Background: The UK Space Agency: 

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the governments space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government's vision. 

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity's horizons. 

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £18.9 billion and employs 52,028 people across the country. 

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development.  We also promote the UK space sector's interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes. 

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency. 

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency 

To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.

Background: The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC)

The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) combines and coordinates civil and military space domain awareness capabilities to enable operations, promote prosperity, and protect UK interests in space and on earth from space-related threats, risks, and hazards.  

UK Space Agency responsibilities under NSpOC include operating the UK's uncontrolled re-entry early warning system, the UK satellite collision avoidance system, the UK in-space fragmentation monitoring service, the UK asteroid early warning capability (planetary defence), support to launch and several other mission-sets to deliver UK national security and national space goals. These responsibilities will likely expand in 2025/26. 

NSpOC has been in development since 2021 and officially launched in May 2024. NSpOC is a hybrid organisation with UK Space Agency personnel working from UK Space Agency locations. Our Operations Team is co-located with military operations in RAF High Wycombe. Whilst visiting High Wycombe may be possible if the post holder desires, this role will be based at UK Space Agency's offices in either Cardiff, Edinburgh, Harwell or Leicester.

This role will provide commercial support to NSpOC with a specific focus on contract management. Based within UK Space Agency's central Commercial Team, it will have responsibility for day-to-day contract management of a number of complex contracts ranging in value from £30,000 up to £10m+. This role will work closely with NSpOC operational personnel and look to maximise the value of these important capabilities. In addition to contract management, there will be opportunities to get involved in future NSpOC procurement activity, from business case stage through to tender and mobilisation. 

This role will be expected to own contract management activity for multiple contracts, ensuring the best outcomes are achieved across the commercial lifecycle. NSpOC currently has several contracts in place that are operationally critical and require support to ensure a high standard of service can be maintained. This role includes activity relating to mobilising/de-mobilising contracts, managing the delivery and performance of the contract, carrying out contract changes, managing risk within the contract and managing supplier relationships.

You will work independently and as part of a larger team by drawing on your commercial experience to drive performance and achieve value engineering. You will be able to prioritise and manage your own workload to deliver to deadlines, mitigate and escalate any emerging risks and to respond swiftly to changing operational demands. Day to day activities will include (but are not limited to):

Performance Management of Contracts:

• Measure, review and challenge KPIs on an ongoing basis
• Track performance
• Run change management and control
• Benchmark value for money/KPIs

Contract Administration:

• Ensure the obligations in the contract are carried out effectively
• Administer Change Control procedures
• Ensure changes are tracked correctly, reflected in the contract and appropriate notices are produced
• Monitor service levels (and service credits where appropriate)
• Reviewing regular reports and feeding into central UKSA governance
• Capturing lessons learned throughout the life of the contract
• Supporting tender documentation development

Relationship Management:

• Working with suppliers to identify and mitigate risks
• Working with NSpOC colleagues (including within the Ministry of Defence) to drive performance improvements in existing contracts
• Working with UK Space Agency Commercial colleagues to feed into UKSA policy development
• Acting as Secretariat for the UK Space Agency -Ministry of Defence Contract Oversight Board

You will report into and be an active part of the UK Space Agency central Commercial Team but will also be tasked on a regular basis by the NSpOC team. As NSpOC is a world-first capability, we do not require or expect you to have subject matter expertise in space domain awareness. A willingness to learn and a flexible and agile approach to changing circumstances are the most important attributes required for this role. UK Space Agency Commercial has a strong focus on learning and development, and we would support the successful candidate to develop in role.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience in conducting contract management for one or more contracts, with a strong understanding of all aspects of contract management and how it fits in the commercial lifecycle
• Strong commercial knowledge with an understanding of commercial law and the ability to use commercial tools appropriately (including Procurement Act 2023)
• Ability to work as part of a team to support performance, manage setbacks and resolve issues internally
• Ability to communicate with stakeholders at all levels using different communication styles to articulate the benefits that have been achieved and to establish governance and relationship arrangements
• Experience of working on complex projects or programmes
• MCIPS: working towards or willingness to undertake

 Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working with the military
• Space sector specific experience or expertise
• Knowledge of the Space Domain Awareness sector
• Contract Management Foundation, Practitioner or Expert accreditation

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

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

• Contract Management

UK Space Agency offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
  

• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
  

• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
  

• Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts.

• A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.

• This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this).  If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

• The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Job contact :

• Name : Laura Mason
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]