Commercial Lead for Digital & IT

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 30 days

Parental leave (enhanced)

Volunteering days

Hybrid working

Learning portal

LGPS

Travel & bike loans

Health & wellbeing support

Job summary

Kingston and Sutton Councils are seeking a procurement professional to shape and deliver strategy for the shared DDAT service, acting as the technology category SME and managing supplier relations.

You will drive market engagement, oversee a procurement pipeline, and draft complex contracts while ensuring value for money and governance across digital solutions. Hybrid and remote options are available.

Qualifications

• At least three years' practical experience procuring digital, data and technology solutions.
• Draft and review complex commercial contracts.
• Broad understanding of the technology market and associated risks.
• In-depth knowledge of public sector procurement legislation, regulations and frameworks.
• Strong numerical abilities for financial modelling, price management and governance reporting.
• Proven leadership and communication skills for stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver procurement, contract, negotiation and supplier management strategy for the shared DDAT service
• Act as subject matter expert for procurement and contracts across the technology category
• Drive the DDAT service plan and manage market engagement
• Manage an assigned pipeline of procurement and contracts working with DDAT team members
• Lead commissioning and supplier relationship management to secure value for money
• Provide periodic cover for the Commercial Manager
• Draft and review complex commercial contracts
• Manage financial modelling and price management
• Monitor data and develop insights to find new procurement opportunities
• Draft detailed governance reports
• Deliver the core DDAT requirements and short, medium and long-term procurement plans
• Champion new digital ways of working

Skills

Contract drafting

Tech market understanding

Public sector procurement law

Financial modelling

Governance reporting

Stakeholder management

Self-management

Leadership

Numerical literacy

Job description

This permanent post sits in the shared digital, data and technology (DDAT) service that Kingston and Sutton councils run together. The holder shapes and delivers procurement, contract and supplier management strategy for the service, acting as subject matter expert for the technology category and managing a procurement pipeline. Working mainly remotely with hybrid options and periodic cover for the Commercial Manager, the role needs at least three years procuring digital solutions and a strong grasp of public sector procurement law.

What the job involves

• Shape and deliver procurement, contract, negotiation and supplier management strategy for the shared DDAT service
• Act as subject matter expert for procurement and contracts across the technology category
• Drive the DDAT service plan and manage market engagement
• Manage an assigned pipeline of procurement and contracts, working with DDAT team members
• Lead commissioning and supplier relationship management to secure value for money
• Provide periodic cover for the Commercial Manager
• Draft and review complex commercial contracts
• Manage financial modelling and price management
• Monitor data and develop insights to find new procurement opportunities
• Draft detailed governance reports
• Deliver the core DDAT requirements and short, medium and long-term procurement plans
• Champion new digital ways of working

What's required

Experience

• At least three years' practical experience procuring digital, data and technology solutions

Skills & knowledge

• Proven ability to fully draft and review complex commercial contracts
• Broad understanding of the technology market, including typical risks of different solutions
• Comprehensive understanding of public sector procurement legislation, regulations and frameworks
• Excellent numerical and literacy skills for financial modelling, price management and governance reporting
• Strong leadership and communication skills for stakeholder and partner relationships
• Highly autonomous, with a strong focus on meeting deadlines

What's offered

• 30 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave
• Three volunteering days a year in Kingston
• Hybrid and flexible working, with equipment provided
• Learning and development portal
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loans, bicycle loans, cycle to work and electric vehicle leasing
• Confidential health, wellbeing and counselling support