National Cyber Force - Commercial Framework Specialist

Job summary

Established in 2020, the National Cyber Force (NCF) is responsible for operating in and through cyberspace to counter, disrupt, degrade and contest those who would do harm to the UK or its allies, to keep the country safe and to protect and promote the UK’s interests at home and abroad. The UK will use cyber operations as part of its diplomatic, economic and military activities.

The NCF is at the heart of this, extending the UK’s competitive edge as a responsible, democratic cyber power, by countering threats from terrorists, criminals and states using the internet to operate across borders in order to do harm to the UK and other democratic societies, countering threats which disrupt the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and services in cyberspace (i.e. supporting cybersecurity), contributing to UK Defence operations, and helping deliver the UK’s foreign policy agenda (for example intervening in a humanitarian crisis to protect civilians). In addition to GCHQ and the Ministry of Defence, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory are core partners bringing cutting edge espionage and research techniques. The NCF is establishing its Headquarters in Samlesbury, Lancashire.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to have an empowered, productive, personally and professionally fulfilled workforce. Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously. We want to enable you to build a successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. We are committed to understanding, respecting, and representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds as we have in UK society. We know that diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, modern Civil Service.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This post will sit within the Technology Office for the Partnership, working directly to the Head of the Industry Technical Engagement Function. The purpose of this role is to work alongside the eco system expert to identify appropriate routes to market for technology at varying levels of readiness. The post holder will act as a liaison officer across the commercial network. They will have an in-depth awareness of commercial frameworks available within Defence and build and maintain a strong network of commercial officers to allow the partnership to leverage these frameworks to bring capabilities on board. Working closely with commercial officers within the partner construct, they will build and maintain an understanding of the commercial frameworks of our partner organisations to identify the most effective and efficient route to market. The post holder will be the framework specialist, providing advice and guidance on available commercial frameworks and existing contracts. They are not a commercial officer and will not be expected or enabled to enter the partnership into commercial relationships. Responsibilities include:

Building and maintaining a strong network of commercial officers for each of the relevant commercial frameworks available to the partnership.

Working closely alongside the eco system specialists and technical leads across the partnership to enable capabilities to be invested in, developed or brought into the partnership on a suitable commercial framework.

Advise stakeholders on available frameworks and routes to market, attending capability development discussions and commercial meetings as required.

Acting as the conduit between customers within the partnership and the network of commercial officers and frameworks to enable capabilities required to be brought onto contract, supporting the development of the Intelligent Customer Function.

Person specification

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding and awareness of the commercial frameworks and available routes to market within Defence.

The post holder must be a UK national. You must hold or be willing to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. Clearance level required for role is DV plus screening. Checks involved include, but are not limited to:

Successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard Completion, by the individual, of a DV Security Questionnaire.

A departmental/company records check which will include personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records.

A check of both spent and unspent criminal records.

A check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.

A check of Security Service records.

A full review of personal finances. The full review of personal finances will include an assessment of an individual’s assets, liabilities, income and expenditure both on an individual basis and taking into account the joint position with a spouse or partner.

A detailed interview conducted by a trained Investigating Office.

Further enquiries, including interviews with referees conducted by a trained Investigating Officer.

Checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire.

Additionally, candidates will need to meet the business validation standard and pass a drug test prior to appointment.

They must be willing to undertake Developed Vetting and additional partner vetting checks. Successful candidate will be able to build and maintain strong stakeholder networks across multiple locations.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• This role attracts a National Security Payment allowance of £2,500 p.a.
• 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%

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.

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

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; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Personal Statement:

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (250 Word Max)

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more discretely.

While the existence of NCF is not a secret, its people are, and discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or close family. You should also make them aware of the importance of discretion. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage. You will receive further guidance during the recruitment process.

If successful at sift, the interviews are likely to be held mid-March. Once set, we will not be able to reschedule the date

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 developed vetting (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 : CSOCPeople-HRGroup@mod.gov.uk
• Email : CSOCPeople-HRGroup@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

CSOC Candidate Pack 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)