SDA Senior Category Manager

UK Ministry of Defence; London; Hybrid; GBP 61,000; Full time

Job description

MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol

Job Summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

It's a busy and exciting time here at the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) and we’re seeking Category Managers to join our team in Bristol. We’re delivering the extraordinary for the defence of the UK and we’re looking for individuals with a thirst for improvement, a drive for engaging others, and a keen eye for detail. If you are a procurement professional with category management or strategic sourcing experience and an appetite for creating commercial change and adding value - Are you ready to help us?

You’ll join the SDA’s Supply Chain Optimisation team where you will help deliver improvements to our understanding of the Submarine Enterprise market and the performance, health and management of the Supply Chain. We are set up to ‘shape tomorrow’s supply chain’ together focused on facilitating the resolution of commercial and technical issues in the supply chain, for the long term, cutting across delivery teams and suppliers. We are looking for a team player, drawing on colleagues’ strengths and experiences, sharing learning and providing support.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Category Management or an accomplished Procurement professional to make an impact. You’ll have scope to establish and align internal and external expectations and deliver material change, supporting the establishment of category management in the SDA ensuring buy-in across the business.

In this team, you’ll have the chance to showcase your drive, enthusiasm, and dynamism, leading the development and implementation of category strategies based on current landscape, customer requirements and market knowledge / analysis with all relevant stakeholder groups through data analysis, market research and input of initiative ideas. Your time will be mostly dedicated to SDA, focusing on market and supplier base analysis, spend, cost drivers and contract requirements. You will also work across the MOD, broadening your stakeholder and change management skills, and deepening your experience.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this post will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Responsible for the development and implementation of specific category strategy (or strategies) based upon customer demand.
• Build and apply knowledge of commercial markets, the commercial lifecycle and broader global context to inform decision making and drive best practice.
• Engage with suppliers in the marketplace to ensure a resilient and competitive supply landscape.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of customer requirements through consultation with all relevant stakeholders and acts as a focal point for the category.
• Build expert insight and knowledge of each category through external market research and analysis and the dynamics of the category.
• Develop, maintain and share a compelling vision and strategy based on, or influencing the external supply market capability.
• Be prepared to challenge convention, influence direction and act as a catalyst for innovation.
• Communicate in a timely manner with a range of internal and external stakeholders including Senior Leadership, suppliers and Subject Matter Experts.
• Lead commercial practitioners, oversee and supervise outputs, advising, coaching and developing staff to support their personal development.
• Conduct assurance and due diligence of procurement and supply chain activity within own area of responsibility in order to provide confidence in outcomes. Participate in Peer Reviews as required.
• Provide support and assistance to commercial enabling teams to assist delivery of SDA Business Improvement projects.
• Contribute to wider Commercial functional and SDA initiatives as required.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post. Successful candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before starting the role.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Demonstrable experience of Category Management or its constituent parts.
• Current knowledge and understanding of Supplier Management / Category Management insight, emerging trends and thinking.
• Experience of supporting and leading projects in a Commercial or Supply Chain environment with a focus on impactful customer engagement.
• IT literate with experience across MS Office including Excel and PowerPoint.

If not already held, if successful you will be supported to undertake the following:

• Hold a minimum of a CIPS Level 6 Diploma and be working towards achieving and obtaining chartered status, including attendance at defence commercial professionalism courses to develop commercial skills and ensure on-going Continuing Professional Development.
• Attend Government Commercial Function Assessment & Development Centre prior to Interview.

Please note, Assessment and Development Centre attendance is a mandated element of this recruitment campaign and all slots have been scheduled to take place on Thursday 8th May 2025. Specific details will be confirmed to you if you have been successful at sift, which is scheduled for w/c 14th April 2025.

Once you have passed the Government Commercial Function Assessment & Development Centre, you will be invited to interview in late April 2025. If you have already passed the Government Commercial Function Assessment & Development Centre, your interview may be scheduled before this date.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Establishing the Source Strategy (Expert)
• Contract Management (Expert)

Alongside your salary of £60,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,468 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be a minimum of 40%) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition - £250-£5000 per year.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment; however, some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At sift and interview, you will be assessed on your:

Experience:

Candidates will be required to provide a CV. Details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Behaviours:

• Leadership (CSBC4)
• Seeing the Big Picture (CSBC4)
• Communicating and Influencing (CSBC4)

Technical Competencies:

• Establishing the Source Strategy (Expert)
• Contract Management (Expert)

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology could result in your application being rejected.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: [e-mail].

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in a new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Danny Williams
• Email : [e-mail]

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [e-mail].