Contract & Commercial Lead

Old Moat; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Manchester is seeking a Contracts and Commissioning Lead to drive commercial strategies and improve service delivery. Responsibilities include managing partnerships, optimizing outcomes, and providing strategic advice. The ideal candidate has a strong background in contract management, leadership, and stakeholder engagement. This full-time role offers comprehensive benefits and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension scheme

Enhanced parental leave

Learning and development opportunities

Volunteering leave

Variety of employee discounts

Qualifications

• A proven track record in commercial and contract management.
• Strong financial planning and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to lead change and manage complex priorities.
• Experience in commissioning and performance monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Identify and implement commercial activity and business improvement initiatives.
• Provide strategic commercial advice to service areas and project teams.
• Manage key commercial partnerships and investment portfolios.
• Ensure value for money and ethical procurement practices.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Financial planning

Change management

Job description

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Additional Payments: Casual Car Allowance

Closing Date: 08 October 2025

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

This role is subject to:

• 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

Casual Car Documentation - The successful candidate will be a designated Casual Car User which means that car journeys may be necessary on an occasional basis, but are not essential to the role. If you do drive, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work, as well as provide all the appropriate documentation. You will receive an allowance per mile of business use.

Are you a commercially astute leader with a passion for delivering impactful services to communities? Manchester City Council is seeking a dynamic Contracts and Commissioning Lead to join the Neighbourhoods Directorate and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our city towards becoming a modern, sustainable and financially robust organisation.

About the Role

This role presents a unique opportunity to shape and influence a wide range of commercial initiatives across the Council. You’ll collaborate with diverse internal teams and external partners to lead the development and execution of commercial strategies that align with the Council’s goals and deliver meaningful benefits for Manchester’s residents. As a leader of a growing team, you’ll be responsible for driving performance, nurturing talent, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture. With a broad scope of responsibilities, this role is ideal for candidates from varied backgrounds who are eager to make a tangible impact.

You will be responsible for:

• Identifying and implementing commercial activity and business improvement initiatives to deliver optimum outcomes.
• Providing strategic commercial advice to service areas and project teams to improve efficiency and leverage new opportunities.
• Managing key commercial partnerships and investment portfolios.
• Ensuring value for money and ethical procurement practices across multiple service areas.
• Supporting the Council’s financial strategy through innovative service delivery and sustainable income generation.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Drive Commercial Excellence: Lead the identification and execution of commercial initiatives and business improvement strategies to achieve optimal outcomes through innovative service delivery and sustainable income generation.
• Strategic Advisory: Provide high-level commercial guidance to service areas and project teams, enhancing operational efficiency and unlocking new growth opportunities.
• Partnership & Portfolio Management: Oversee key commercial partnerships, contracts and investment portfolios, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and maximising returns.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Yvonne O'Malley, by telephone [phone]) or email (yvonne.o'[e-mail]) to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

About the Candidate

We’re seeking a proactive and experienced leader with:

• A proven track record in commercial and contract management.
• Strong financial planning and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to lead change and manage complex priorities.
• Experience in commissioning and performance monitoring.
• A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

You’ll be instrumental in resolving commercial issues, securing favourable outcomes, and identifying opportunities that bring economic, environmental, and social benefits to Manchester.

Why Join Us?

This is your chance to be part of a dynamic and growing team working on high-impact infrastructure and service delivery projects. You’ll collaborate across council teams and external partners to deliver innovative solutions that make a real difference.

We value fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and people who are ready to own their work and drive change. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to help shape the future of Manchester, we want to hear from you.

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. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member- We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of 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: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition
• If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the Supporting Statement section of your application.

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting: Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information.
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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