Commercial Manager in Bristol

As part of our Commercial function, you’ll join a diverse team of around 1,000 people who support the successful delivery of defence procurement programmes with real world impact. Equipping and supporting the UK’s armed forces, these programmes range from peacekeeping to disaster relief to humanitarian aid projects – and we’re proud to help deliver them while ensuring compliance and best value.

You’ll benefit from a clear career path with plenty of opportunities for progression, support from colleagues and mentors to develop your career, access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications, and a c.27% employer pension contribution. You’ll also have access to a wide range of employee networks, including the Women’s Inclusive Network, Race & Culture Network, Pride Network, Disability Network – and many more. We recognise that the best people for the job may have commitments outside of work, so we’re pleased to promote flexible working to support our colleagues in balancing work and home life.

We are currently looking for Commercial Managers to provide leadership within Commercial teams in DE&S and SDA. Our Commercial Manager roles include contract sourcing, contract management, sales and disposals. You will work collaboratively with other functions in the Project Delivery teams to provide leadership of a complex contract or portfolio of contracts, manage delivery of business and commercial outputs to deliver business requirements.

Responsibilities for DE&S / SDA Commercial Manager:

• Delivering complex commercial projects or a portfolio of projects for equipment and/or service, supporting peace-keeping and humanitarian aid missions through to defending UK security.
• Negotiating terms and pricing, placing and management of contracts and negotiating contract amendments up to a maximum delegation of £10M in accordance with the Ministry of Defence policy.
• Supporting the development of new Procurement Strategies through analysis of the markets for Defence Equipment.
• Supplier performance management in accordance with Contract Management Plans.
• Due diligence of commercial activity within own area of responsibility.
• Contributing to wider Commercial function and business improvement activities.
• Communicating in a timely manner with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Leading and managing a team of commercial officers and assistants.

This is an excellent opportunity to begin or continue your career in the Civil Service. The clear and structured career path within the Commercial function provides many opportunities to develop as we offer an array of training and development opportunities to help our employees develop their skills and experience.

To be successful with your application you must demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Previous experience of sourcing and contract management activities.
• Some experience of managing, leading and developing others.
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office or equivalent.

If not already held, if successful you will be supported to undertake the following:

• Level 4 or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards this by commencing study within one year of appointment.
• Have passed the MOD Practitioner Commercial Licence assessment, or be willing to undertake the assessment when agreed by line management.

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

• Tender and Bid Process.
• Contract Management.
• Leadership.
• Making effective decisions.

Our careers offer stability, training, progression – and much more! We’re exploring future ways of working with a flexible and family-friendly approach in mind. This means that successful candidates may be offered the option of hybrid working, combining working at home with working at their contractual location.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are dedicated to creating a great place to work that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. To help us do this, we particularly encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, disabled people and people from LGBT communities.