Category Manager - Commercial Lead

Government Commercial Function; England; On-site; GBP 74,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is looking for a Category Manager - Commercial Lead to join their team in various locations. The role involves driving functional development and delivering commercial projects, ensuring value for money in contracting. The ideal candidate will have experience in procurement and a proven ability to influence stakeholders. This position offers a salary between £74,340 - £81,774 with additional performance-related pay.

Benefits

GCO Pension

Performance-related pay

Qualifications

• Experience of developing innovative commercial solutions.
• Track record of building capability within a commercial function.
• Ability to influence key senior stakeholders and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Drive functional development and encourage teamwork.
• Develop requirements and deliver procurements.
• Lead and support your team through transformation.

Skills

Creative thinking

Building commercial capability

Influencing stakeholders

Procurement experience

Job description

Overview

Department: MOD - Department for Education

Role: Category Manager - Commercial Lead x4

Location: Sheffield, Manchester, Coventry, Darlington

Salary: £74,340 - £81,774. GCO Pension, GCO Terms. Up to 15% performance-related-pay available on accreditation

We currently have vacancies for a challenging and exciting roles at the Department for Education where you can come in and make a real difference, working in our Commercial Delivery teams to deliver the Department’s commercial projects throughout their lifecycle.

You will be driving functional development, encouraging teamwork and building effective relationships to deliver great commercial outcomes with real accountability.

You will work closely with stakeholders to develop requirements and deliver procurements which ensure that DfE gains value for money from all of its contract and grant activity. You will run procurements which are compliant with commercial governance and assurance requirements, policy and processes and ensure strategies are in place to manage key stakeholder relationships.

As the DfE Commercial function continues a transformational journey, you will be an advocate of change, leading and supporting your team, engaging with stakeholders to communicate and embed improved ways of working, and delivering the benefits of transformation.

Technical skills

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

• A creative thinker with experience of developing innovative commercial solutions and willing to take managed risks to achieve the best outcomes
• A proven track record of successfully building capability within a commercial function and/or knowledge of how commercial solutions can help the Department or end users address their key challenges
• Evidence of influencing key senior stakeholders and suppliers towards commercial solutions in a complex commercial environment
• Significant procurement and commercial experience ideally delivering contracts with some knowledge of grants

Please submit an application via Civil Service Jobs. A detailed candidate pack is also available. Closing date is before 11:55 pm on Sunday 21st September 2025