Our successful Director Commissioning will understand our intent and will take ownership for helping to create the inclusive culture and environment crucial for the Gateway’s success. They will have an understanding of how the process through which DE&S Partners translate capability gaps into requirements and secure approval to progress. An exceptional communicator, they will be able to build trusting relationships quickly with key stakeholders, influencing decision making early for the benefit of Defence. A proven strategic leader who is comfortable with complexity and uncertainty, they will be capable of making difficult decisions with our Partners to prioritise and balance DE&S’ programme of work. Working as one team across Gateway, DE&S and wider Defence, Director Commissioning will challenge traditional ways of working to provide choice to our Partners (primarily but not limited to Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and UKStratCom), inform Defence decision making and expedite the acceptance of priority projects and programmes into DE&S. The position needs someone able to lead delivery of complex, fast-paced and highly varied activity whilst injecting DE&S insights into early Partner consideration of capability needs to help protect the Nation and help it prosper.​

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The position offers huge professional challenge in an organisation that plays a crucial role in the security of the UK. This is an exciting time for DE&S and the Gateway.

Job description

Director Commissioning has the following key areas of responsibility: 

• Act as DE&S’ primary link for our Partners, Including MOD Centre, directing Executive level engagement as required.​
• Act as the 2* Key Account Manager for DE&S’ relationship with Air Command and UK Strategic Command.​
• Setting priorities across DE&S current Equipment Plan programme of work in agreement with our Partners.​
• Effectively commission new Equipment Plan work, or major changes to existing EP Work into DE&S.​
• Lead the 2* DE&S Commissioning Directorate, a mixed Civil Service and Tri-Service team.
• Leadership of an operationally excellent delivery team of approx.150 people, directly influencing a £5Bn Defence-wide portfolio & Defence outcomes, including urgent operational taskings.​
• Actively leading DE&S response to annual budgeting cycles and the Intergrated Review – to ensure a coherent and sustainable long term (30 year) Equipment Plan.​
• Effectively integrate SME insights (including industry, International Allies and intra-MOD) to provide relevant and timely interventions on EP decision making.​
• Provision of strategic advice and technical staff support to DE&S, our Partners and MOD Centre.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate all 6 essential criteria and where applicable the desirable criteria :

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

1. A proven track record of values-based leadership, including a proactive commitment to diversity & inclusion with demonstrable experience of maintaining a psychologically safe, positive and inclusive environment.​
2. Embody a servant leadership approach, with evidence of empowering your teams, providing clear direction and respecting the valuable contributions they make.​
3. A track record of leading organisational change and delivering tangible benefits.​
4. Successful track record of delivery in the most demanding capability roles that will elicit the confidence of Partners and Senior Leadership across Defence and Government.​
5. Effective thinker with a record at the strategic level, while keeping a sound grasp of operational detail and modern programme planning, delivery and digital management systems.​
6. The ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders and to build strong collaborative partnerships and demonstrate sound financial and commercial acumen.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• Engineering or Science Degree level qualification or MBA​
• Major Projects Leadership Academy / ChPP or equivalent