UK Ministry of Defence
CSOC Commercial Officer - Defence Intelligence
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This position can be based out of MoD Corsham SN3 9GB, DefAc Shrivenham SN6 8LA or MoD Abbey Wood BS34 8JH.
We will attempt to match individuals' preference to the work demand, but cannot guarantee this.
Job Summary
Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the United Kingdom secure at home and strong abroad.
Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see – or those you can’t.
From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today, and prepare for tomorrow.
CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force – acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command. For more information, please see here.
CSOC Commercial has a rich and varied portfolio of contracts across multiple categories of spend. We have 100 commercial specialists geographically spread over the globe covering contracts worth £7.5bn. It is a dynamic and exciting place to work at the leading edge of Defence. We welcome diversity, we are passionate about inclusivity, and love the challenge that drives innovation. We value each individual contribution, learn together, and deliver stronger.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
In this role you will contribute towards delivering commercial excellence for your department through supporting with, the planning, development and management of commercial strategies, the procurement process and effective contract management activity for one or more of the organisation’s low complexity / low value contracts.
You will work as part of a larger team but will be expected to be able to prioritise and manage your own workload to deliver to deadlines and know when to seek support in order to balance both operationally urgent and important tasks.
Typically, the key responsibilities in this role will include (but are not limited to):
- Understanding, and being able to advise on, sourcing compliance and frameworks
- Using procurement systems and e-sourcing tools to manage all stages of the procurement life-cycle, ensuring that they are effectively maintained to enable accurate reporting
- Contributing to the development of a sourcing strategy
- Obtaining and collating data and information required to support the development of a commercial strategy
- Maintaining strategies and implementing agreed sourcing plans
- Challenging the organisational need for the purchase especially where Corporate Social Responsibility or value for money considerations suggest the procurement can be better channelled through existing assets or an existing contract
- Finding and presenting information to support procurement decisions
- Supporting a wide range of procurement processes including the conduct of tenders, with the use of e-tendering tools (e.g. managing supplier correspondence)
- Supporting the resolution of issues and contract administration activities
- Overseeing the creation of commercial files and audit/ assurance activities
- Preparing for contract commencement, supporting with the development, delivery and implementation of contract management plan
- Managing one or more contracts, ensuring effective, governance, performance management frameworks, escalation, risk management, issues resolution, financial management, change control and compliance
- Managing one or more suppliers, ensuring effective stakeholder management
- Supporting on exit and transition activities
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Responsibilities
- Undertake learning and development and upskilling as required.
- Providing support to CSOC project delivery teams to influence and inform the sourcing of new goods and services from 3rd parties.
- Supporting Procurement processes in line with public sector regulations and using agreed tools and systems.
- Assist in the Selection of appropriate suppliers using relevant evaluation criteria and responsible for ensuring value for money for the duration of supplier engagement.
- Working within a team to negotiate favorable terms for pricing and contract terms that deliver immediate and ongoing financial and non-financial benefits.
- Ongoing proactive management of key supplier relationships.
- Effective management of full life cycle of the contracts including managing changes and ensuring ongoing value and service quality standards are delivered.
- Commercial risk identification.
- Supporting development of sourcing strategies in cooperation with internal stakeholders.
- Supporting continuous improvement and change management.
- Supporting senior commercial officers in the negotiation of complex contracts.
- Hold formal delegated powers of up to £0.25M.
- Providing advice on commercial policies and processes to other teams for e.g. delivery group.
- Supporting Procurement processes in line with public sector regulations and using agreed tools and systems.
Person specification
The successful candidates must have good communication skills as the role requires you to build and maintain collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and enablers in Defence, Other Government Departments and Industry to deliver innovative commercial solutions at pace and scale.
Competent in using MS Office tools; Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, MS Teams, and SharePoint.
Essential Criteria
The successful candidate must:
- Provide evidence of CIPS level 4 (or equivalent) or be willing to work towards this by commencing study within one year of appointment.
- Be willing to complete all required elements to obtain their Practitioner Commercial Licence and MSA Allowance:
- Procurement Reform eLearning
- CMCP Foundation eLearning
- Sourcing Mechanics Course
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Developing Level)
- Contract Performance Management (Developing Level)
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Developing Level)
Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides here.
CSOC Commercial is passionate about delivering excellent commercial outcomes for our customers but we also understand you will have a life outside of work; we respect your priorities, and our industry-leading flexible working practices will give you real freedom to balance work and life. We employ talented people who challenge and guide each other whilst providing a culture of inclusion and diversity.
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- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
- Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year.
- Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments.
- Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing.
- Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms.
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
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.
Please Note:
- The post does not offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.
- 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.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will
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