Commercial Lead - Professional Services

The nature of modern warfare is changing, with access to and exploitation of information becoming a vital way of securing military advantage. The Digital Strategy for Defence addresses this in three key elements, including the need to collect and use data appropriately to harness strategic advantage, further transform digital capabilities to enable military and business advantage, and to deliver this across all of defence both securely and at pace. The Defence Digital organisation is responsible for making sure that effective digital and information technology (D&IT) is put into the hands of the military and business front line.
Defence Digital Commercial is the core team responsible for delivering outstanding value for Defence across its exploitation of digital and information technologies, through our oversight and management of all third- party IT spend for Defence.
We are responsible for a large portfolio of complex contracts worth £2bn a year, through more that 300 suppliers. We have implemented Category Management and operate across five categories – Networks, Hardware and Services, Military Technology, Software and Hosting and Professional Services – engaging with suppliers of all sizes and specialisms across the defence landscape.
It is an exceptionally exciting time within Defence Digital Commercial and we are seeking procurement experts to join us to share knowledge and experience. Working collaboratively with multiple key internal stakeholders, you will deliver the Commercial approach to new and exciting projects, driving innovation, value and agility through the successful adoption of Category Management.
If the opportunity to work in this critical fast paced environment excites you, we would be delighted to receive your application.
There has never been a more exciting time to join the Defence Digital team and we look forward to receiving your application., These roles within our Professional Services category team is to provide first class commercial leadership, delivery and advice relating to professional services to Defence Digital across the contract lifecycle and to drive market engagement to leverage insight, innovation and best practice and play a role in the development of the government commercial profession.
You will be responsible for embedding a ground-breaking £1.2bn, 4-year Digital & IT Professional Services (DIPS) framework to deliver substantial benefits to MOD, including improved delivery performance, savings of £120m as well as insights into MOD’s resource gaps to inform its Strategic Workforce Plan and making it a success. This is a significant undertaking which requires significant change to how MOD procures these services and requires more commercial resources, including experienced commercial leaders, to successfully deliver the change and benefits.
As a member of the Professional Services leadership team this role will require someone with the ability to engage, motivate, inspire, lead, and develop a team (directly and indirectly), working with colleagues across the wider function (eg: the Crown Commercial Service) and other functions (Finance, Digital, Data & Analytical Services, Communications, Legal, Security and Internal Audit).
The role will be responsible for the delivery of a number of service categories/Lots under the DIPS framework and for providing advice to other MOD commercial teams outside of Defence Digital in how to use the Framework effectively. This is critical to our ambition to drive greater consistency and performance in the sourcing of Defence’s Digital and ICT requirements.
The successful candidates will each be responsible for managing a team of 4-6 practitioners who will deliver the majority of procurement and contract management activity, under the post holders’ guidance.
The roles support hybrid working with a minimum of 60% of time at a designated base MOD location (Corsham, Wiltshire or Whitehall, London with at least one day at Corsham if London based) or work-related activity such as supplier visits, stakeholder visits, or external meetings/conferences.
CIPS
All successful candidates must be CIPS Level 6 accredited/hold MCIPS or must be willing to commence (or resume) CIPS studies within three months of taking up your post.
Clearance
All roles require SC before commencement of posts and may be required to be DV cleared once in post.
Locations
The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.
Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.
This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

Person specification
The main responsibilities are likely to include: -
+ Deliver on Professional Services commitments:
o The successful adoption of the DIPS framework to improve delivery performance, savings, commercial risk management and regulatory compliance.
o Leading on Defence Digital requirements and providing advice on wider adoption of DIPS across MoD.
o Drive consolidation and efficiencies for key Defence Digital programmes which have a portfolio of contracts to improve value for money. Support Defence Digital in their contract management activities to maintain the expected value-for-money delivered by the contracts.
o Ensuring compliance with relevant public procurement policies and regulations. Manage risks associated with procurement, stay abreast of new regulations, and maintain a high pace and efficiency in procurement processes whilst upholding excellence in execution.
+ Strategic market engagements
o To build and grow effective relationships with current and future suppliers which enable the market to better understand our requirements, and which also deliver insights and innovation to build healthy, mutually beneficial relationships that deliver the right solutions at competitive prices.
+ Strategic category management
o Make a major contribution to the Professional Services Category strategy to drive best practice and consistency in the sourcing of Professional Services across Defence Digital and the wider MOD.
o Establish and maintain effective stakeholder relationships with Defence Digital business stakeholders and other commercial professionals to understand their needs and ensure the successful delivery of the required digital and technology solutions.
+ Leadership, performance and personal development
o Lead and develop a team of 4-6 commercial officers with different experience levels, providing guidance and support for their professional growth. Foster a culture of excellence, teamwork, and adherence to the Department's values. Manage the team in day-to-day operations, serving as a leadership figure within Defence Digital commercial and embodying its values.
o Act as a role model to support individual and team performance as well as actively supporting and advancing the personal development of team and self.
o Support the management of the Professional Service Category as a member of the Senior Leadership Team
+ Commercial optimisation
o Lead or support activities to drive commercial optimisation both within the Professional Services team and the wider MOD and government commercial community.
o Support the capture and exploitation of key management information in various systems (eg: demand/capacity tracker) related to the demand and delivery performance of professional service procurements to support senior management reporting and continuous improvement, If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team at commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.
Details of schemes available are attached in the advert.
For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in the attached candidate pack.
Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the essential criteria for the role which are detailed in the attached Candidate Pack.
Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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 new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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+ Manages Complexity – Experience of working on very large contracts with complex commercial structures to ensure value for money is achieved. Experience of working within a complex organisational structure with multiple stakeholders
+ Commercial Focus – Can demonstrate commercial/procurement strategy and transformation skills and acumen, and can demonstrate an understanding and experience of category management
+ Resilient – Adapts quickly to different environments and can demonstrates resilience in interactions with suppliers and across the team, defending the department’s position
+ Builds Relationships – The ability to operate and build strong, productive relationships at all levels and with a variety of stakeholders with different backgrounds, perspectives and drivers
+ Coaching Manager – The ability to build confidence and develop teams to deliver positive outcomes for both business and individual, adapting approach to suit team needs

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 12th February 2025 and will require a full day's attendance.

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.
For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.