Length of employment: Job Summary: The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 12,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. Army Commercial is one of four Front Line Command teams, alongside Navy, Air and Strategic Command, responsible for working closely with the British Army to deliver innovative solutions to Defence requirements. We play an important role in supporting Defence by contracting for and managing 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 Contract Management team sits within the Army Commercial Team and is spread over several UK locations. The team are responsible for the commercial management of a wide-ranging portfolio of work, from a number of high-value and complex contracts to those of medium duration, value or complexity, and lower value, shorter duration contracts. We are recruiting for two posts, both of which are responsible for the commercial aspects of contract management for Army contracts. This involves monitoring supplier performance, implementing contractual changes, maintaining value for money, dealing with disputes and building and maintaining good working relationships with the customer team, the supplier, and other key stakeholders. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job Description: These are exciting and challenging roles in the Army Commercial Team, which consists of over 100 Commercial Officers and is responsible for hundreds of contracts, the combined value of which is over £5 Billion. The roles require leadership and initiative, as well as important skills such as customer and supplier relationship management. You will have plenty of prospects to develop these and other skills, both on the job and through managed learning opportunities. The roles are within the Contract Management team, who deliver a professional contract management service to the Army. We provide support and commercial advice to the Army customer in managing high-value contracts with industry, ensuring that suppliers deliver requirements to the expected standards. We also understand the importance of developing great working relationships with our customers and suppliers. You will build and maintain your effectiveness by ensuring that they keep up to date with contract management, procurement and HR policy developments. You will engage with other parts of the Army Commercial team to ensure that good practice is adopted across the portfolio. You are also expected to contribute to wider Army Commercial activities and initiatives that improve ways of working or enhance learning and development. The first post will primarily be responsible for the commercial aspects of transition from the outgoing Army recruiting contract to the newly awarded Armed Forces Recruiting contract, which is a £1.3 billion contract covering the delivery of recruitment to all three of the Armed Services. The post holder will be responsible for the development, agreement and execution of Transition and Exit Plans between now and early 2027, when contract delivery starts. Following completion of the transition period the focus of the role is expected to switch to the management of other Army contracts. The post is based in Army HQ, but regular attendance (two to three days a week) is required in the office in Trenchard Lines, Upavon SN9 6BE, which is about 20 minutes' drive from Army HQ. The second post will be responsible for the contract management of a range of Army Commercial contracts. These cover a wide span of services that are crucial to the Army's operation: including training, education, logistics, engineering support and consultancy. The scope of the Contract Management team is expanding to include a greater number of contracts, a process which will need close collaboration with colleagues in the Procurement teams to manage the smooth transfer of work between teams, as well as efficient allocation within the Contract Management team. The post holder will use their skills and experience to advise procurement colleagues on how to develop a better contract; for example, by advising on suitable Key Performance Indicators for the contract or using learning from experience to improve the quality of future contracts. Key Responsibilities Both roles involve the following: Monitor and manage supplier performance, taking appropriate action where performance is below the specified standard Ensure that both supplier and Authority obligations are monitored and met Manage and implement contractual changes in conjunction with the customer and the supplier Deal with contractual disputes with suppliers or claims from suppliers, escalating through Line Management chain as required Keep contract documents and records and Management Information up to date Identify and manage risks and issues Input to Business Cases as required Manage the transition to new contracts and the exit from contracts due to end Carry out line management responsibilities The contract transition and exit role has a particular focus on the following: Liaise with the Business-as-Usual team for the Army recruiting contract to manage and implement contractual changes relating to transition and exit from the current Army recruiting contract Identify and manage risks and issues associated with transition and exit Manage transition of recruiting services to the new contract and provide support to facilitate exit from the outgoing contract The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance. Other benefits for Army civil servants include: 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years' service Highly competitive pension scheme Personal and professional development of skills Alternative working patterns for many roles 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 Enhanced parental and adoption leave 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities 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. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role. A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career. We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuing you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently - we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week). The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruit s 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. We are looking for individuals with the following attributes, skills, and experience: Strong contract management skills, experience, and commercial awareness Strong leadership skills Able to work with suppliers and engage in meaningful but sometimes challenging conversations with stakeholders Experience of managing and interacting with stakeholders, sometimes with conflicting priorities, including senior officials and suppliers Able to work independently, with a proactive approach to the great work that you and your wider team are delivering A flexible and a collaborative attitude to team working, adapting to changing priorities and workloads Desirable: Previous experience or involvement in public sector procurements would be beneficial Licences You will either hold a Commercial Licence or be willing to work towards achieving it. The Commercial Licence is a part of an internal Ministry of Defence process to ensure consistency of standards in the Commercial Function Qualifications You will either have the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Level 4 qualification, or be willing to work towards it At application, you will be assessed against the following: Experience CV and a personal statement of no more than 1000 words and should cover the following: Evidence of how you have worked collaboratively as a member of a team and built strong working relationships with colleagues, including those at a level more senior to you Evidence of your experience in managing contracts, demonstrating the value that your activities delivered and highlighting any particular experience that you have with contract transition Evidence of how you have managed relationships with suppliers, including where the relationship needed to be developed or improved Evidence of your experience in the different elements of the procurement process At interview, you will be assessed against the following: Behaviours Communicating and Influencing Leadership Making Effective Decisions Technical Skills Contract & Supplier Management Please refer to the Technical Skills Framework - Government Commercial Function - People Standards for the Profession Version 3.0.docx, Section 6. The competency level for this role is: Associate Commercial Lead Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed but these will be held online via Microsoft Teams. We will provide at least a minimum of 2 full working days before interview. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs. In the case where individuals have exact matching total scores at interview, the order of merit will be determined based on the highest scores awarded at interview in the following order of importance: Technical - Contract & Supplier Management Behaviours - Leadership Behaviours - Communicating and Influencing Behaviours - Making Effective Decisions If following the above the candidate total scores are still exactly the same, the merit order will then be determined on the highest scores awarded at sift in the following order of importance: Personal Statement CV 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 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:. 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.