Commercial Governance and Corporate Energy Lead

Old Moat; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Manchester is seeking a leader for their Commercial Governance and Corporate Energy team. The successful candidate will guide strategic plans while ensuring compliance with legal matters. Applicants should have strong leadership skills, experience with stakeholder management, and a relevant degree. The position offers a hybrid working arrangement and various benefits including a generous holiday allowance and a local government pension scheme.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension scheme

Enhanced family leave options

Discounts on various services

Learning opportunities

Paid volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent level of qualification in a relevant field.
• Experience of developing strategic plans with clear deliverables.
• Ability to engage with diverse audiences on complex matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Commercial Governance and Corporate Energy Team.
• Develop strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to legal and statutory requirements.

Skills

Exceptional leadership skills

Experience in strategic planning

Financial forecasting

Problem-solving skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

Degree in relevant field (business management, project management, etc.)

Job description

About The Role

Working hours: 35 hours per week, hybrid working. Contract type: Permanent. Closing date: 11.59pm, 28 September 2025. Interview method: In person. Interview date: 15 October 2025.

This role is subject to -

• Qualification - degree or equivalent level of qualification in a relevant field i.e. business management, project management, governance, procurement, risk management, audit.

The Commercial Governance and Corporate Energy team is part of the Financial Management Service and is led by the Assistant Director: Commercial Governance and Corporate Energy. The role leads the Commercial Governance and Corporate Energy Team to deliver key corporate priorities and support the development of strategic plans and approaches to effectively deliver commercial and energy related activities. The role requires developing strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring strong governance and adherence to legal, statutory and best practice requirements. The post holder will provide professional consultation, advice and guidance to support achievement of strategic organisational objectives. A strong and detailed awareness and understanding of financial and legal matters related to commercial and energy activities is essential.

The Candidate

We are looking for a person with the drive and determination to ensure that Manchester City Council commercial governance and corporate energy activities run smoothly and exemplify best practice. Candidates should demonstrate the following:

• Exceptional leadership skills to drive forward a high performing team with a broad remit.
• Experience of developing and implementing strategic plans for the medium and long term with clear deliverables and robust risk management and performance monitoring.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise presentations and reports on complex subjects for diverse audiences, including Elected Members and senior management.
• A confident communicator capable of engaging with a variety of internal and external stakeholders on complex commercial and energy matters.
• Financial forecasting and budget management skills to optimise resources and generate cost efficiencies.
• Ability to solve highly complex problems with associated risk factors and deliver pragmatic solutions under pressure.
• Strong team player with excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and learn from others.

For further information about the role, please contact: Sarah Narici, Assistant Director: Commercial Governance and Corporate Energy, [e-mail] / 07971 384491

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives by strengthening communities and driving innovation in public services.

Our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – Our Manchester – guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours: listening and understanding, working together and trusting each other, valuing differences and fairness, owning it and trying new things, and being proud and passionate about Manchester.

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance – up to 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days after five years. You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension – enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme with life cover of three times salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave – enhanced family leave options to bond with a new born or support your family.
• Brilliant perks – discounts on a range of services and products via MCR+ including phone contracts, cycle to work, flu jabs and eye tests.
• Learn and grow – learning opportunities from workshops to qualifications and a comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member – secure, flexible work with annual pay reviews and wellbeing support.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave – paid volunteering leave pro-rated to support community work.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

We welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people, and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview adjustments: let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible formats: ReciteMe accessibility tools are available on the careers page for accessibility features.

Pre-Employment Checks

If successful, the required pre-employment checks will depend on the role and may include: proof of right to work, references, proof of qualifications, DBS check, proof of Manchester residency, police vetting, BPSS clearance, and driving licence where applicable. These checks help ensure safety and security for the workforce and the community.

Other relevant information

We are committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we will source necessary aids, adaptations or equipment, or redesign parts of the role if needed. For more information about the role, read the attached role profile. Take-home pay calculator and privacy notice links may be provided on the page.