Deputy Director Overseas and Sensitive Construction, and US Visiting Forces - MOD DIO

The DIO provides military capability through building and maintaining critical infrastructure which supports the ability for this country’s Defence operation to live, work and train in the UK and abroad. Our teams play a key role in delivering the UK’s Defence objectives and are responsible for a land mass which represents 2% of the entire UK. We cover a range of categories from core construction, hard and soft FM services, Utilities, PFI, Estates and Disposals. We work across all the 4 core services of Army, Air, Navy and UK StratComm. Working and delivering at all levels of security both inside and outside of bases.
Our estate is incredibly complex but highly interesting, and for the right candidate who’s interested in empowering a Commercial team to deliver great supply chains to deliver across the Estate this would be a fantastic role.
Our 400 strong commercial teams are mainly based in our core 4 hubs but with other colleagues spread across the UK and overseas to directly support where needed. We manage over 300 contracts at any one time with a total value exceeding £25BN. We are the largest buyer of scale in this area. Our success means we link closely across the broader MOD commercial family, Government commercial networks and best practice via the GCO.
This role sits alongside 4 other Commercial Specialists that are centred around our core category portfolios alongside an additional customer level ownership (Air, Army etc). The size of the team reports will be circa 120 FTE that will be spread around our core sites. We are on an active journey to innovate our routes to market, reduce time to buy, embed end to end category management, roll out a new post contract management model and SRM layer for our tier 1 suppliers., The role is a unique opportunity to bring Government policy into commercial arrangements that will influence the whole of the UK Defence Estate. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is looking for a proactive and very experienced, senior procurement professional, with a strong reputation for innovative delivery, commercial excellence, and the capability to shape and deliver more than £16Bns of complex infrastructure and FM procurements.
Leading a team of c.100 Commercial professionals, the role holder will be responsible for the delivery of the Overseas and Sensitive Project requirements as well as requirements for the United States Visiting Forces (USVF).
This role is a specialist Construction and commercial project delivery role with an estates professional function overview. Significant operational delivery experience is required including NEC contracting and claims/litigation. The role holder will work closely with CCS as the Infrastructure expert to contract against the Construction General Works Framework and support Cross Government Infrastructure groups. The role is also the key commercial infrastructure interface to the commercial relationship with USVF.
Locations, + Procuring and contract managing multiple construction projects to support Military Operations each year in response to the demand signal
+ The commercial design, procurement and contract management of complex infrastructure programmes
+ Commercial oversight of infrastructure assets across the estate
+ The procurement and contract management of Defence Infrastructure Services Hard and Soft FM contracts across the estate
+ The procurement and commercial management of Infrastructure and FM projects in support of US Visiting Forces.
Must have MCIPS level 6 or be willing to work towards obtaining it within 1 year of taking up the position.
Summary of the Role
+ Hold a Commercial Delegation to make contractual commitments on behalf of the MOD, with all the accountability and authority to ensure that there are robust procurement strategies for all procurements, that all contractual commitments represent value for money and are affordable within agreed approvals. Note - To be eligible for a Commercial Delegation, CIPS Level 6 / MCIPS or equivalent as accredited by CIPS must be achieved in the first instance. Once attained, the candidate is required to pass an internal Commercial Accreditation Panel assessment to gain a Commercial License provided by DG Commercial Defence. On receipt of this license a Commercial Delegation can be held.
+ Deliver the agreed programme of procurements on time and to a high quality, engaging as necessary with customers, the delivery team and other enabling functions, the scrutiny community and decision makers.
+ Play an active and effective role in the Programme Steering Committees, Programme Boards, and other meetings, as the senior representative of the Commercial Function.
+ Provide both decisive and educated leadership, facilitating the engagement and effectiveness of the commercial team. Successfully engage, lead, coach and inspire the team to reinforce the MOD and GCO leadership values. Deliver all required line management activities to ensure the team deliver their objectives.
+ Ensure that DIO projects and programmes adhere to legal and regulatory requirements, contractual obligations and ethical considerations. Advance Government policy, including sustainability and social value, through all commercial relationships.
+ Support the Commercial Director by being a role model within the SCS team, actively engaging in decision-making, leading by example, driving adoption of new ways of working and clearly communicating to enable the DIO Estates and Construction Commercial team to fulfil its obligations and objectives.
+ Deliver cash and efficiency savings to support department financial position and maintain a category level savings pipeline, and demonstrate delivery against forecast
+ Deliver end to end category management strategies ensuring appropriate routes to market are used to procure in the most time efficient way
+ Ensure that Supplier Relationship Management methodologies and best practice is utilised throughout the lifecycle of the projects, programmes and procurements.
+ Deputise for the Commercial Director when required.
+ Represent DIO with senior government officials and industry executives; and support the delivery of DIO strategy and policy, as a key senior leader.
Must have MCIPS level 6 or be willing to work towards obtaining it within 1 year of taking up the position., We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process, 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 on 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. Please note: Only candidates that achieve an A grade at ADC will be invited to interview for this role.
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
This vacancy is being managed by Berwick Partners , one of our Executive Search Partners. Once you register your application via the Apply Now option you will receive a communication directing you submit your CV and supporting statement at http://www.berwickpartners.co.uk/92051, Berwick Partners will make contact with you offering you an opportunity to further discuss the role and finalise your application
For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the explanation provided in the attached candidate pack.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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 developed vetting (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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This is an exciting time to join our team and be part of the leadership journey to our new operating model. We are looking for an experienced construction/FM specialist with strong technical and sector competence but a broad range of leadership skills into our function but up and out to our customer base., 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., + Manages Complexity - Leading strategic teams in large-scale complex organisations and delivering transformational change. Using data analysis understand the impacts on the construction market. Delivering in overseas context would be helpful
+ Commercial Focus - Significant commercial experience in the area of construction, FM services both hard and soft, overseas delivery and operating in a sensitive/secure environment would be desirable
+ Builds Relationships – Experience of influencing key stakeholders, colleagues and suppliers at a senior level within a highly complex, fast-moving, commercially focused environment
+ Coaching Manager – a track record of achieving strong results by successfully building capability at all levels of a commercial function
+ Procurement Process - Delivering procurements in construction, infra, FM services. NEC contracts experience and delivering category strategies. Evidence of delivering overseas procurements would be useful
+ Contract and Supply Management - Managing construction and FM services delivery post contract award including managing construction disputes. Managing to cost, time and risk

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 15th 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.