Download the MoD - Defence Digital Commercial candidate pack here


Thank you for your interest in working in Defence Digital Commercial.

Lee RimmerDefence Digital Commercial is a department of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)  staffed, at a senior level, by employees from the Government Commercial  Organisation (GCO). It is one of the largest  and most complex commercial  functions within Government evolving into a Category Management structure  covering Networks, Hardware and Services, Software, Military Technology and  Professional  Services, managing  contracts that are so huge it is not  unreasonable to consider that they may be impossible to manage effectively. We  have a very attractive and exciting portfolio of opportunities to offer technology  suppliers, making this a very exciting employment opportunity. We need to grow our teams now to meet the heavier technology demands of the MOD which in turn means a significant increase in our commercial activity.

The most powerful thing any commercial department can have is the ability to  have a strong client relationship combined with a collaborative alignment with  commercial colleagues. It is therefore my goal to ensure that the correct people  are employed in this department adding value and help shape our strategic  approach to the buying of technology and technology services for the MOD.
 

Lee Rimmer - Defence Digital Commercial Director

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.

The Government Commercial Function is more than just the response to the  challenges that Government has faced in recent times; it is an essential element  of the Government’s efforts to address the value for money  agenda, while  delivering higher quality public services.

Our vision is to make the Government’s Commercial Function the best in the UK:  staffed with top commercial specialists, creating  and managing innovative,  efficient and effective commercial arrangements. This is an exciting and diverse  environment – we spend around £49bn per year on procurements that range
from £100k to multi-billion-pound contracts, with annual spend on individual  contracts often exceeding £500m. Our supply base includes  SMEs and the  largest multinationals, and our business models have the Government acting as
shareholder or sponsor, as well as being an ‘intelligent client’.

I hope you will be inspired to join us and help lead the ongoing commercial  reform agenda of the Civil Service. You won’t find a more exciting or diverse  challenge elsewhere.
 

Gareth Rhys Williams - Government Chief Commercial Officer

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Background to the Government Commercial Function

workerThe Civil Service is one of the biggest and most complex employers in the UK, employing over 400,000 Civil Servants, serving both Ministers and the public, to deliver the priorities of the Government of the day. These include major projects with a lifecycle cost of around £500bn, as well as programmes and services that affect everyone in the United Kingdom. The annual spend is c. £49bn per annum with a range of suppliers including SMEs.

Following issues with some major contracts and key suppliers, the Civil Service has committed to dramatically improving its commercial performance. This has included establishing a Commercial Function that will operate with, and in support of, departments. A senior Government Chief Commercial Officer was appointed from the private sector to head up the Commercial Function. This coincided with the first set of Commercial Standards published for Government in February 2016, updated in November 2016 which we now benchmark against.

Commercial resources overseen by the function number some 4,000 staff across Whitehall, and consist of:

  • Several core interlocking central teams working together on Policy, Standards and Continuous Improvement, Complex Transactions, Markets and Suppliers (that will build pan-­Government relationships with key suppliers) and Commercial Capability
  • Colleagues in the Commercial Directorates within Departments and Agencies
  • The Crown Commercial Service, a trading fund sourcing common goods and services for the Civil Service and the wider public sector, managing spend of circa £13bn

The Commercial Function is led by Gareth Rhys Williams, the Government Chief Commercial Officer (GCCO). He reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer of the Civil Service, Alex Chisolm.

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Why Join Defence Digital Commercial 

 

Who are Defence Digital Commercial? 

The world is changing – Digital is at the heart of this and in Defence we are working to place the latest technologies in the hands of operational and business users. 

MoDDefence Digital Commercial (DDCmrcl) is the core team responsible for delivering outstanding value for Defence across its exploitation of digital and information technologies, through our oversight and management of all third-party IT spend for Defence. 

We are responsible for a large portfolio of complex contracts worth £2bn a year, through more than 300 suppliers. We operate across five categories – Networks, Hardware and Services, Military Technology, Software and Hosting and Professional Services - engaging with suppliers of all sizes and specialisms across the technology and defence landscape aiming to reduce third-party costs and ensure tax-payer value. 

Our wide-ranging Strategic Supplier Management programme is building a centre of commercial excellence, with a team of almost 200 people focussed on getting the most financially astute outcomes across all our contracts. We are developing a more strategic approach to supplier relationship management and implementing new ways of working that will embed good practice category management. 

This is an exceptionally exciting time within DDCmrcl and we are seeking commercial experts in IT categories to share their experience and to influence to help run the business of Defence with greater accuracy, speed, productivity and efficiency. 

About the Categories

Each member of the Senior Leadership team is Lead for both a category and a strategic responsibility.

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Hardware and Services 
Defence Digital Hardware and Services category team is at the technology edge of providing end user computer business and military services across over 200k users in globally deployed (think tents and ships) and fixed (think buildings) environments. 

You’ll work with some of the biggest, brightest, and best people and suppliers, on some of the largest IT programmes in Government. 

The scale and variety of our £500m p.a. portfolio is unlike any other organisation. You could be delivering a mobile device sub-category or helping standardise the service and integration management service offering across the enterprise. You’ll be working across a range of security classifications in network constrained environments (no fibre here) to ensure data is delivered securely to make effective business and military decisions. 

We’re looking for articulate, proactive, and experienced people who thrive on complex challenges, who understand how their specialist knowledge will contribute to the strategic outcome, and who will bring value to our established team of professionals. 

Working

Military Technology
The Military Technology Category manages a portfolio of 45 contracts with a total contract value (TCV) of £6.756bn and a total annual spend of £633M split across three sub-categories which are Space, Gateways and Messaging and Battlefield and Tactical Communication and Information Systems (BATCIS). 

The Military Technology category procures a diverse range of Defence Equipment and Services such as Military Satellites, Battlefield and Tactical Communication and Information Systems, High Grade Messaging, High Threat Gateways, Medium Threat Gateways, Secure Communications and Nuclear Response Warning Systems.Why Join Defence Digital Commercial

Networks
The Networks category manages 24 contracts with a total annual spend of £400M split across three sub-categories: Fixed Networks, Telecoms and Radios. There is high concentration of spend across two main suppliers - BT and Fujitsu. The team leads on the sourcing and contract management of spend across a wide range of telecommunications equipment and services across all security classifications:  

  • wide area network 
  • local area networks 
  • WiFi 
  • Gateways sensors and encryption 
  • fixed and mobile telephone  
  • audio and video conferencing solutions.  

The team was shortlisted the CIPS Best Public Procurement project of the year in in 2020. It was recognised by the Minister for Defence Procurement for its contribution the rapid need for increased network availability and resilience across the fixed and mobile networks across MOD and its c200,000 end users during the Covid pandemic.  

The rapidly growing team is now going to market to source multiple large (Cat A - £400m+) contracts including next generation communications networks and future IUS to replace legacy contract and technology with modern and flexible contracts with the latest technology.  

ArmyProfessional Services
Professional Services is the business that keeps the business going, sourcing skills and people to make sure high-profile projects can deliver Defence Digital strategic outcomes. 

As a category pillar, Professional Services supports the Software, Hardware and Services, Networks and Military Technology categories giving exposure to a wide range of procurement activity. 

With lower contract values (<10M), commercial officers manage all aspects of commercial responsibility against each requirement. 

The team is constructing its own framework for IT and Professional Services which will go-live in early 2022. The vast majority of Professional Services requirements will be sourced through this new framework to give better data and pricing and improving knowledge and relationships in the market-place.  

Software and Hosting
Software & Hosting category is a fantastic mixture of enterprise software acquisitions with Tier 1 suppliers and bundles of Defence capability procured to support Defence Digital project delivery across:

  • Application development and support
  • Hosting and Cloud services
  • Intelligence systems
  • Cyber and crypto

The team manages 167 contracts with a total value of around £850m. The annual spend of £360m covers contracts spanning across multiple categories and specific capabilities with two thirds identified as pan MOD software services.

The Software category serves multiple niche capability areas and is influencing the Ministry of Defence to procure traditional software services and Defence capability to optimise contracts and leverage our collective scale and build healthy working relationships with our industry partners and suppliers.

MOD Diversity and Inclusion Agendadiversity

Our people are our greatest asset, and if we are to maximise the talent of all our people we must continue to create a culture that is centred on Respect, Integrity and Courage.

We must all work together to create and sustain an environment where people feel able to be authentic in the workplace; where everyone’s needs are considered; and where everyone feels respected and able to achieve their full potential.

A diverse and inclusive workforce is stronger, healthier more cohesive and resilient organisation, where all of our people have a positive lived experience.

MO Disability

Defence Commercial have taken a positive stand to support the diversity agenda prioritising 9 streams of activity, all employees are encouraged to be involved in one of these streams:

  • Religion
  • Maternity/Paternity
  • Age
  • Social Mobility
  • LGBT+
  • Gender
  • BAME
  • Disability
  • Marriage and Civil Partnership

Why we work here

Catherine Proudlove 

C2 – Software

I have been working with Defence Digital for the last two years and during that time I have had the opportunity to work on a range of projects such as the procurement of technology to support secret operations and running a competition to replace the Army’s radio system.  I have been given fantastic opportunities and support, and I look forward to the next challenge.

Tom Dubberley

C2 – Hardware and Service

I have gained a wealth of hands on Commercial experience, supported with mentoring, and training. I have worked on a variety of contracts from buying office chairs to ensuring the Royal Navy flagship is operationally ready to support the armed forces, working with a range of people. I have only ever encountered a positive and inclusive environment.