Overview
We're currently recruiting sales-side commercial contract professionals to join a team providing commercial support for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), a Research Council and one of Europe's largest science research organisations. STFC owns and operates a number of large facilities and national laboratories focused on particular areas of research. Although we work across the whole of UKRI, this role mainly supports RAL Space, the UK's national laboratory for Space science. RAL Space operate the National Satellite Test Facility and provide a range of design, manufacturing and test facilities for satellites and space instrumentation. This role supports these activities and involves dealings with the European Space Agency, NASA, and UK Space companies of all sizes. Project values range from a few thousand pounds to several millions.
This is not a sales role: you will be providing pre- and post- contract commercial approval, management, and advice for a wide range of projects. You will help draft bids and ensure that they are legally and commercially sound. You will review and challenge bids and proposals to ensure that they meet Government financial rules and good commercial practice. You will provide sound commercial advice to stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
The work is challenging, varied and interesting. You'll need to quickly adapt to a wide range of different technologies, negotiating on behalf of UKRI with public and private sector clients ranging from SMEs to multinationals, while meeting the requirements of our internal stakeholders. The commercial function is relatively new to UKRI and has quickly earned itself a reputation for being effective, professional, helpful and responsive. You will work as part of a close-knit and very supportive team, and also work closely and collaboratively with our legal, financial and technical colleagues in the wider organisation. But the role also has an unusually high degree of autonomy, and you will get cradle-to-grave responsibility for a number of contracts. Support is there if you need it, but you will often be the sole commercial officer in the room. You'll need to be able to think on your feet, balancing risks and priorities, determining what is in the best interests of the taxpayer, and have the charisma to challenge and persuade senior staff in both our clients and the internal organisation to do what's needed.
Responsibilities
* Supporting business development managers and working as part of bid and project teams within your area of responsibility
* Assessing bids for risk, attending bid reviews, and approving or rejecting potential bids
* Advising on commercial and financial risk in RFQs, ITTs and client contracts and suggesting mitigation measures; engaging with specialist Legal and Intellectual Property teams where required
* Helping to draft the commercial and contractual wording of bids
* Providing commercial advice to senior management
* Ensuring alignment of pricing and scope with contract terms in bids and contracts and resolving complex commercial issues and queries
* Negotiating with clients, collaborators, and subcontractors
* Drafting, reviewing, and amending contract documents
* Approving and signing agreements within delegated scope of authority
* Managing post-contractual changes and CCNs, working with project teams to address revenue leakage and "scope creep"
* Managing and resolving contractual disputes, referring to the UKRI legal team where necessary
* Acting as a role model of commercial professionalism within your area of responsibility and the wider community
* Providing commercial training as required
* Helping to develop UKRI commercial policies and procedures
* Working with our stakeholder community to improve UKRI's commercial processes
If you want to know more about what the role involves, get in touch: incomecontracts@ukri.org. But please DON'T use this email to send a CV or application letter - they will be deleted without being read.
Person specification
Shortlisting Criteria
* (S) - Assessed at shortlisting
* (I) - Assessed at interview
* (S/I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
* (PT) - Practical test
* + Degree level in a business, commercial, legal, technical or engineering discipline or similar, or equivalent experience. (S)
Technical skills, experience:
* High degree of commercial knowledge and awareness (S/I)
* A strong technical understanding of commercial and contract management from a sales perspective; (S/I)
* Strong knowledge of English contract law; (I/PT)
* Experience of drafting, monitoring and managing sales agreements; (S/I)
* Experience of monitoring contract implementation and taking action to ensure that contract margins are maintained and opportunities for improvement taken, engaging directly with customers as required. (S/I)
* Experience of interacting with and influencing senior management; (S/I)
* Good grasp of intellectual property - what it is, and how it is monetised; (S/I)
* Experience in a high technology, project driven, business environment (S/I)
* Experience of successfully negotiating substantial and complex agreements; (S/I)
* Personal drive and enthusiasm, able to work unsupervised, effectively manage own workload, and deliver to deadlines; (I)
* Calm under pressure; (I)
* An astute and confident negotiator, with the ability to think quickly and clearly during a negotiation; (S/i)
* The gravitas to advise and influence senior managers in both UKRI and in our clients' organisations; (I)
* Excellent problem-solving skills (I)
* The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and client staff; (I)
* The ability to work with systems, policies and process that are still developing (I)
* Demonstrates UK public service values (objectivity, impartiality, honesty and integrity) and UKRI values (integrity, innovation, collaboration and excellence), in both behaviour and attitude; (I)
* The ability to absorb and understand complex technical information (S/I)
* Keen attention to detail and good analytical skills (S/I)
Alongside your salary of £45,272, UK Research and Innovation contributes £13,115 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%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
1st Interviews including presentation.
Interviews will either take place remotely via Teams or face to face in person.
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 a new window) checks.
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