that we build healthy, mutually beneficial relationships that deliver the right solutions at competitive prices. Responsibility for ensuring that suppliers are effectively engaged prior to any commercial activity, during the process and throughout the life of the resulting agreement and securing effective delivery of agreed services;


• Contract management – managing large size, long term contracts ensuring that value is delivered over the term of the contract and that exit/recompete/extension actions are strategically planned and executed;


• Collaboration - working closely with other category leads within Defence Digital Commercial, as well as the wider MOD and Government Commercial Function teams, to develop a strategic approach to Defence technology spend1st responsibility;


• Provision of expert commercial advice - operating as part of the project team whilst ensuring that commercial best practice is adopted by all those involved2nd responsibility;


• Cost-saving initiatives - providing a real focus across the portfolio to identify opportunities to increase the overall value delivered to Defence through 3rd party engagements;


• Risk Analysis – managing commercial risk and providing mitigating actions ensuring assurance on decisions made. Proactively anticipating potential commercial risks on projects and acting as the expert and commercial advisor to delivery teams to ensure effective mitigation;


• Negotiation - understanding the appropriate levers available and able to develop a structured negotiation plan. Experienced in negotiating price as well as contract terms with a focus on obtaining value for money whilst maintaining quality throughout the term of the contract. Good understanding of contract law and able to apply in contractual discussions;


• Line management - acting as a positive and proactive role model for your team. Providing coaching and support for individual team members to build confidence in delivering their outcomes.

Technical skills

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

• Manages Complexity - Experience of working on very large contracts with complex commercial structures to ensure value for money is achieved. Experience of working within a complex organisational structure with multiple stakeholders;
• Commercial Focus - Experience in supporting and providing oversight related to ITTs/RFPs in accordance with Public Contracts Regulations;
• Builds Relationships -The ability to operate and build strong, productive relationships at all levels and with a variety of stakeholders with different backgrounds, perspectives and drivers;
• Coaching Manager - Evidence of leading small teams (e.g. 2-10 staff) in large-scale complex organisations with a track record of successfully building commercial capability;
• Contract & Supplier Management - Experience of the strategic management of high value and critical contracts/supplier relationships to mitigate risk, maximise performance and deliver continuous improvement.

Benefits

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.

For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.