Job description for Commercial Manager

Are you ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role that combines leadership, expertise, and collaboration? We are seeking a Procurement Manager to provide high-level commercial expertise across a range of critical assignments. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in a heavily regulated and safety-critical environment, supporting the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its mission partners.

In this role, you will deliver Procurement Management expertise across pre-sourcing analysis, contract sourcing, contract management, category management, and corporate activities. You will provide commercial leadership for a portfolio (or portfolios) of contracts, ensuring the delivery of business and commercial outputs. Additionally, you will lead and mentor commercial colleagues, fostering collaboration with other functions to meet business requirements. Acting as a senior functional specialist and line manager, you will oversee procurement, repair, modification, calibration, provision of spares and equipment, ad-hoc tasking, post-design services, technical support, and technical documentation.

This role is critical to supporting the MOD’s mission partners by ensuring the delivery of essential services in a highly regulated and safety-critical environment. Your expertise will directly contribute to the success of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Business Teams, which focus largely on the “in-service” and “disposal” phases of the CADMID cycle (Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In-Service, and Disposal).

This role involves frequent travel to MOD and supplier sites, offering you the opportunity to engage directly with key stakeholders and partners. It is a unique chance to be part of a dynamic team that plays a critical role in supporting the MOD’s mission. You will have the opportunity to lead, innovate, and make a tangible difference in a challenging and rewarding environment.

Interviews will take place face-to-face at MOD Sealand and will commence in the week commencing Monday 25th August 2025 (please note this is subject to change).

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

 What you’ll be doing

• Accountable for determining the appropriate commercial strategy for project requirements within own delegation. Drafting the strategy plans, commercial management plans and facilitating/delivering it or making recommendations for action to Senior Leadership, ensuring all contracts adhere to procurement regulations and Government policy.
• Lead the management of a requirement or portfolio of requirements and of contract management of contracts of varying risk and complexity ensuring all parties are held accountable to meet their contracted obligations to ensure effective delivery of contract requirements.
• Negotiate terms and pricing, place and manage contracts and contract amendments up to a maximum delegation in accordance with set guidelines outlined in the individual’s delegation letter and MOD policy.
• Coach, lead, mentor and / or manage a team of commercial staff.
• Conduct assurance and due diligence of commercial activity within own area of responsibility in order to provide confidence in commercial outcomes. Participate in Peer Reviews as required.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Proven demonstration of managing a procurement process from pre sourcing to contract management
• Experience in stakeholder and supplier engagement and building positive working relationships.
• Must hold level 4 Member of The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS)
• Proficient in MS Office applications including Word and Excel it would also be advantageous to have experience of Oracle CP&F or other similar Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership
• Core Behaviour 2: Communicating and Influencing
• Technical Competence 1: Establishing the Sourcing Strategy – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: Tender and Bid Process – Practitioner

 Offered Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories (CV Review) listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. 

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the relative importance of the assessed competencies as per the hierarchy below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 1
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise an additional assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Offering at a lower level

If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission