Define (Pre-Sourcing) Commercial Lead

This role will take on a key role in the Navy Commercial Define function; providing dedicated support to our customers in taking their concepts through early development and engaging with industry as needed in order to seek input/ideas, ensuring compliance with pre-market engagement requirements – ably supported by our growing team of dedicated commercial practitioners and the Head of Define. The postholder will support the Command in developing its acquisition pipeline for publication considering factors such as category management, leading on industry engagement, and driving forward efficiencies on low-value procurement through greater use of simplified routes to market, in addition to supporting tendering activities on occasion.
This is an exciting time within Navy Command and we are seeking an individual to share their experience to influence a more streamlined and effective approach to acquisition; embracing the opportunities of Procurement Reform and building on the many successes of the team to date. We are involved in procuring a hugely diverse array of services and equipment to support every facet of Navy delivery; items that aid the front line, core back-office delivery, and innovate technological developments that will thrive future operations.
The Commercial Lead for Define will be a member of the Navy Commercial Senior Leadership Team and will work closely with them to deliver the highest standard of Commercial support to the Navy. This post provides an excellent opportunity to build on your existing skillset across a number of commercial disciplines and with the support of the GCO to raise your profile and enable you to grow.
Experience of working in or with the public sector will be an advantage for the successful candidate but is not an essential criterion – we are looking for the right person with the right skillset, and the team come from a wide variety of backgrounds which creates a rich and diverse working environment. You will be responsible for a team of 6 individuals in addition to working in a matrix approach across the wider Commercial Function and with other stakeholders, at times working across into the Procurement arena to provide senior leadership and guidance on tendering activities.
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
+ Stakeholder engagement and management – building influential internal relationships to ensure that commercial objectives are fully understood and embedded;
+ Commercial management – overseeing complex projects by leading the commercial approach, ensuring commercial processes are understood by stakeholders, executing commercial deliverables, taking responsibility for the success of the commercial aspects of the overall project;
+ Leadership – play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the Ministry of Defence and across government. Taking the lead during contract negotiations, understanding the appropriate levers available and able to develop a structured negotiation plan;
+ Collaboration – close working with other category, finance, and project leads, within MOD and Government Commercial Function teams, to develop strategic approaches to Defence spend;
+ Supplier relationships – build effective relationships with current and future suppliers. Enabling the market to better understand our requirements and ensuring that we build healthy, mutually beneficial relationships that deliver the right solutions at competitive prices;
+ Risk analysis – proactively anticipating potential commercial risks, mitigating actions and providing expert commercial advice;
+ Line management – overseeing teams, acting as a positive and proactive role model, providing coaching and support for individuals and the team including non-commercial staff;
+ Cost-saving initiatives – overseeing such initiatives across your portfolio to identify opportunities to increase the overall value delivered to Defence; and
+ Category strategy – supporting the development and implementation of market-facing category strategies., 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).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

+ Risk Mindset: Ability to identify, assess, and take calculated risks, whilst keeping senior management updated, in the pursuit of implementing efficient procurements to deliver innovative solutions in line with policy & legal advice.
+ Resilient: The ability to challenge senior stakeholder decisions, work under pressure, and deliver multiple projects within agreed timescales.
+ Builds Relationships: Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a larger team across a developing environment, able to secure the confidence and build strong working relationships.
+ Understanding Sourcing Needs: Engage stakeholders to develop a clear view of requirements & targets. Instigates approaches to support collaborative commercial relationships using appropriate frameworks & standards.
+ Procurement Process: Experience developing and delivering detailed commercial strategies to meet customers’ exacting requirements, underpinned by an in-depth understanding of procurement and commercial activity.

The Royal Navy is an organisation with a long and illustrious past and is now in a period where it is modernising our capabilities and transforming the way we do business, while continuing to fulfil a busy tempo of operational commitments. Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) is the nerve centre of the Royal Navy, supporting operations around the globe and providing Ships, Aircraft and Equipment to deliver the UK’s Defence Policy. NCHQ supports all the Royal Navy’s activities including front-line operations to personnel, support and training, finance governance, safety equipment, programmes and planning and Defence engagement. Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in difference specialisms.
As a Senior Commercial Leader, you will have real impact across the organisation, and within the Commercial team we are developing changes designed to make our approach to business agile, empowering our staff to reach their full potential.
Compromising approximately 60 individuals, the team manages circa 250 live contracts and a total portfolio nearing £3bn. This breadth of activity provides a multitude of opportunities for professional development and retention rate. At Navy Commercial, we believe in creating a safe, productive environment where everyone can thrive, with a well-defined set of team values that outlines our commitment to collaborative working.
The Navy Commercial team is already an influential, high-performing unit that works closely with our customers, turning ambition into reality. We foster a culture of learning, committed to delivering the best results for operational delivery by embracing innovation, promoting an inclusive cultural environment and pushing the boundaries of commercial practices. The team are at the forefront within Defence of exploring how we can build AI into our working practices to streamline our work and ensure we can have our people focused on the areas where human input has the greatest impact. By joining us you also gain access to the wider Defence Commercial Function, with connections spanning the entire Civil Service Commercial Function.
We welcome fresh perspectives and ambition. If you’re eager to shape the future and make a difference, we’d love to hear from you., Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on the 20th of January 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.