Associate Commercial Specialist PFI

Public Sector Resourcing, managed by AMS; Andover; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is looking for an Associate Commercial Specialist to manage complex procurements and PFI contracts. The ideal candidate will have comprehensive PFI lifecycle experience and leadership skills. This role is critical for ensuring compliance and value for money for the MOD. The position requires active security clearance and offers the opportunity for career growth in a diverse and challenging environment.

Responsibilities

• Hold Commercial Delegation for the MOD, ensuring robust procurement strategies.
• Lead delivery of complex procurements and PFI contracts, ensuring obligations are met.
• Manage stakeholder engagement across delivery teams and decision-makers.
• Oversee full tendering lifecycle under the Procurement Act 2023 and 2024 Regulations.
• Provide strategic leadership to the commercial team, fostering capability.
• Drive commercial compliance, sustainability, and social value across programmes.

Skills

Comprehensive PFI lifecycle experience

Exit management of CAT A (£500 million) contract experience

Overseeing the Procurement Lifecycle

Leadership experience

Procurement Act 2023 and 2024 Regulations

Active SC clearance

Education

CIPS or MCIPS

Public sector experience

Job description

Overview

On behalf of the MOD, we are looking for an Associate Commercial Specialist PFI (Inside IR35) for a 6 months contract based in Andover Whittington, Wyton or Glasgow 3 days a week with regular travel to various sites.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a central government department with a mission to protect our country and provide the ultimate guarantee of its security and independence, as well as helping to protect its values and interests abroad.

The MOD is one of the biggest public procurement organisations in Europe and the single largest customer for UK industry. It currently manages approximately £20 billion of spend on capital investments in equipment and infrastructure every year. Over the next decade the MOD is committed to spending over £190 billion on equipment and support. The MOD's customers include both the armed forces and national security agencies, and it has a diverse range of requirements, including military fighting vehicles, education services, nuclear submarines and facilities management.

The MOD's aim is to provide its armed forces with the best capabilities to enable them to protect the UK's security and advance national interests, both now and in the long term. To do this the MOD has an annual budget of almost £53 billion and a workforce comprising 197,000 people, of which 54,000 are civilians working for the UK MOD. The work really matters; the MOD offers a range of engaging roles which have a direct impact on the quality of services they provide, in many locations across the UK. We support teams working in HR, Primary Health Care, Corporate Services, and many others.

DIO Commercial manages a number of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts on behalf of the Front Line Commands, many of which expire in the next few years and cannot be extended. The role holder will provide operational leadership to the team of commercial professionals responsible for designing, procuring and contracting for the replacement arrangements. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in complex Category A procurements, with specific emphasis on hard and soft FM, ancillary services and construction. The role will engage with and seek to elicit support from a number of stakeholders, including Front Line Commands, DIO project delivery teams, other Government departments and wider industry and supply chain partners.

DIO provides critical construction, asset management and FM services to a range of military and civilian customers. The successful candidate will be working in a diverse, challenging and rewarding organisation, which offers excellent scope for career and personal development.

Responsibilities

• Hold Commercial Delegation for the MOD, ensuring robust procurement strategies, contractual compliance, and value for money within approved budgets.
• Lead delivery of complex procurements and PFI contracts, including exit strategies, ensuring obligations are met and Defence estate interests protected.
• Manage stakeholder engagement across delivery teams, enabling functions, scrutiny bodies, and decision-makers to ensure timely and high-quality outcomes.
• Oversee full tendering lifecycle under the Procurement Act 2023 and 2024 Regulations, including bidder documentation, evaluation strategies, and contract terms.
• Provide strategic leadership to the commercial team, fostering capability, resilience, and alignment with MOD and GCO values.
• Drive commercial compliance, sustainability, and social value across programmes, while delivering efficiency savings and enhancing organisational capability.

Essential qualifications

• Comprehensive PFI lifecycle experience
• Exit management of CAT A (£500 million) contract experience
• Overseeing the Procurement Lifecycle
• Leadership experience
• Procurement Act 2023 and 2024 Regulations
• Active SC clearance

Desirable qualifications

• CIPS or MCIPS
• Public sector experience

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the MOD guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

The MOD guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.