Commercial Executive

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

The primary delivery location for this position is HMS Drake, Plymouth. Please be aware that some travel to the Rosyth Naval Base site in Scotland will be expected, as this is where the submarine Disposals team is based.

Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.

Job description

This role supports two key programmes within the SDA's In-Service Submarine Portfolio as a senior member of the Submarine Disposal and Devonport Infrastructure (SDDI) team:

1. The Devonport Infrastructure Programme’s overarching outcome is the delivery of integrated safe and functional waterfront capabilities in Devonport which meet the requirements of the Submarine Support Management Programme (SSMP), whilst also supporting submarine decommissioning, defuel and disposal. This requires a programme which is ‘designed for schedule’, where on-time delivery becomes the primary focus for delivery without compromising on safety.
2. The purpose of the Submarine Disposal Programme is to ensure a viable end-to-end process to dispose of all current and future submarines in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner. The aim is to deliver the government’s commitment to provide a safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective dismantling solution for de-fuelled, nuclear-powered submarines after they have left service – this means removing all radioactive waste from the submarines so that the submarines can be recycled. The Disposals team is based at the Rosyth Naval Base in Scotland and some travel to this site will be expected.

The Commercial Executive provides experienced Commercial Expert level leadership within the SDDI team and is responsible for: pre-sourcing analysis, contract sourcing, contract management, corporate activities (i.e. policy), training and supplier relations, sales and disposals. Leading a complex portfolio of contracts, the Commercial Executive provides leadership of commercial colleagues and works collaboratively with other Professions and Senior Leadership to deliver business requirements and is responsible for commercial strategy development and wider business objectives and initiatives.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Provide commercial vision and direction to own delivery team to ensure effective delivery of all SDA commercial activities and wider business outputs. Lead a team of commercial practitioners providing coaching, mentoring and development as required.
• Lead the development of, and advise senior commercial staff on, acquisition strategies for procurements of varying risk and complexity.
• Lead and oversee major competitive or single source procurements, including the development of commercial models and approaches, complex Invitations To Tender, negotiations and contracts requiring non-standard/ bespoke conditions.
• Lead and/or support supplier relationship management, identifying and collating supplier data for SDA strategic and critical suppliers to inform supplier deep dives, supplier strategies and roadmaps, and Supplier Impact Assessment (SIA) reports.
• Lead and/or support the Identification & launch of new pan MOD Category management categories and support Category Managers of MOD-wide initiatives.
• Negotiate, place and manage contracts and contract amendments up to a maximum delegation of £100M in accordance with set guidelines outlined in the individual’s delegation letter and the MOD policy.
• Manage complex contract portfolio with multiple supply chains. Lead contractor performance management assessments including delivering of contractual obligations.
• Oversee and conduct assurance and due diligence of Commercial activity within own area of responsibility, enforcing adherence to Commercial policy. Participate in Peer Reviews as required.
• Undertake wide ranging communications in a timely manner with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Senior Leadership, suppliers and Subject Matter Experts.
• Lead and advise the Profession in strategic activities related to improvement programmes or functional management

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by the SDA Recruitment Team. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

Essential Skills:

• Senior level experience of managing Sourcing and/or Contract Management activities on a large scale on highly complex projects or programmes.
• Experience of leading and managing large numbers of staff.
• Experience of engaging with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of working within an NEC4 contracting environment and/or holding formal NEC4 qualifications.

If not already held, if successful you will be supported to undertake the following:

• CIPS Level 6/Chartered Status or Equivalent, or a willingness to work towards this by commencing study within one year of appointment. This will be funded and supported by SDA.
• Attend Government Commercial Organisation Assessment & Development Centre (Associate Commercial Specialist level) prior to Interview.

Please note Assessment and Development Centre attendance is a mandated element of this recruitment campaign and all slots have been scheduled to take place on Thursday 23rd April. You will not need to sit this if you have already achieved a pass at ACS level. Final interviews are likely to be held early May 2026.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Contract Management - Expert level
• Tender and Bid Process - Expert level

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £79,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £22,973 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%

Discover My Benefits: Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD: https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

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.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

At Sift, you will be assessed on your;

Experience:

• Personal Statement- which should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential / desirable requirements for the role.
• Candidates will be required to provide job history and qualification details

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

Technical competencies:

• Contract Management - Expert level
• Tender and Bid Process - Expert level

If found successful at sift:

• You will be required to attend the Government Commercial Organisation Assessment & Development Centre (Associate Commercial Specialist level) prior to Interview. All slots have been scheduled to take place on Thursday 23rd April. You will need to achieve a 'Pass' at ACS level to be invited to interview.
• Please note that you will not need to sit this if you have already achieved a pass at ACS level.

At Interview, you will be assessed on;

Personal Statement/ Experience - The panel will ask questions about your personal statement. Exploring your Past Experiences, Key Achievements or Qualifications.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

Technical competencies:

• Contract Management - Expert level
• Tender and Bid Process - Expert level

Please refer to the Technical Skills Framework documents attached. Please also refer to the Behaviours Framework which can be found via the Success Profiles link, at the top of this subheading (Selection Process Details).

Interviews will be conducted virtually over Microsoft Teams.

The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

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. 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 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.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans - GOV.UK

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 DBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

SDA Reward Offer - Working for SDA - Submarine Delivery Agency - GOV.UK

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.

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. 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.

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : SDA Commercial Profession Leadership Team
• Email : sda-cdir-comrclplt@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

Further information

See Further Information document attached.

Attachments

20240927-Commercial Executive_SP_SDA_Success_Profiles-FINAL-O Opens in new window (pdf, 125kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)DE-S_Commercial-Competence-Framework Opens in new window (pdf, 3228kB)20241009 - Further Information - External Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)