Army Commercial Executive Officer

Job summary

Join the Army Commercial Team - Make a Real Impact!

Are you ready to kick-start an exciting career where no two days are the same? We’re on the lookout for motivated, ambitious individuals to join the Army’s Commercial Team – a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment where you’ll play a key role in supporting the British Army’s vital operations. This is your chance to be part of something bigger, working on projects that truly matter.

As part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Commercial Function, you’ll be at the heart of procuring and managing contracts for the essential equipment and services that keep the British Army moving. From cutting-edge technology to specialist capabilities, you’ll help deliver innovative solutions that make a real difference.

Army Commercial is one of four Front Line Commands (FLCs) in the MOD, alongside Navy, Air, and Cyber & Special Operations Command. Our team works closely with the Army’s Military Headquarters, managing everything from short-term support contracts to multi-million-pound, long-term commitments. With around100 commercial professionals on the team, we handle over 200 contracts a year, worth approximately £240m, and manage £5.6bn worth of contracts.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Why Join Us?

• Be Part of a Dynamic Team: You’ll work alongside talented, supportive colleagues who are passionate about what they do. We’re all about collaboration, innovation, and challenging the status quo.
• Develop Your Skills: Whether you’re just starting out or have some experience in procurement, buying or contract management, this is the perfect opportunity to grow. You’ll gain hands-on experience, coupled with training, across the entire procurement process and build a career as a commercial professional.
• Make a Difference: The work you do will directly support the British Army’s operations, helping to protect the UK and its interests.
• Hybrid Working: While your primary duty station will be the Andover Office, we offer flexible working arrangements, blending time in the office with working from home. If you are successful, this will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

What Will You Be Doing?

You may be involved in every stage of the procurement lifecycle, from negotiating contracts to managing delivery terms. Much of what we purchase isn’t “off-the-shelf,” so you’ll need to think creatively and work closely with customers, partners, and other professionals to find the best solutions.

This is a core role where you’ll work on diverse and exciting projects, gaining experience that will set you up for a successful career in the MOD and beyond.

Where Will You Be Based?

Our teams are spread across different locations, both UK and Overseas. Your role location will be Andover, where you’ll spend at least 60% of your time. Travel to other MoD locations may be required occasionally, for which travel expenses will be reimbursed, within the MoD Travel Policy. Any travel to your role location will not be reimbursed.

Why This Role is Perfect for You?

• You’re looking for a career with purpose, where your work has a real impact.
• You want to be part of a forward-thinking team that values your ideas and supports your growth.
• You’re excited by the challenge of working in a fast-paced, professional environment.
• You’re ready to develop your skills and take on new opportunities.

Are you ready to take on a role where you can make a real impact and build a career in a fast-paced, exciting environment? As an Army Commercial Executive Officer, you’ll be at the heart of the action, managing commercial activities for key projects that directly support the British Army. This is your chance to work on meaningful projects, develop valuable skills, and be part of a team that’s shaping the future of Defence.

In this role, you’ll take ownership of different assigned commercial tasks, working closely with your Team Leader to ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish. You may be responsible for defining how we meet the Army’s needs from a commercial perspective, deciding the best way to bring it to market, secure approvals, advertise opportunities, evaluate bids, and award contracts. But it doesn’t stop there—you’ll also build strong relationships with Army customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, making sure contracts are well-managed and deliver results once they are live.

To stay ahead of the game, you’ll will keep up to date with the latest in procurement, commercial practices, and HR policies that impact your work. Through training and development, you’ll also become an expert in the tools and systems we use, like the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and Contract, Purchasing and Finance (CP&F) systems, which are essential for managing procurements and payments.

As part of the Army Commercial team, you’ll have the chance to contribute to wider team projects and objectives, working alongside a group of talented and supportive professionals. This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to be part of something bigger, where your work directly supports the Army’s mission and makes a difference.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this role offers an exciting opportunity to grow and develop in the MOD’s Commercial Function. You’ll gain hands-on experience, tackle real challenges, and build a career you can be proud of—all while working in a dynamic and rewarding environment.

We are seeking self-motivated people 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 managing contracts for the key items to enable the British military to conduct its various operational functions.

The key areas of responsibility could include:

Review all new requirements and create Commercial Strategies that follow Commercial Policy and define the different options to purchase goods and services, of varying values. Ensure options are supported by a wide range of information and market research that meet the requirements of the customer, whilst delivering Value for Money

Undertake commercial activities throughout all stages of the procurement process from tendering through to Contract Management. This could include: engaging the market, preparing and running the tender, managing the clarification process, evaluating bids, holding tender evaluation panels, negotiating with and selecting suppliers, developing and preparing the contract documentation, managing contract sign off and feeding back to unsuccessful suppliers.

Ensure that Contract Management activities within remit are met. These may include: building & maintaining working relationships with suppliers and stakeholders preparing for contract commencement, justifying and controlling contract changes or amendments, identifying and managing risks, managing exit and transitions between contracts, ensuring Authority obligations are met, and evaluating suppliers’ performance, taking appropriate actions where necessary to ensure delivery of outcomes and high contract performance.

Ensure that all information and data is recorded accurately and in accordance with the Procurement Regulations, MOD Policy and local process. Use the systems and tools available, to deliver output. Utilise dashboards, and other data, to support the analysis of pipelines, team capacity and workload. Have an awareness of emerging issues and trends, to help inform commercial activity.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience:

Communication Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a wide range of stakeholders, including Army customers, suppliers, and senior colleagues.
• Skilled in building and maintaining positive working relationships to foster collaboration and trust.

Organisational and Project Management Skills:

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to see projects through from initiation to completion, ensuring deadlines and objectives are met

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• A team player who can work effectively with colleagues, suppliers, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Willingness to contribute to wider team projects and objectives.

Adaptability and Willingness to Learn

• Willing to embrace new challenges and dedicated to both personal and professional growth, including completing the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Qualification, with a commitment to starting this within one year of appointment.
• Willingness to undertake training to become proficient in tools and systems such as the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and Contract, Purchasing and Finance (CP&F) systems.

Personal Attributes:

• Motivated and Proactive: A self-starter who takes initiative and demonstrates a positive attitude towards challenges.
• Resilient and Flexible: Able to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively under pressure.
• Detail-Oriented: Committed to accuracy and thoroughness in all aspects of work.
• Ethical and Professional: Upholds high standards of integrity and professionalism in all commercial activities.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Previous experience in Procurement or Commercial Roles with a familiarity with public sector procurement regulations and policies.

Additional Information

This role offers opportunities for training and development within the MOD’s Commercial Function, enabling you to build a rewarding career in a dynamic and impactful environment.

You will be part of a supportive team that values collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Benefits

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.

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.

This vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• An environment with flexible working options
• Flexible Working Hours upon completion of 6 months service
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Professional and Personal Development on skills
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• 8 Paid Public Holidays per year
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 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 car parking; a Sports & Social Club, Gym and site shops

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. Successful candidates can discuss their development options with their manager when in post.
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.

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: Interview travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

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) is not permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment since 31st December 2022. 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

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history.

Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement. (500 words).

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Your CV
• Personal Statement - detailing how you meet the essential skills criteria
• Behaviour - Working Together

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Working Together.

Your Personal Statement and CV will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour - Communicating & Influencing
• Behaviour - 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 and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep 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 in to 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. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It 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.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Sharon Stockwell-Smith
• Email : Sharon.Stockwell-Smith281@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCIVPERS-RESOURCINGTEAM3@MOD.GOV.UK

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

20240307-ArmyTLBEVP Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)