Commercial Manager

Southwark Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwark Council seeks a senior Commercial Leader to shape procurement and supplier governance across its Digital and Resident Experience directorate. You will drive sourcing strategies, manage strategic suppliers and ensure value from technology licensing and contracts.

The role collaborates with Finance, Legal and Procurement to mitigate risk, optimise spend and build a high-performing commercial team in a London-based environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading procurement, contract management and supplier relationship activities within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation, commercial governance and contract management best practice.
• Experience managing technology suppliers, contracts, software licensing or comparable commercial portfolios.
• The ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and influence strategic decisions.
• Strong commercial judgement, balancing risk, value for money and organisational priorities.
• Experience leading teams through change and developing high-performing, collaborative cultures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial function within Southwark's Digital and Resident Experience directorate, providing strategic leadership across procurement, supplier management, licensing and contract governance.
• Support the council's Vision 360 transformation programme, helping establish the commercial capability, governance and supplier management arrangements required as services transition from the current shared service model.
• Develop sourcing strategies and lead technology procurements that deliver value, innovation and long-term benefits for residents and colleagues.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and commercial contracts, ensuring strong performance, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee software licensing and technology asset management, helping maximise value from technology investments across their lifecycle.
• Partner with colleagues across Finance, Procurement and Legal Services to manage commercial risk, support decision-making and strengthen governance.
• Lead and develop a specialist commercial team, building capability and creating a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Supplier management

Contract governance

Vendor relationships

Commercial judgement

Change management

Job description

Why Southwark?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape how technology services are delivered at one of London's most ambitious boroughs. Southwark is delivering its Vision 360 transformation programme, reshaping how digital, technology and resident services are delivered and bringing key digital, technology and commercial capabilities back in-house.

You'll work closely with senior leaders to shape how technology procurement, supplier management, commercial governance and investment decisions are managed across the organisation. This is a role where you'll have genuine influence, helping create a modern, responsive and commercially focused technology service that delivers better outcomes for more than 300,000 residents.

If you're a commercial leader who enjoys building capability, navigating change and creating lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the commercial function within Southwark's Digital and Resident Experience directorate, providing strategic leadership across procurement, supplier management, licensing and contract governance.
• Support the council's Vision 360 transformation programme, helping establish the commercial capability, governance and supplier management arrangements required as services transition from the current shared service model.
• Develop sourcing strategies and lead technology procurements that deliver value, innovation and long-term benefits for residents and colleagues.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and commercial contracts, ensuring strong performance, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee software licensing and technology asset management, helping maximise value from technology investments across their lifecycle.
• Partner with colleagues across Finance, Procurement and Legal Services to manage commercial risk, support decision-making and strengthen governance.
• Lead and develop a specialist commercial team, building capability and creating a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading procurement, contract management and supplier relationship activities within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation, commercial governance and contract management best practice.
• Experience managing technology suppliers, contracts, software licensing or comparable commercial portfolios.
• The ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and influence strategic decisions.
• Strong commercial judgement, balancing risk, value for money and organisational priorities.
• Experience leading teams through change and developing high-performing, collaborative cultures.
• Ideally, experience within local government, the wider public sector or a digital and technology environment.

Contact Information

Internal Staff: For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Naseem Golamgouse via email at .uk

External Candidates: For an informal discussion about the role, please contact William Vessey via email at

Additional Information

• Working Hours: 36 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
• Location: 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH
• Type of contract: Permanent
• Benefits and more information: https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/
• Recruitment Timeline
  • Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 11th October 2026
  • Shortlisting date/s: week commencing 19th October 2026
  • Interview date/s: week commencing 26th October 2026

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together i