Deputy Head Commercial Business Partnering Air Commercial-MoD

Building a strong Commercial Function in Government, and with it the right commercial capability, is at the heart of a far-reaching programme of Civil Service reform.

We are building a cadre of commercial talent in all Government departments; people who can manage our commercial portfolios, who can lead our most complex and novel programmes and projects, people who have the gravitas and depth of experience to work alongside our policy and operational leaders to develop innovative commercial arrangements, whether through joint ventures, outsourcing or best-in-class contracts.

The Government Commercial Organisation is an employer which is truly committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and are able to perform to their potential. We understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and strive for a workplace that reflects the communities which we serve.

We especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with a disability and candidates with gender-diverse identities. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. We have already made significant progress through the establishment of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), our single employer of senior commercial talent across government.

This role will sit within the GCO, but based in our MoD commercial team delivering departmental objectives.

This is an opportunity to undertake a high-profile, rewarding role that will provide commercial leadership and expertise right at the outset of Air Command capability setting. The Commercial Business Partnering team’s role work directly with our senior military stakeholders to provide commercial guidance as capability need develops, ensuring that requirements are market facing and drive the best outputs and delivery from our suppliers. This is the fast-paced role, supporting the cutting edge of the RAF’s development. 

 You will be directly contributing to Air Commercial’s objective to be a world class commercial function and strategic partner to the RAF. This role provides a unique opportunity to be involved in and influence projects in one of the biggest commercial and procurement functions in UK Government

You will need to work with a high degree of autonomy and be accountable for driving commercial performance by applying your experience and judgement to deliver great commercial outcomes. The role provides the opportunity to make a real difference and help shape the strategy and vision for Air Command. You will establish yourself within Air Command as a trusted source of commercial guidance and information, building collaborative relationships with the wider Air Commercial team.

You will influence commercial performance from an early stage, and this will maximize your opportunity to balance risk, whilst working with internal customers and diverse, wider stakeholders. This is a strategic role which requires significant commercial acumen and experience, as well as strong communication and relationship management skills.

This will appeal to a well-rounded Commercial professional who can give Intelligent Customer Support to Air Command but also be hand’s on in defining routes to market for new requirements, ensuring the best outcomes across the acquisition cycle. The individual will need to be a commercial professional who has strong experience of senior stakeholder management and be able to communicate effectively and influence with colleagues at senior grades both within the RAF and Civil Service. The role will involve interesting and unique commercial arrangements that maximize the opportunities that the aerospace sector provides.

You will also be a member of the Air Commercial Senior Management Team, helping to implement the Air Commercial People Strategy and seek continuous improvement in the ways of working across Air Commercial.

Act as an Intelligent Customer Support Commercial Professional in providing to Air Command:

• Customer Support – Commercial Advice – Commercial Upskilling 
• Delivery Agent Engagement & Relationship Management
• Supplier Intelligence/ Market Insight – Identification of suppliers in the marketplace and engaging with the Market. 
• Strategic Supplier Relationship Management 
• Exit Planning

Leading on commercial advice and guidance on new requirements in Air Command:

• Investigation and research of requirements to assist in commercial process, and make these market facing prior to commencing procurement activity
• Developing commercial strategies that drive competition using recognised good practice
• Giving advice and direction for future Routes to Market for selected new requirements
• Where required, lead early market engagement activity to inform Air Commercial acquisitions, and/or Delivery Agent (DA) acquisition prior to commissioning projects across to a DA
• Keeping abreast of Departmental commercial policy and procedural and administration directives, and to apply that information accordingly

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Manages Complexity: Proven ability to operate in complex multi-stakeholder environments, considering the big picture and using a variety of data and information sources to appraise commercial options and articulate recommendations.
• Market Insight: Understand the importance of market insight in commercial strategy development and demonstrates ability to use this to drive benefits, whilst managing risk.
• Commercial Focus: Experience of procurement and commercial delivery across the end-to-end lifecycle, including category management within a fast-moving, commercially focused environment.
• Builds Relationships: Excellent influencing and communication skills to build trusted and credible relationships across Air Command, MOD, Industry, and government.
• Understanding Sourcing Needs: Experience of early commercial development, assisting stakeholder in understanding their sourcing requirements/needs to translate into a coherent commercial plan.

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.

Job contact :

• Name : Lynsey Munro
• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk