CSOC Commercial Officer - Defence Intelligence

Job summary

Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the United Kingdom secure at home and strong abroad.

Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see – or those you can’t.

From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today, and prepare for tomorrow.

CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force – acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command. For more information, please see here.

CSOC Commercial has a rich and varied portfolio of contracts across multiple categories of spend. We have 100 commercial specialists geographically spread over the globe covering contracts worth £7.5bn. It is a dynamic and exciting place to work at the leading edge of Defence. We welcome diversity, we our passionate about inclusivity, and love challenge that drives innovation. We value each individual contribution, learn together, and deliver stronger.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

In this role you will contribute towards delivering commercial excellence for your department through supporting with, the planning, development and management of commercial strategies, the procurement process and effective contract management activity for one or more of the organisation’s low complexity / low value contracts.

You will work as part of a larger team but will be expected to be able to prioritise and manage your own workload to deliver to deadlines and know when to seek support in order to balance both operationally urgent and important tasks.

Typically, the key responsibilities in this role will include (but are not limited to):

• Understanding, and being able to advise on, sourcing compliance and frameworks
• Using procurement systems and e-sourcing tools to manage all stages of the procurement life-cycle, ensuring that they are effectively maintained to enable accurate reporting
• Contributing to the development of a sourcing strategy
• Obtaining and collating data and information required to support the development of a commercial strategy
• Maintaining strategies and implementing agreed sourcing plans
• Challenging the organisational need for the purchase especially where Corporate Social Responsibility or value for money considerations suggest the procurement can be better channelled through existing assets or an existing contract
• Finding and presenting information to support procurement decisions
• Supporting a wide range of procurement processes including the conduct of tenders, with the use of e-tendering tools (e.g. managing supplier correspondence)
• Supporting the resolution of issues and contract administration activities
• Overseeing the creation of commercial files and audit/ assurance activities
• Preparing for contract commencement, supporting with the development, delivery and implementation of contract management plan
• Managing one or more contracts, ensuring effective, governance, performance management frameworks, escalation, risk management, issues resolution, financial management, change control and compliance
• Managing one or more suppliers, ensuring effective stakeholder management
• Supporting on exit and transition activities

Responsibilities

• Undertake learning and development and upskilling as required.
• Providing support to CSOC project delivery teams to influence and inform the sourcing of new goods and services from 3rd parties.
• Supporting Procurement processes in line with public sector regulations and using agreed tools and systems.
• Assist in the Selection of appropriate suppliers using relevant evaluation criteria and responsible for ensuring value for money for the duration of supplier engagement.
• Working within a team to negotiate favorable terms for pricing and contract terms that deliver immediate and ongoing financial and non-financial benefits.
• Ongoing proactive management of key supplier relationships.
• Effective management of full life cycle of the contracts including managing changes and ensuring ongoing value and service quality standards are delivered.
• Commercial risk identification.
• Supporting development of sourcing strategies in cooperation with internal stakeholders.
• Supporting continuous improvement and change management.
• Supporting senior commercial officers in the negotiation of complex contracts.
• Hold formal delegated powers of up to £0.25M.
• Providing advice on commercial policies and processes to other teams for e.g. delivery group.
• Supporting Procurement processes in line with public sector regulations and using agreed tools and systems.

Person specification

The successful candidates must have good communication skills as the role requires you to build and maintain collaborative relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and enablers in Defence, Other Government Departments and Industry to deliver innovative commercial solutions at pace and scale.

Competent in using MS Office tools; Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, MS Teams, and SharePoint.

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate must:

Provide evidence of CIPS level 4 (or equivalent) or be willing to work towards this by commencing study within one year of appointment.

Be willing to complete all required elements to obtain their Practitioner Commercial Licence and MSA Allowance:

• Procurement Reform eLearning
• CMCP Foundation eLearning
• Sourcing Mechanics Course

Behaviours

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

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

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Developing Level)
• Contract Performance Management (Developing Level)

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

• Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Developing Level)

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 (opens in a new window).

CSOC Commercial is passionate about delivering excellent commercial outcomes for our customers but we also understand you will have a life outside of work; we respect your priorities, and our industry leading flexible workings practices will give you real freedom to balance work and life. We employ talented people who challenge and guide each other whilst providing a culture of inclusion and diversity.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year.
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments.
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing.
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms.
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.

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.

Please note:

• 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.
• 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.

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.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 750 words explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the role description and responsibilities.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following:

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating & Influencing

Technical Skills

• Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Developing Level)

You should ensure that you read and understand the criteria within the Success Profiles: Behaviours and the Commercial Skills and Competency Framework documents and provide evidence of those criteria using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format.

We aim to release sift results to applicants 1 to 2 weeks following the closing date. Depending on the volume of applications, these dates may be subject to change.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be undertaken based upon the technical skill Commercial Competency Framework - Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Developing Level). Only if successful at this initial sift will the entire application, then be reviewed.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at pace

Technical Skills

• Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Developing Level)
• Contract Performance Management (Developing Level)

Further information:

Please see the attached Technical Skills Framework to assist in your application.

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and will take around 60 minutes and are scheduled to take place 2 to 3 weeks after the job advert has closed. These dates may be subject to change depending on the volume of candidates we have to interview.

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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 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 : CSOC Commercial Business Management Team
• Email : ukstratcom-comrcl-busmgt@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

Success-Profiles-Behaviours Opens in new window (pdf, 998kB)20170329-Commercial_Skills_and_Competency_Framework_v1-1-O Opens in new window (pdf, 1811kB)20241122-Candidate Information Pack V5-Accessibility-O Opens in new window (pdf, 469kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 128kB)