Head of Procurement
Government Commercial Function
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Royal Navy is an organisation with a long and illustrious past and is now in a period where it is modernising our capabilities and transforming the way we do business, while continuing to fulfil a busy tempo of operational commitments. Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) is the nerve centre of the Royal Navy, supporting operations around the globe and providing Ships, Aircraft and Equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. NCHQ supports all the Royal Navy’s activities including front-line operations to personnel, support and training, finance and governance, safety, equipment, programmes and planning and Defence engagement. Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in different specialisms.
As a senior commercial leader, you will have real impact across the organisation, and within the Commercial team we are developing changes designed to make our approach to business agile, empowering our staff to reach their full potential.
Comprising approximately 60 individuals, the team manages circa 250 live contracts and a total portfolio nearing £3Bn. This breadth of activity provides a multitude of opportunities for professional development and enables us to work across all industries from digital, global firsts in research and development, cutting edge innovation, through to traditional goods and services.
We pride ourselves on being inclusive and supportive, with a high team development and retention rate. At Navy Commercial, we believe in creating a safe, productive environment where everyone can thrive, with a well-defined set of team values that outlines our commitment to collaborative working.
The Navy Commercial team is already an influential, high-performing unit that works closely with our customers, turning ambition into reality. We foster a culture of learning, committed to delivering the best results for operational delivery by embracing innovation, promoting an inclusive cultural environment and pushing the boundaries of commercial practices. The team are at the forefront within Defence of exploring how we can build AI into our working practices to streamline our work and ensure we can have our people focused on the areas where human input has the greatest impact. By joining us you also gain access to the wider Defence Commercial function, with connections spanning the entire Civil Service commercial function.
We welcome fresh perspectives and ambition. If you're eager to shape the future and make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Job description
This role will take on leadership of the Navy Commercial Procurement function; providing dedicated support to our customers from initial scoping of projects/programmes, through options assessment, into procurement and award – ably supported by our growing team of dedicated commercial practitioners.
This is an exciting time within Navy Commercial and we are seeking an individual to share their experience and to influence a more streamlined and effective approach to acquisition; embracing the opportunities of Procurement Reform and building on the many successes of the team to date. We are involved in procuring a hugely diverse array of services and equipment to support every facet of Navy delivery; items that aid the front line, core back-office delivery, and innovative technological developments that will drive future operations.
The Head of Procurement will be a member of the Navy Commercial Senior Leadership Team and will work closely with them to deliver the highest standard of Commercial support to the Navy. This post provides an excellent opportunity to build on your existing skill set across a number of commercial disciplines and with the support of the GCO to raise your profile and enable you to grow.
Experience of working in or with the public sector will be an advantage for the successful candidate but is not an essential criterion – we are looking for the right person with the right skill set, and the team come from a wide variety of backgrounds which creates a rich and diverse working environment. You will be responsible for a team of 20 individuals in addition to working in a matrix approach across the wider Commercial function and with other stakeholders.
Locations
The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace. Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance. This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.
Person specification
- Stakeholder engagement and management - Building influential internal relationships to ensure that commercial objectives are fully understood and embedded.
- Commercial management - overseeing complex projects by leading the commercial approach, ensuring commercial processes are understood by stakeholders, executing commercial deliverables, taking responsibility for the success of the commercial aspects of the overall project.
- Leadership - play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the Ministry of Defence and across government. Taking the lead during contract negotiations, understanding the appropriate levers available and able to develop a structured negotiation plan.
- Collaboration - close working with other category, finance and project leads, within MOD and Government Commercial Function teams, to develop strategic approaches to Defence spend.
- Supplier relationships - build 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.
- Risk analysis - proactively anticipating potential commercial risks, mitigating actions and providing expert commercial advice.
- Line management – overseeing teams, acting as a positive and proactive role model, providing coaching and support for individuals and the team including non-commercial staff.
- Cost-saving initiatives - overseeing such initiatives across your portfolio to identify opportunities to increase the overall value delivered to Defence.
- Category strategy – Supporting the development and implementation of market facing category strategies.
- Must be willing to undertake MCIPS if not already held.
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Risk Mindset - Ability to identify, assess, and take calculated risks, whilst keeping senior management updated, in the pursuit of implementing efficient procurements to deliver innovative solutions in line with policy & legal advice
- Resilient – The ability to challenge senior stakeholder decisions, work under pressure, and deliver multiple projects within agreed timescales
- Builds Relationships – Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a larger team across a developing environment, able to secure the confidence and build strong working relationships.
- Understanding Sourcing Needs - Can engage stakeholders to develop a clear agreed view of requirements & target outcomes Instigates approaches with them to support collaborative commercial relationships using appropriate frameworks & standards
- Procurement Process – Experience of developing and delivering detailed commercial strategies to meet customers’ technical requirements, underpinned by an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of procurement and commercial activity
Benefits
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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.
Details of schemes available are attached in the advert.
For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in the attached candidate pack.
Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the attached Candidate Pack.
Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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 : Lynsey Munro
- Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
