Location
City of Westminster, with additional sites in London, Bristol, and Reading. The role requires attendance in office up to 3 days per week and travel between these sites. Some wider UK and international travel may be required with notice.

Hours
Full time, with flexibility to support classified programmes and stakeholder engagement.

Salary
£84,637 per annum

About the Role
This is a pivotal leadership role within the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) Commercial team, part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). You will lead the Scrutiny and Data capability of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) Commercial Portfolio, overseeing procurements, contract management, and business case development to support nuclear warhead and submarine programmes. Your role will include developing data governance tools and commercial scrutiny processes to ensure strategies deliver public value.

Working closely with key partners such as the Royal Navy, Submarine Delivery Agency, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and major industry suppliers, you will provide strategic commercial assurance and advice across a multi-billion-pound portfolio. You will lead a team of commercial professionals, driving continuous improvement and embedding best practices across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

This role offers significant strategic exposure, including regular briefings to senior leaders within the DNE and MOD. It requires strong stakeholder management, negotiation skills, and the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team. The position demands security clearance at Developed Vetting (DV) level or willingness to undergo the process prior to appointment.

Experience
- Leading commercial assurance and scrutiny within complex, high-value portfolios, preferably in defence or nuclear sectors.
- Providing strategic commercial advice and recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance boards.
- Managing commercial risk and delivering mitigation strategies at programme and corporate levels.
- Overseeing contract management and improving delivery performance on key contracts.
- Building and leading resilient, high-performing commercial teams.
- Working knowledge of Single Source Contracting Regulations, Intellectual Property Rights, and the Procurement Act 2023.
- Experience operating in technically complex environments with security and safety regulations.
- Developing commercial strategies and executing them through effective policy implementation.
- Building strong networks with senior officials across government and industry.
- Delivering major commercial transactions to demanding timescales through interdisciplinary leadership.

About you
- Exceptional resilience and ability to operate effectively under high-pressure national security conditions.
- Sharp commercial judgment with the ability to solve complex problems and proactively manage risks.
- Excellent communication skills with senior-level credibility, capable of briefing ministerial and C-suite leaders.
- Skilled in writing complex briefings and persuading stakeholders to achieve government priorities.
- Strong leadership capability with a supportive and mentoring approach.
- Ability to develop market insights and provide data-driven commercial advice.
- Commitment to continuous professional development and team capability building.

Qualifications
- Minimum Level 4 Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) qualification.
- Willingness to achieve MCIPS within 2 years of appointment.
- Eligibility for Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance.
- British nationality required.
- Ability to attend stakeholder sites regularly and willingness to travel internationally.
- After achieving MCIPS, eligible for commercial delegation of £50M - £75M.