Army - Commercial Officer
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 2nd October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Army employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants across 300 locations. It is a diverse workforce involved in supporting the Army deliver its core outputs across a variety of functions and professions. It covers a vast range of roles from Commercial
professionals, financiers and psychologists to storekeepers, project and programme managers and kennel assistants.
We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuing you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The Army Commercial Team comprises of around 90 qualified Commercial Officers ranging in grade from Executive Officer to Senior Civil Servant. A large proportion of the team are responsible for placing around 180 contracts a year for around £240M worth of activity and managing £5bn worth of contracts.
These contracts range in value and complexity from the Army Recruiting Partnering Project and a 30-year arrangement for the Royal School of Military Engineering Public Private Partnership to low value short terms Adventurous Training support contracts. It also places sales contracts which enable the Army to generate income by using its spare capacity.
This exciting role requires to undertake Pre-Sourcing, Sourcing and Contract Management activity to enable innovation, and support to the Army Commercial Team, with a primary focus on innovation, research, and experimentation. It is focused on the entire procurement cycle providing early commercial support and leadership to shape projects and to support the adoption of innovation from industry, engaging with Enabling Agents such as DE&S and Dstl.
The post holder will acquire an extensive knowledge of the current and potential supplier market and understand, and put into effect, the components required to maximise competition. Dealing with a variety of complex contracts while covering end to end procurement activities. The successful candidate will support and report to the Army Commercial Senior Executive Officer as well as the Assistant Head Army Commercial Innovation Lead.
This is a very exciting and influential role that will work across numerous projects at the earliest stage to ensure they are commercially viable and enable the exploitation of Innovation and pull through of technology.
• Providing early and ongoing commercial advice and commercial technical leadership to stakeholders and establishing/maintaining positive working relationships within all areas of Army but primarily in innovation, research, experimentation, and trials.
• Laying the commercial foundations for requirements to pass through timely and effectively, meeting both Army Commercial and Stakeholder needs.
• Define, procure and contract manage contracts in support of innovation and the wider Army Commercial activities.
• Supporting early market engagement to understand the supplier market, procurement options and supplier relationship management.
• Generating ideas for securing better value for money through support requirements setting and development of commercial strategies in meeting Army’s innovation objectives.
• Working collaboratively and flexibly with Army Commercial colleagues to deliver Army’s priorities in accordance with the Army Command Plan.
• Ensuring high quality data and integrity by maintaining Army’s electronic commercial tools and using available technologies.
• Supporting the implementation of Commercial Awareness training to maximise and sustain improved commercial awareness across the Army Command.
• Ensuring compliant pre-sourcing, sourcing and contract management applying commercial assurance to all activities.
• Supporting the implementation of Commercial Awareness training to maximise and sustain improved commercial awareness. This may include delivering Commercial Awareness Presentations periodically.
Person specification
The essential criteria for this role are:
• Awareness of the procurement process and contract management.
• Produces and analyses data to inform decisions.
• Effective and high standards of written and verbal communications and relationship skills.
• Ability to working collaboratively inside and outside of an organisation and positively influence stakeholders, peers and colleagues across the function.
• An innovative thinker who is willing to challenge process, consider and propose ideas that may change the status quo.
• Understand the bigger picture whilst dealing with the essential detail.
• Willing to embrace change.
• Willing to share information, knowledge and skills.
• Keen to seek out new opportunities for learning, self-development and career development.
The desirable criteria for this role are:
• Practitioner of MoDs CP&F Enterprise System
• Experience of working in the public sector or in industry dealing with the public sector.
The desirable criteria for this role are:
• Practitioner of MoDs CP&F Enterprise System
• Experience of working in the public sector or in industry dealing with the public sector.
Licences/Qualifications
Candidates will need to possess, or be willing to work towards the following licences/qualifications within 2 years of joining:
- Hold a Commercial Licence
- Hold a Contract Management Capability Programme (CMCP) Foundation accreditation
- Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Level 4 or above.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Developing Self and Others
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
As a civil servant working alongside the Army, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects and a job that makes a difference.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
- Free onsite parking
- Access to on site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
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 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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Candidates will be required to submit a CV detailing their job history and a 750 word personal statement. The personal statement should provide evidence against the essential criteria within the person specification above.
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
At interview candidates will be assessed against the following Civil Service Success Profile Behaviours.
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Developing Self and Others
- Delivering at Pace
Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date.
Interview dates are to be confirmed. These are likely be at Army HQ in Andover. We endeavour to stick to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Judit Marriott
- Email : judit.marriott109@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
info@csc.gov.uk.
