Length of employment: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on a high-profile programme and procurement actions spanning all stages of the procurement life cycle for diverse requirements in support of the British Army. The teams falling under Army Commercial are spread over 3 locations (Andover, Warminster and Northern Ireland). Northern Ireland 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. 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 Northern Ireland team is a small specialist team based in Lisburn whose primary role is to respond to our most urgent, mission critical and operational requirements, while also managing a portfolio of high value and often complex contracts. The team is made up of experienced commercial officers and as the role is forward deployed the team must be able to function unsupervised. 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. Key responsibilities: Procurement of nominated requirements as allocated by the Field Army (FA) Commercial Business Partner or Team Leader (TL) ensuring the requirements are pro-actively managed from definition to contract award. 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. 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 procurements and payments including Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and Contract, Purchasing and Finance (CP&F) and they must be familiar with these. The Northern Ireland Team, while forward deployed, is part of the Army Commercial team, and the postholder is expected to contribute to wider activities that contribute to the overall team's objectives when requested. Management: 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. Procure and Contract Manage: Establishing and maintaining positive working relationships within all areas within the Army, specifically Northern Ireland, 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. 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. 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: ArmyComrcl-NI-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk This vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Other Benefits: • 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Essential skills required: 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 obtain a MOD Practitioner Commercial, typically within 1 year of completing CIPS level 4. Desirable skills: Experience of procurement processes and managing requirements At application stage you will be assessed against the following: CV Behaviour - Working Together Personal Statement - no more than 500 words and should demonstrate your experience of the following: 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. Applications will be sifted using the Personal Statement, CV, and Behaviour that have been chosen for this campaign, but in the event of there being a high number of applications, a sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour 'Working Together' When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. At interview stage you will be assessed against the following behaviours: Communicating & Influencing Leadership Making Effective Decisions 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 via Teams. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs. 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 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.