JOB SUMMARY

Army Commercial is part of the MOD and sits within one of the four Front Line Commands (FLC) the others being Navy, Air and Strat Com. The Army Commercial Team is responsible for working closely with the British Army within their fast-paced Military Head Quarters to deliver innovative solutions to Defence requirements.
The Army Commercial wider Team comprises of around 106 qualified Commercial Officers ranging in grades who place around 200 contracts a year for around £240M worth of activity and manage £5bn worth of contracts. At Army Commercial you will work within a highly capable team who will support you to develop your skills, knowledge and experience, we employ dedicated people who challenge and operate outstanding practices.
The teams falling under Army Commercial are spread over 3 locations (Andover, Warminster and Northern Ireland). Andover will be your primary duty station. The role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station) and working from home as a personal choice.
Currently you will be expected to work at your primary duty station for a minimum 60% of the time. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
You may also be expected to attend other locations, and travel expenses will be reimbursed for these journeys, but when attending your primary duty station, no travel expenses will be reimbursed.
We play a vital role in supporting Defence by contracting a diverse portfolio of requirements ranging in value and complexity from long term commitments in specialist capability areas to low value short term support contracts and sales contracts generating income and supporting wider Defence engagement priorities.
Our commercial professional positions provide an excellent opportunity for candidates with a background in procurement and buying, to develop their skills across the end-to-end procurement process and develop a career as a commercial professional.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join this fast paced and constantly evolving professional environment and form the core of the Army’s commercial professionals. This is a fascinating, challenging role in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Commercial Function, with a direct impact on procuring and purchasing the key items to enable the British military to conduct its various operational functions.
The Army Commercial Procurement Executive Officer will be responsible for the procurement of their nominated requirements as allocated by their Team Leader (TL) ensuring the requirements are pro-actively managed from definition to contract award. This includes defining the requirement and route to market, ensuring all approvals are in place, advertising, evaluating, and awarding the contract in collaboration with the Army customer and building and maintaining good working relationships with the customer team, the supplier, and other key stakeholders and ensuring the contract is managed once live.
You will build and maintain their effectiveness by ensuring that they keep up to date with procurement, broader commercial and HR policy developments that affect them or their team. They will ensure they keep up to date with the tools and systems used to support procurement and payments including Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and Contract, Purchasing and Finance (CP&F) and they must be familiar with these.
The role offers an exciting and challenging opportunity to develop or enhance a professional career in the commercial function within the context of the Army and the MOD.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• Evidence of working collaboratively as part of a team and building strong working relationships with colleagues, including those at a level more senior to them.
• Evidence of managing relationships with customers, including where the relationship needed to be developed or improved.
• Effective communication and relationship skills.
• Ability to positively influence stakeholders, peers, and senior colleagues.
• An innovative thinker who is willing to challenge process and consider and propose ideas that may change the status quo.
• CIPS Level 4 OR be willing to work towards this by commencing study within one year of appointment.
• Hold OR willing to obtain a MOD Practitioner Commercial, typically within 1 year of completing CIPS level 4.

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

• Experience of procurement processes and managing requirements.

BENEFITS

Alongside your salary of £29,580, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,569 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• Commercial Market Skills Allowance £1500 (MSA) - individuals are eligible once essential criteria for this allowance is met.

  • 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
  • Highly competitive pension scheme
  • Personal and professional development of skills
  • Alternative working patterns for many roles
  • 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.
  • Enhanced parental and adoption leave
  • 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
  • Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.
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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management:
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- Ensure all data required for planning and reporting is up-to-date and that the team fully understand the importance of accurate MI and the impact that this has on business decisions.
- Ensure commercial activity is conducted in accordance with current Procurement Regulations and Government procurement policy.
- Ensure up to date knowledge management on all new commercial policy and directive changes.
- Liaise with other peer groups and commercial colleagues within and Pan MOD to ensure best commercial practice has been adopted in developing strategies.
- Improve commercial awareness throughout the Army customer base and promote the Commercial team.
- Contribute to wider activities that contribute to the overall team’s objectives when requested.
Procure and Contract Manage:
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- Establishing and maintaining positive working relationships within all areas within the Army, ensuring requirements are placed on contract in a timely and effective manner, meeting both Army Commercial and Customer needs.
- The preparation, drafting, approval, issue, evaluation and award documentation (within Commercial Licence delegation) of all contracts within the team’s remit.
- Implementation of procurement strategies, creating taut contract terms both financially and commercially, chairing Tender Evaluation Boards and taking the lead in negotiations with commercial firms within delegated authority.
- Make full use of the MOD systems for contract drafting and procurement activities.
- Ensure all contracts and amendments are placed and payments made MOD payment tool and ensuring that Government Transparency policy is implemented through use of the DSP where appropriate.
- Examine, negotiate and authorise non-competitive contract amendments within delegated authority.
- Provide a reactive and resourceful response to emerging commercial issues and risks, often delivering crisis management/problem solving when required to the local team, commercial senior management, and the Army customer.
- To work on a high-profile programme and procurement actions spanning all stages of the procurement lifecycle for diverse requirements in support of the British Army.
- Much of the equipment we purchase isn’t “off-the-shelf”, so a crucial part of the job is negotiating the details of the contracts we place, agreeing the terms of delivery. This outstanding mix of Procurement and Contract Management makes up the Commercial Function, and across the Function we work with customers, partners, and professionals.