Principal Regulatory Policy Manager

This is an exciting and challenging time for defence with a fast-evolving threat environment, and the Governments Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy now published and being implemented. The SSRO is playing an active role in these vital developments looking at how our regulatory regime can best play a part in incentivising a faster pace of delivery while protecting taxpayer value for money and ensuring fair prices to contractors that allow them to thrive.

As a Principal Regulatory Policy Manager in the SSRO you will be at the heart of our thinking on how to how to evolve the single source regime in line with the Governments objectives. You will work with a wide range of stakeholders across the defence establishment both in the MOD and the defence industry. You will be an important part of a dynamic organisation enhancing the SSROs reputation as an independent expert body and thought leader.

The SSRO is an executive non-departmental public body that plays a central role in the regulation of the UK governments non-competitive procurement of military capabilities. The framework places controls on the prices of qualifying defence contracts and imposes transparency obligations on defence contractors. Amongst other things we establish the baseline profit rate for contracts under the single source regime, hold and analyse a wide range of contract and supplier data, publish guidance on what costs are allowable, give opinions and determinations on areas of disagreement between MOD and contractors and constantly look for ways to improve and strengthen the regime.

This is a full-time role, and we would be happy to consider flexible working arrangements for the successful candidate.

Principal Regulatory Policy Manager

What will I be doing?

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level policy expertise and advice to develop and deliver aspects of the SSROs vision, objectives, strategies, policies and plans, including:
• Horizon-scanning and foresight work to inform the SSROs future planning and strategic priorities.
• Keeping up to date with significant public sector, regulatory policy and parliamentary developments and disseminating this intelligence within the SSRO.
• Developing a strong understanding of qualifying defence contracts including key statistics and details about those the SSRO regulates.

• Lead the SSRO Support function including the helpdesk which primarily deals with queries about the contracting, pricing and reporting provisions of the regulatory framework, ensuring MOD and industry stakeholders are satisfied with the support services they receive. This includes:
• Ensuring helpdesk queries are responded to in a timely manner and within expected timescales.
• Ensuring onboarding sessions (which induct contractors new to the regulatory framework) and training sessions are delivered effectively and stakeholders are satisfied.
• Disseminating within the SSRO intelligence and information derived from support engagement so as to inform our other work.
• Effective line management of the Stakeholder Support Manager and the Stakeholder Support Coordinator inspiring them to deliver their best.

• Lead complex projects and activities, taking responsibility for delivering high quality, timely outputs. Examples of such projects/activities include:
• Leading the SSROs international engagement with partner organisations and ensure that the organisation continues to be a contributing member of the International Community of Practice (ICOP).
• Reviewing the Act and the Regulations that govern the SSROs activities to identify potential improvements that will make the single source regulatory framework more effective and formulate recommendations to the Secretary of State.
• Improving pricing and reporting under the regulatory framework.
• Developing the Corporate Plan, the Internal Business Plan and other strategies as required.
• Providing guidance to stakeholders about the operation of the regulatory framework, supporting them to implement the framework effectively and efficiently, and responding to their questions.
• Collaborate with staff across the SSRO and work successfully in multi-disciplinary teams, including project teams drawn from across other established teams. Share knowledge with colleagues where this will assist their work. Manage and lead such teams as required.
• Engage effectively with stakeholders across the defence community (both public and private sector) and wider Government and regulators. Manage public consultations and other appropriate channels of engagement.
• Communicate the SSROs work with influence, including preparing high quality documents. Draft in a language and style that conveys technical information in a way that is easy for non-technical audiences to comprehend. Give presentations to a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Act with integrity, apply the SSROs governance procedures, and promote good governance.
• Investigate and make best use of available technology, including exploring how artificial intelligence can contribute new and innovative ways to deliver our work that improve quality and efficiency.
• Be a role model for the SSROs values and behaviours and an active participant in the SSROs corporate life.
• Undertake such other duties as the SSRO may require, in line with business need.

Person specification

Essential

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent professional qualification or experience.
• Experience of working within the defence sector.
• Strong critical thinking abilities to challenge and consider alternatives when looking at issues. Able to master the detail, to interpret and interrogate data and derive insights from it to inform our choices, whilst not losing the bigger picture. Flexibility in thinking and ability to deal with ambiguity and change.
• Ability to understand complex ideas/issues and develop policies and processes that work in a defence and regulatory setting both for Government and industry.
• Able to take high level steers from senior staff and translate into options that are implementable for our regulatory regime, including development of ideas emerging from reviews of the legislation which governs our work.
• A self-starter, practical and pragmatic, with a high level of project, time and resource management skills, who demonstrates a flexible can do attitude, takes on challenges and has the tenacity to actively challenge processes.
• Experience of planning and delivering research projects or policy reviews, with a demonstrated ability to present complex data in a clear and easy-to-understand format including both written and oral presentations for a variety of audiences.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively including over organisational boundaries, build relationships and engage with internal and external stakeholders while maintaining credibility and professionalism.
• Friendly, customer-centric approach to engaging with stakeholders and dealing with the pressures of enquiries. Conveys confidence and authority in a complex environment.
• Acts with integrity and consideration for others.
• A proficient user of MS Office packages particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word or equivalent.

Desirable

• A good understanding of the Defence sector and/or public procurement, especially commercial contracting from either an MOD and/or defence industry perspective.
• Experience of handling sensitive data (e.g. commercial, political, intelligence, military, health, personal data or justice).
• Experience of developing standards or guidance, for example running consultations, development of exposure drafts and policy papers, running working groups or technical discussion panels.
• A good understanding of commercial economics and economic regulation in the UK.

Security clearance

The role will require you to undergo and successfully secure national security vetting and obtain Security Check (SC) clearance but is not a reserved role and is therefore open to foreign or dual nationals.