Head of Commercial – Attack Submarines in Barrow in Furness

Assignment Location: Bristol (BS34 8JH) or Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria) (LA14 1AF). As this role is deployed to MOD, we defer to their local location strategy and operational demands. Office attendance and hybrid working patterns will be aligned with the host department's specific requirements.

Salary: £101,000 - £131,000 GCO Pension, GCO Terms. Up to 20% performance-related pay available on accreditation.

The DNO was established in April 2016 to oversee all aspects of nuclear business within the MOD and across the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). The DNE comprises the people that design, produce and maintain the submarines and nuclear warheads, and provide the necessary infrastructure and support. It includes the DNO as well as the Submarine Delivery Group (SDG), Royal Navy, UK Strategic Command, and Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). We also work with industry partners such as BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Babcock.

DNE Commercial Functions provides commercial advice, guidance and operational support across the whole spectrum of DNE acquisition and commercial strategy, sourcing and contract management from the most senior levels down and across the Enterprise.

This role will see you work across the MOD/DNE and Industry Parties who are responsible for the design and build of new attack submarines for the Royal Navy. This role is focused on the Astute and SSNA Programmes and, in addition, you will be responsible for the commercial aspects of Submarine Build Modernisation, a multi-billion-pound programme that combines infrastructure development and industrial transformation to recapitalise and digitally enable the main sites of our principal industrial partners (BAE Systems and Rolls Royce) and their supply chains.

Our programmes are the largest, most complex programmes currently being undertaken in the UK. From a career perspective, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring your experience to bear in an environment where you can make a real difference.

We are looking for a driven, resourceful and professional Head of Commercial, interested in taking on a challenging and scalable role and prepared to work at pace in a complex environment. The candidate will need strong internal and external stakeholder management skills, demonstrable strong negotiation skills and be capable of motivating an agile team of commercial professionals focused on both commercial acquisition and contract management activities. Successful candidates will get to explore the opportunities for commercial development within the DNE.

The role will be based in DNE SDG Offices in Abbeywood Bristol or Barrow, at least 3 days/week. The post will require travel between the sites (Bristol, London and Barrow) on a regular basis. This position will require individuals to hold SC clearance or be willing to undergo the process of obtaining it before an appointment is made.

Person specification:

• A highly resilient leader: Defence Nuclear and Submarine Build activities are a national endeavour and a high-pressure environment which requires resilient leaders that can deliver some of the nation's highest security priorities.
• A demonstrated ability to define and implement an industrial and commercial strategy for delivering a range of complex programmes.
• A substantial track record of leading complex, high-value private sector or government commercial transactions to demanding timescales, managing interdisciplinary teams of civil servants and external advisors to deliver programme outcomes.
• Experience working in multi-party alliance/collaborative arrangements including international parties with sovereign governments and familiarity with relevant wider national security issues relevant to the programme.
• Strong communication skills and credibility in engaging at Board and Ministerial level, with an ability to manage a varied and complex stakeholder landscape to drive decisions and approvals.
• Strong leadership skills and an ability to build and lead several geographically disparate capable, resilient, and high-performing commercial teams by setting direction and defining culture.
• A track record of working in technically complex industries and to work with technical subject-matter areas including single source contracting regulations, security and safety regulations, and environmental regulations.
• This role is reserved for British nationals and requires SC Clearance and further additional security clearances may be required in the future alongside additional read-ons with classified communities.
• Ability to attend the Bristol/Barrow-in-Furness office at least 3 days a week with regular travel to Barrow/Bristol, and London + travel to work with suppliers and visit manufacturing sites.
• Be amongst the most senior members of the Government Commercial Function and play a role in the broader commercial reform programme led by the Government Chief Commercial Officer.
• Play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the MOD and across government.