Commercial Analyst- ( Directorate under Procurement )

DfT Operator; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A government procurement agency seeks a Commercial Analyst for a 2-year fixed-term contract. This role involves supporting procurement processes, conducting analysis, and facilitating strategic decision-making. The ideal candidate will have a strong analytical background and effective communication skills, with opportunities for personal and professional development. Salary ranges from £33,000 to £36,500. Hybrid working options are available.

Benefits

Annual Leave up to 30 days

DC Pension Scheme with employer contributions

Learning and networking opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a direct procurement or commercial environment is desirable.
• Strong analytical, numeracy, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and external suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Support all stages of the procurement process.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of procurement data and market intelligence.
• Lead low-to-medium value procurement activities on an ad hoc basis.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Change Management

Collaboration

Education

Relevant degree or certification in procurement or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Commercial Analyst- (Directorate under Procurement)

Vacancy Details

Duration: 2 year FTC Location: London, Manchester,York and Hybrid Salary: £33,000K to £36,500K
Closing date:3rd Novemeber Reports to: Head of Procurement and Contracts

DFTO Benefits:

Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)

DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution

Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry

About DFTO Operator

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 24,000 employees, runs over 6,500 services a day and delivers over 500 million customer journeys across its networks every year. This accounts for 28% of total UK passenger journeys and 32% of passenger miles.

Our vision is to unify and strengthen train operators under the DFTO banner. By working collaboratively, we aim to become industry-leading in safety, customer service, financial and operational performance.

Primary Purpose of Job:

This role consists of supporting all stages of the procurement process from the analysis of procurement and market data, supporting the team with sourcing activity from the handing over of contracts to contract and supplier management within DfT Operator Limited (DFTO). The role supports Procurement Managers, procurement team; and works with Train Operators (TOC) Procurement Departments and Supplier Management staff across DFTO and TOCs to support transition into the public sector and to establish

Group Sourcing Mechanisms. This role underpins both DFTO’s and the Procurement Directorate’s Business Plan. In addition to TOCs, the role maybe required to work with and DfT, RNP, external stakeholders such as Network Rail, Crown Commercial Services, and other Government bodies.

Key Competencies:

Broad Perspective

• Understand the strategic drivers for your area of work.
• Align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities. Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.
• Seek out and share experiences to develop knowledge of the team’s business area.
• Understand how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders.

Making Effective Decisions

• Understands own level of responsibility
• Uses relevant information to support decisions and seek input where appropriate and elevate complex issues.
• Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits, and risks.

Working Together

• Works well within their own team and across other groups. Establishes professional relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Collaborate with these to share information, resources, and support. Invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another.
• Seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Analysis & Strategy Support

• Conduct in-depth analysis of procurement data and market intelligence.
• Provide insights to shape commercial options and inform strategic procurement decisions.
• Insights to support on-time performance improvements and cost efficiency.

Execution & Compliance

• Lead low-to-medium value procurement activities on an ad hoc basis.
• Review and negotiate terms and conditions, ensuring alignment with procurement regulations and internal governance.
• Deliver value for money through compliant and effective sourcing.

Data Enablement for Procurement Functions

• Supply accurate and timely data to support decision-making across Contract Management, Sourcing, and Category Management.
• Enhance visibility and performance tracking within the procurement lifecycle

Regulatory & Stakeholder Reporting

• Timely and accurate reporting to internal stakeholders, regulators and government bodies.
• Support in meeting compliance and transparency obligations for public contracts.

Contract & Supplier Performance Analysis

Evaluation of third-party supplier contracts (e.g. rolling stock leasing, maintenance providers).

Tracking KPIs and SLAs to ensure contractual compliance and value for money.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide analysis on procurement information, data, and market research to inform commercial options and procurement strategies.
• To lead on an ad hoc basis low-medium value procurement activities including reviewing/negotiating terms and conditions, ensuring compliance to procurement regulations, internal governance processes delivering value for money.
• Provide data to the Procurement team to enable informed decisions across Contract Management, Sourcing and Category Management.
• Analyse financial, operational, and market data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Translate data into actionable commercial insights to support strategic decision-making
• Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and KPIs to track business and category performance. Present insights to senior stakeholders in a clear and concise manner
• Assist in financial forecasting, planning, and budgeting processes.
• Monitor actual performance against budgets and forecasts, providing variance analysis.
• Recommend pricing strategies or cost-saving initiatives based on findings.
• Analyse contract performance, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Support sourcing strategies with market intelligence and financial modelling.
• Build and assess business cases for new projects, investments, or commercial initiatives.
• Conduct scenario and sensitivity analysis to evaluate potential outcomes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as Finance, Sales, Procurement, and Operations.
• Act as a commercial partner to the business, supporting non-financial stakeholders with data-led decisions.
• Research market conditions, customer trends, and competitor activities to inform commercial strategies
• Identify inefficiencies in reporting or data processes and suggest improvements
• Support implementation of tools and systems that improve data accuracy and insight delivery.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

• Interpersonal Skills: strong ability to build and maintain relationships.
• Change Management: Understands and helps promote a culture that acknowledges the value of positive change and diversity; supports those in times of change by presenting a positive attitude.
• Politically astute: recognise the demands of DFTO shareholders and the broader @context of an evolving industry. Understand the objectives of relevant stakeholders within DFTO.
• Collaboration: fostering a collaborative attitude both within the DFTO’s portfolio and across industry groups.
• Socially and culturally aware: consider the wider benefits for, and requirements of, our employees, customers and suppliers; and develop sustainable solutions for the communities that we interact with.
• Transparency: commitment to open and honest communication with stakeholders. Maintaining high ethical standards and building trust through consistent and reliable actions.
• Experience (desirable) of working in a direct procurement, commercial or contract management environment.
• Strong analytical, numeracy, communication, problem solving skills and an eye for detail Experience in report writing.
• Good/ IT skills including use of Microsoft suite (Excel, Word & PowerPoint)
• Ability to communicate /facilitate effectively with all levels of staff within the business and with external suppliers.
• Knowledge of relevant public procurement legislation including the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 & Procurement Act 2023.

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is available on either a Fixed Term Contract basis or as an Industry secondment. Should anyone be applying for a secondment please ensure you notify your line manager prior to applying for the opportunity.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Equity Statement

At DFTO we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are valued. We believe that diversity enriches our team and contributes to our success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, and we are dedicated to providing equal opportunities regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or other status. We strive to foster an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. We actively promote practices that ensure fairness, eliminate biases, and support the growth and development of all employees. Join us in our mission to create a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve and foster a culture of equity and inclusion. Together, we can build a brighter future where every voice is heard, every idea is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.