This post can be based at any of the following UK Strategic Command locations (please note that the customer UK location for this role is Northwood as well as globally):
Northwood London HA6 3HP
Defence Academy Shrivenham SN6 8LA
Abbey Wood Bristol BS34 8JH
MOD Corsham SN13 9NR
Other Customer Delivery Directorate office locations will be considered.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Job Summary
Strategic Command is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and is one of 4 Front Line Commands (FLCs) the others being Navy, Air and Army. The Strategic Command Commercial Team are responsible for working closely with their military and civilian colleagues across the UK to deliver innovative commercial 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 from a wide and varied supply-base.
The Strategic Command Commercial Team is comprised of around 100 qualified commercial personnel across several UK and overseas locations who place around 200 contracts a year and manage £4.5bnworth of contracts.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable hybrid working, a combination of office and home-based working. This is an informal, 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.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
Are you an experienced Commercial Manager looking for a unique opportunity to support Defence personnel at bases across the world and overseas military operations? Do you have the drive and ambition to succeed in a fast paced highly rewarding environment? Are you looking for a role that will help you develop the skills required for the next grade?
This post is within the UKStratCom Commercial Team directly supporting joint military operations and overseas bases where you will work in an interesting, and high tempo military environment. It is a challenging role, delivering a commercial service to a dispersed customer base geographically spread across the UK and overseas.
The nature of military operations means you will be working in an ambiguous environment, problem solving and delivering commercial solutions often at pace with competing priorities. You will need excellent communication skills and the ability to refine complex technical advice into a singular, tailored message for multiple audiences, with varying levels of subject matter knowledge.
This role is not about delivering high value acquisition procurements - the majority of operational requirements are under £5m. What makes this role challenging is the ability to problem solve. To find compliant routes to market whilst managing stakeholders and balancing risks such as location, security, urgency, funding and operational capability.
There may be opportunities for you to deploy overseas for limited periods of time to provide commercial cover and / or support to operations if required.
Are you an experienced Commercial Manager looking for a unique opportunity to support Defence personnel at bases across the world and overseas military operations? Do you have the drive and ambition to succeed in a fast paced highly rewarding environment? Are you looking for a role that will help you develop the skills required for the next grade?
This post is within the UKStratCom Commercial Team directly supporting joint military operations and overseas bases where you will work in an interesting, and high tempo military environment. It is a challenging role, delivering a commercial service to a dispersed customer base geographically spread across the UK and overseas.
The nature of military operations means you will be working in an ambiguous environment, problem solving and delivering commercial solutions often at pace with competing priorities. You will need excellent communication skills and the ability to refine complex technical advice into a singular, tailored message for multiple audiences, with varying levels of subject matter knowledge.
This role is not about delivering high value acquisition procurements - the majority of operational requirements are under £5m. What makes this role challenging is the ability to problem solve. To find compliant routes to market whilst managing stakeholders and balancing risks such as location, security, urgency, funding and operational capability.
There may be opportunities for you to deploy overseas for limited periods of time to provide commercial cover and / or support to operations if required.
Person specification
The successful candidate must perform in the position quickly and without the need for significant improvement therefore they must have:
* Experience working Defence or have an understanding of how Defence does its business.
* Experience working in a commercial role with a comprehensive understanding of public procurement routes to market for requirements ranging in value, complexity and sensitivity.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to refine complex technical advice into a singular, tailored message for multiple audiences, with varying levels of subject matter knowledge.
* The ability to work in an ambiguous environment, problem solving and delivering commercial solutions often at pace with competing priorities.
* The ability to assess information rapidly, seek clarity or additional information where necessary and articulate needs or processes in a way that is understood by the diverse stakeholder audience.
Responsibilities
* Deliver a quality commercial service to all customers whilst offering sound commercial advice in line with procurement regulations and policy.
* Use commercial judgement and expertise to develop effective commercial strategies which delivers effective contractual outcomes, manages commercial risk and provides value for money.
* Draft contracts and tenders, running the tender process and awarding contracts.
* Support Designated Officers with contract management to ensure contracts are delivering effectively.
* Maintain accurate management information.
* Develop a network to share LFE and offer support across the UKStratCom Commercial Team and wider MOD.
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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Delivering at Pace
* Making Effective Decisions
* Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Practitioner Level)
* Contract Performance Management (Practitioner Level)
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
* Sourcing – Executing the Sourcing Strategy (Practitioner Level)
Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
UKStratCom 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%.
* 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.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1 – Application
To Apply For This Job, Please Submit
* CV – A CV outlining your job history, full qualification details and previous skills and experience.
* Personal Statement – A Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the role description and responsibilities.
* Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing
* Technical Skills Commercial Competency Framework – Sourcing – Executing the sourcing strategy
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.
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.
Stage 2 – Sift
Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements listed above. We will sift all applications week commencing 19/05/25. We aim to release sift results to applicants week commencing 26/05/2025. Depending on the volume of applications, these dates may be subject to change.
Stage 3 – Interviews
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will be invited to undertake a single virtual video interview which will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and will take around 60 minutes. During the interview we will be asking questions to assess you against the Civil Service Behaviours and Commercial Technical Skills as referenced below.
Behaviours
* Communicating and Influencing
* Delivering at Pace
* Making Effective Decisions
* Managing a Quality Service
Technical Skills
* Commercial Competency Framework – Sourcing – Executing the sourcing strategy
* Commercial Competency Framework – Contract Management – Contract Performance Management
Interviews are scheduled to take place between 02/06/25 and 13/06/25 These dates may be subject to change depending on the volume of candidates we have to interview.
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.
Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
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
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.
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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
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 : Katie Hunter
* Email : Katie.Hunter200@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. #J-18808-Ljbffr