Group Procurement & Commercial Director

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A major transport authority in the UK seeks a Group Procurement and Commercial Director to lead a diverse team, manage a £10bn budget, and drive significant transformation in procurement strategies. This pivotal role requires a visionary leader with experience in large-scale projects and supplier relationship management. The director will ensure compliance and advocate for TfL's strategic ambitions while enjoying an excellent benefits package, including a final salary pension and free travel on TfL networks.

Benefits

Final salary pension scheme

Free travel on TfL network

30 days annual leave plus holidays

Private healthcare discounted scheme

Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in supporting large-scale projects.
• Experience in transport, utilities, aviation or civil engineering.
• Proven track record of leading organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Lead a diverse function of around 600 professionals.
• Drive performance across a global supply chain.
• Shape and deliver a long-term strategy for Procurement & Commercial.

Skills

Visionary commercial leadership

Strong commercial acumen

Exceptional negotiation skills

Building long-term supplier relationships

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Education

Relevant professional qualification (e.g. RICS, CIPS)

Job description

Job Overview

Managing a £10bn annual budget, TfL plays a vital role in keeping London moving and thriving. With major infrastructure projects planned and long‑term partnerships with strategic suppliers, this is an exceptional opportunity to lead at scale and shape the future of London. Our procurement and commercial function is critical to ensuring value, resilience and social impact across everything we deliver. As Group Procurement and Commercial Director, you will shape strategy, influence key stakeholders including the Mayor, GLA, Government departments and the TfL Board and ensure our commercial approach delivers value, resilience and measurable economic benefits.

About the role: Reporting to the CFO, this role leads a diverse function of around 600 professionals, including 10 senior Heads, and creates a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. You will drive performance across a global supply chain, accountable for £3.5bn annual external spend and delivering £300m in supply chain savings over the next four years. You will define the vision and set the pace for procurement and commercial strategies that transform London's landscape for generations to come. A critical part of the role is building long‑term partnerships with strategic suppliers to deliver value and performance, supporting TfL's ambition to provide an affordable, sustainable and world‑class transport network while maximising the supply chain's contribution to London and the UK economy.

This is a pivotal leadership role driving a major transformation programme to strengthen capability in long‑term planning, category management and contract management. You will shape and deliver a long‑term strategy for Procurement & Commercial aligned with TfL's Business Plan and the Mayor's Transport Strategy, while securing external capital funding and advocating the UK‑wide benefits of TfL's supply chain. You will lead strategic planning across all supplier spend, provide expert advice to ExCo and develop deep market and supplier intelligence to drive greater value. The role also ensures compliance and mitigates risk across TfL's diverse global supply chains. This is an opportunity to create a high‑performing, collaborative culture that champions professional growth and delivers measurable impact for London and beyond.

Hybrid Working Arrangement

Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4‑week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.

Key Responsibilities & Qualifications

We're looking for a visionary commercial leader - someone who thrives on complexity, inspires confidence at the highest levels, and sees opportunity where others see challenge. You will have extensive experience in supporting large‑scale projects with complex engineering and technological challenges (essential). You have experience in transport or similar sectors such as utilities, aviation or civil engineering (essential). Confident and credible at Board level, you have represented organisations with major suppliers and interfaces with government. You combine strong commercial acumen with the ability to inform strategic decisions, challenge assumptions and balance multiple competing priorities. You excel at building long‑term supplier relationships that deliver measurable value (essential).

As an exceptional people leader, you have experience of leading and inspiring large, diverse multi‑disciplinary teams in procurement, commercial and/or finance functions (essential). You demonstrate your commitment to diversity and inclusion. You have a proven track record of leading organisational change, driving continuous improvement and embedding process excellence (essential). Key strengths include exceptional negotiation skills, particularly in dispute resolution and complex agreements and a collaborative communication style with energy and enthusiasm. Ideally you hold a relevant professional qualification (e.g. RICS, CIPS), but this is not essential if you have comprehensive knowledge of UK legislation on commercial activities, compliance and governance, especially in capital delivery environments.

About TfL

Transport for London (TfL) is one of the world's most recognised and successful integrated transport authorities. Every day, we enable millions of journeys and deliver projects that shape the future of London. Our work goes far beyond transport: we drive innovation, sustainability and economic growth across the UK through one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the country.

Our Culture

TfL is a place that's open to your ideas. Where you can make a tangible impact and see the positive results of your work on the people and places around you. It's a place where you can thrive and achieve. Where you're encouraged and enabled and empowered to feel pride in the work you do. The clue is in the name, really. We work together for a better London. A better place for everyone. Constantly improving and enhancing how we operate to shape a city of the future.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantees an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

Compensation & Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role and business area but mostly include:

• Final salary pension scheme.
• Free travel for you on the TfL network.
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket.
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays.
• TfL is committed to work‑life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow. 50% time in the office.
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional).
• Tax‑efficient cycle‑to‑work programme.
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers.
• Discounted Eurostar travel.
• TfL employees can access electric vehicles through salary sacrifice, making them more affordable. Whether brand‑new or preloved, the scheme helps you save on tax and NI while making a greener choice.