Announcements (Archive)

Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO) - Board Chair

Body
Single Source Regulations Office
Appointing Department
Ministry of Defence
Sectors
Business, Finance & Skills, Defence, Regulation
Location
London and remote working. Some travel to other locations in the UK may be required.
Skills required
Accountancy, Business / Commercial, Change Management, Major Projects, Procurement, Regulation, Transformation
Number of Vacancies
1
Remuneration
£700 per day, up to £42,000 per annum (based on a time commitment of 60 days per annum)
Time Requirements
4-5 days per month, and up to 60 days per annum.

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    07/09/2021

  2. Closed for Applications

    07/10/2021

  3. Panel Sift

    20/10/2021

  4. Final Interview Date

    12/11/2021

  5. Announcement

    01/02/2022 at 15:00

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

The Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin, has appointed a new Chair for the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO), which provides independent, expert leadership in the regulation of single source defence contracts. Hannah Nixon will assume the post on 3 January 2022 for a period of 4 years.

Date: 01/02/2022

View Announcement

Assessment Panel

Panel Member
Mark Preston
Added
07/09/2021
Panel Role
Panel Chair
Positions
Director of Sponsorship and Organisational Policy Departmental Official
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Political ActivityNone
Notes-
Panel Member
Andrew Forzani
Added
07/09/2021
Positions
Director General Commercial Departmental Official
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Political ActivityNone
Notes-
Panel Member
Caroline Donaghy
Added
07/09/2021
Positions
Defence Director – ADS Group Representative of Organisation
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Political ActivitySupported EU Referendum Campaign: Parties: Conservatives
Notes-
Panel Member
Ieuan Trigger
Added
07/09/2021
Positions
Deputy Director - Technology Independent Member
Show more information
Political ActivityNone
Notes-

Vacancy Description

The Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO) ensures that good value for money is obtained in government expenditure on qualifying single source procurement defence contracts, and that parties to those contracts are paid a fair and reasonable price under those contracts. Its functions include:

  • recommending appropriate rates for use in calculating contract profit rates;
  • publishing statutory guidance for use in the agreement of contract costs and profits; and
  • giving opinions and making determinations on matters referred to the SSRO.

Since the regime came fully into force in 2015, the MOD has entered into more than 200 single source contracts with a total estimated price of some £348.2 billion, as at 31 December 2020, with a wide range of suppliers. As a result, the SSRO engages at the highest level with some of the world’s largest defence contractors, including BAE Systems, Babcock International, Boeing, General Dynamics, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, QinetiQ, Raytheon and Rolls Royce.

The Board.

The SSRO Board is at the centre of the discharge of the SSRO’s statutory responsibilities, its governance and oversight. The Board oversees the development and implementation of SSRO corporate strategies, maintains effective controls to assess and manage risk, ensures resources are in place for the organisation to meet its objectives and reviews management performance. The Board also sets the values and culture and ensures that its obligations to its stakeholders and others are understood and met.

Person Specification

The Chair plays a key role in the effective delivery of the Single Source Contracting Regulations, working with industry and MOD to support them in implementing the legislation and maximising the benefits to both industry and the Government of adopting the regulations. With the recent Integrated Review “Global Britain in a Competitive Age”, and publication of the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, the new Chair will have a significant and meaningful role in supporting and guiding the SSRO, ensuring it has the vital capability and skills, as it continues to meet the challenges of supporting the MOD in delivering the new vision for Defence.

The Chair is responsible for the performance and effective operation of the Board. The Chair sets the Board’s agenda and has a personal role in advising the MOD Sponsor about the strategic business issues affecting the SSRO.

The Chair is responsible for:

  • Ensuring that the SSRO in exercises its functions in accordance with the Defence Reform Act and its Framework Document.
  • Ensuring the SSRO is strategically placed and equipped to achieve their vision of becoming the recognised independent, authoritative specialist on single source procurement, and the organisation’s contribution to the delivery of the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy.
  • Effective, cooperative, and inclusive leadership of the Board and the formulation of SSRO strategy; providing support and holding the Executive team to account regarding their performance and delivery consistent with the SSRO strategic direction, and assurance of risk management.

The Chair will be accountable to Parliament, and to the Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Defence Procurement.

Assessment criteria.

Essential criteria:

  • Ability to understand sophisticated commercial relationships and underlying detailed technical issues and navigating a complex industrial, economic, and political landscape to deliver what is important for the single source regime
  • Experience of operating as a non-executive and able to operate as a Chair within current corporate governance good practice, and providing challenge and support to the organisation. Highly credible leader able to build strong multi-partner relationships and experience at negotiations, and conflict resolution.
  • Experience leading and growing an organisation through organisational transformation and adapting delivery to a changing environment.
  • Experience within the public or private sector, in one or more of the following fields:
  • Law: commercial, procurement or competition law;
  • Public procurement and commissioning;
  • Regulation;
  • Project management, with commercial contracting and delivery of major programmes;
  • Corporate finance;
  • Management accounting, cost engineering or risk management;
  • Engineering;
  • Economics; or
  • Digital services/data analytics.

Desirable criteria

  • An understanding of the Defence
  • Knowledge of procurement processes and practice in the public
  • An understanding of how central government
  • Understanding of data systems and economic regulation.

Additional Information

The appointment will be for a term of 4 years, with a possible extension up to a maximum of 6 years.

Candidates for this post will need to be British nationals.

If appointed, you will be required to sign the Official Secrets Act and go through the Security Clearance process.

Candidates are expected to inform the Minister of State for Defence Procurement if they intend to accept a prominent position in any political party and to understand that the appointment may be terminated if it is felt that the positions are incompatible.

How to Apply

To apply please read the attached Candidate Information pack then submit the following documents by email to DBSCivPers-ResPublicAppts@mod.gov.uk FAO George Voss quoting reference number 44444_SSRO_CHAIR.

  • Expression of Interest form
  • Diversity Monitoring Form
  • Current CV