Deputy Director Commercial Software & Cloud Services
- Civil Service
- Full Time
- Corsham
- 101,000 - 131,000
Job Description
Job summary
The nature of modern warfare is changing, with access to and exploitation of information becoming a vital way of securing military advantage (National Audit Office). The Digital Strategy for Defence addresses this in three key elements, including the need to collect and use data appropriately to harness strategic advantage , further transform digital capabilities to enable military and business advantage, and to deliver this across all of Defence both securely and at pace . The Defence Digital organisation is responsible for making sure that effective digital and information technology (D&IT) is put into the hands of the business and military front line.
We must position the UK Defence Enterprise in competition to the acquisition and delivery organisations of our adversaries . It's imperative that we work across Defence to acquire tomorrows technology today.
Defence Digital Commercial is the core team responsible for delivering outstanding outcomes and 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 4.7bn a year, through more than 300 suppliers. We have implemented Category Management and operate across five categories Networks, Hardware and Services, Space, Software and Professional Services engaging with suppliers of all sizes and specialisms across the Defence landscape.
Our Digital Commercial Strategy allows us to build a more strategic approach to relationship management and to build capability and embed new ways of working.
It is an exceptionally exciting time within Defence Digital Commercial and we are seeking procurement experts to join us to share knowledge and experience. Working collaboratively with multiple key internal stakeholders, you will deliver the Commercial approach to new and exciting projects, driving innovation, value and agility through strategic Category Management.
If the opportunity to work in this critical fast paced environment excites you, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Job description
Role Overview:
Lead the 1.6bn annual sourcing and commercial portfolio for Pan MOD digital enterprise, covering Cloud services, Crypt Key, Cyber, Foundry, AI, and Digital Intelligence, one of the largest in all Government Commercial teams. Manage a supply base of over 300 suppliers of varying sizes and continue to diversify supply chain across strategic, digital related programmes. Drive transformation by modernising procurement policies and processes to position Defence as a cutting-edge buyer of digital services.
This role includes the ownership of contracts that are Critical National Infrastructure and delivers Enterprise Agreements that are MOD and Pan Government.
Management and direct ownership of 104 commercial officers and provide digital and Software category support to a wider Commercial function of 2500 people.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee category strategy and delivery across software, AI, Cyber, Crypt Key, Cloud, Digital Intelligence products and services.
- Manage high-value enterprise procurements and ensure alignment with Defence priorities.
- Lead transformation initiatives to streamline procurement and improve industry engagement.
- Operate within a matrix structure, balancing industry-facing categories with Defence-specific capabilities to optimise communication and outcomes.
Impact:
Shape the future of Defence's digital procurement, driving innovation and efficiency in collaboration with industry and internal stakeholders.
Operating Environment:
Operating at a senior level in a highly complex, multi-national defence and security environment, this role provides strategic commercial leadership across UK Government and MOD DigitalProgrammes.
The postholder will collaborate with Defence organisations, Government Departments and Agencies to shape commercial strategies that enable modern, secure and interoperable digital capabilities. Accountable for all commercial activity, assurance, and capability within these domains, the role operates amid rapid digital and technological change, evolving global threats, and stringent regulatory and governance frameworks.
The postholder must balance value for money while enabling assured delivery of critical digital and space capabilities while driving innovation, resilience, and compliance across diverse, high-profile and technically complex programmes. Decisions made in this role have significant
implications for operational effectiveness, cyber resilience, and strategic advantage. The post demands exceptional digital commercial acumen, sound judgement diplomacy, and robust stakeholder management in a politically sensitive and internationally scrutinised context.
Examples of typical assignments:
Drive Cross-Government Software and Cloud Collaboration
- Work collaboratively with MOD, the Digital Centre of excellence and DSIT align procurement pipelines and spend under management through the Defence Tech Scaler process and align to pan Gov CTO strategies.
- Coordinate cross-government supplier intelligence, market insights, and commercial opportunities to reduce duplication and achieve better outcomes for the defense and national security
Develop and Implement a Software and Cloud Enterprise Category
- Produce and maintain the Enterprise level Category Strategy, analysing market trends, spend under management, supplier capability, technology roadmaps and driving change and innovation through the Enterprise Category Workstreams.
- Drive innovation, alignment, and commercial improvement through governance structures, including the Steering Group and the Chief Technology Officer council in MOD and wider Government
- Modernise pan MOD ways of working and acquisition processes including Value for Money policies to align with industry best practice for procurement
Shape and Influence Software and Cloud Supplier Markets
- Lead market engagement activities with Suppliers and SMEs, holding Industry Round Tables to shape requirements, drive innovation, sustainability and resilience in the Software and Cloud Sectors .
In this role you will be responsible for delivering commercial excellence across digital and technology programmes as a trusted commercial advisor. You will lead the design and delivery of commercial approaches that enable digital transformation, innovation and best practice across the whole commercial lifecycle in order to encourage the Civil Service to respond to swiftly changing priorities, ensuring procurement and supplier decisions support modern, secure and interoperable services. You will be accountable for the delivery of future strategies that shape how your area of responsibility will contract in complex technology markets and will be responsible for the management of significant digital expenditure and high-value technology contracts.
You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, building their confidence and digital commercial capability as an influential leader who can shape and define deals in complex and uncertain technical contexts, delegating risks and issues to individuals in line with their experience and potential. The role will require you to use your specialist commercial and digital expertise to take measured, well-governed risks to deliver better approaches, services and technology outcomes.
L ocations:
The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.
Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.
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