Defence Commercial Graduate Programme 2022

The Defence Commercial Graduate Programme (DCGP) aims to recruit individuals from a range of diverse backgrounds. A diverse group of graduates with varied skills and experiences, which enables the Ministry of Defence (MOD) perform at its best.

If you’re considering a career in Procurement and Contract Management, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) offers a challenging opportunity like no other. The portfolio of MOD’s business is unique.

We buy and support an extensive range of equipment, services and infrastructure to support the Armed Forces; from food ration packs, army boots, and military accommodation facilities, to aircraft carriers and helicopters, and everything in between. Commercial Officers are responsible for the sourcing, purchasing and management of goods, works and/or services on behalf of the MOD.

The DCGP is a two-year Programme, focused on developing the next generation of Commercial Officers. Our Programme will provide you with the experiences, education, mentorship and professional qualifications you need for a long-lasting career in Procurement.

All degrees and backgrounds are welcome; the only educational requirement is that you have achieved or are predicted to achieve a 2:2 in your undergraduate degree.

What is Commercial

MOD is made up of smaller, enabling organisations called Delivery Organisations (DO) and Front-Line Commands (FLC) who can focus on developing specialised skills for a variety of procurements, from construction to submarines. There are three sub-categories to Commercial work.

Pre-Sourcing

Pre-Sourcing activities focus on gaining an understanding of the market to aid the development of an appropriate sourcing strategy for the goods, works and/or services being procured. Examples include defining the requirement, conducting supplier market analysis and early market engagement.

Sourcing

The sourcing strategy is executed in this phase to deliver the requirement. The work of a Commercial Officer during this stage of the Procurement Cycle includes advertising & selecting suppliers, supplier negotiation & dialogue and tender evaluation.

Contract Management

There are three fundamental pillars of Contract Management: effective Contract Administration, Relationship Management and Managing Performance and Service Delivery. Managing the Contract is vital in ensuring a contractor delivers the requirement as detailed in the Contract.

Job Description

The two-year structured development Programme aims to develop graduates into high calibre professional commercial officers with the ability to manage the MOD’s innovative and demanding commercial business activities. It is owned by the MOD Director General Commercial and is centrally governed by the DCGP Management Team.

Upon joining the DCGP you will be sponsored by a specific Business Area for the duration of the Programme, and line managed by a dedicated Sponsor Line Manager within that Business Area.

Your first and last placements will be at your permanent duty station within your Sponsored Business Area, and at least one other placement will be within another Business Area, which may be based in a different geographical location, and possibly overseas. You will regrade from the Programme to a post within your Sponsored Business Area at your Permanent Duty Station.

During your time on the Programme, you will undertake work placements of varying lengths. You will initially undertake 2 x 6 months' placements in the first year, to give you immediate hands-on experience of the fundamentals of contract drafting and placement, Terms & Conditions and the tendering process. In the second year, there is more flexibility, and placements will be between 3 to 6 months' duration to aid development of the full set of the required behaviours, whilst delivering specific outputs for individual teams.

Day-to-day, placements will provide you with the opportunity to learn about all aspects of the procurement and contract management activities undertaken by the commercial officer role. You will be provided with real experience in:

• Developing appropriate contracting methods and strategies
• Agreeing and evaluating tenders against specifications
• Negotiating with Industry, including pricing and payment considerations
• Procurement and Intellectual Property Law
• Supplier relations and contract management
• Risk mitigation and management

Upon joining, you will complete induction training and embark on your CIPS and MOD specific training. You will receive on-going support throughout the Programme from your Sponsor Line Manager, the DCGP Management Team, experienced Mentors, and past and present Programme members.

At the end of the Programme, provided you have achieved the standards expected, you will be offered the opportunity to move into a middle management professional role within your Sponsor Business Area’s commercial function.

If you are successful and join the DCGP, the location detailed in your offer will be your Permanent Duty Station. In line with prevailing COVID restrictions and current working strategies you may be able to work from home for some of the time, however there will be a requirement for physical attendance at your office (Permanent Duty Station) which will be dictated by the requirements of the Business and the DCGP Programme. This will be subject to change as COVID restrictions change or ease, and the requirement to attend your Permanent Duty Station is likely to increase significantly.

All employees are encouraged to take reasonable measures to live within a reasonable travelling distance of their main place of work, although the decision is for the employee to make. Employees are responsible for meeting the cost of their home to work travel and the DCGP does not offer relocation expenses or financial support to travel to your Permanent Duty Station.

Permanent Duty Station locations will be allocated, where possible, based on your personal preferences. However, please note that the number of positions at each location is limited and whilst every effort will be made to meet your personal preferences this is not always possible, and you may be offered a role at a different location.

Responsibilities

We are seeking individuals who:

• Enjoy solving complex problems and can deliver clear and effective solutions
• Have high standards of written and verbal communication
• Are keen on embracing change
• Are willing to share information, knowledge and skills
• Have a strong focus on meeting customer requirements in our support to the Armed Forces
• Can understand the bigger picture whilst dealing with the essential detail
• Are keen to seek out new opportunities for learning, self-development and career development
• Are prepared to commit to a 2-year fast paced and intensive development programme

If applying on a part-time basis, please be aware that there are substantial study and training commitments whilst on the programme.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a 2:2 degree or be predicted to achieve a 2:2 degree, by July 2022.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Learning and development tailored to your role. The Programme provides professional training via the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Corporate Award Practitioner (CAP) and CIPS Level 5/6 Corporate Award Advanced Practitioner (CAAP); successful completion of which results in full membership of CIPS (MCIPS) after 3 years’ experience in a responsible procurement role. You will also have access to tailored workshops and other relevant training.
• 25-day Annual Leave allowance, rising to a maximum of 30 days.
• A Civil Service Pension
• Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave
• Flexible Working Hours
• Workplace Nurseries at most major locations
• Access to Gym and Sports memberships