Interim Commercial Manager central government

1st Executive Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

1st Executive Ltd in London is seeking an Interim Commercial Manager to lead defined end-to-end procurements within a major central government transformation programme. You will draft strategies, run market engagements, manage awards, mobilisation and supplier communications, all within governance and policy frameworks.

The role requires practical experience in public-sector procurement, strong stakeholder management, and the ability to deliver under limited supervision while maintaining high

Qualifications

• Must have practical experience of delivering end-to-end procurements in a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of public-sector procurement legislation, policy and governance.
• Experience developing procurement strategies and tender, governance and contractual documentation.
• Experience with public-sector frameworks such as Crown Commercial Service or similar.
• Ability to analyse pricing and risk and turn into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder-management and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end procurements from requirements through mobilisation.
• Draft sourcing strategies, governance submissions and supplier communications.
• Advise on routes to market, compliance, risk and contract options.
• Build relationships with programme, finance, legal, security and policy colleagues.
• Analyse markets, pricing, and risks to support decisions.
• Translate requirements into measurable contractual obligations and governance.
• Maintain commercial plans, pipelines, risks and records.
• Provide guidance to Commercial Officers and colleagues.
• Manage competing priorities and deadlines with limited supervision.

Skills

End-to-end procurements

Public-sector procurement knowledge

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Contract management

Policy and governance

Education

CIPS Level 4 or equivalent

Public procurement professional training

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Interim Commercial Manager central government

Commercial Manager
Corporate Services Transformation

Please note you must hold current S/C clearence

The opportunity

An experienced Commercial Manager is sought to support a major transformation programme within a complex public-sector organisation.

The programme is modernising corporate services across HR, commercial and finance, improving the policies, processes, organisational structures, data and systems that underpin delivery. Its aim is to improve user experience, enable better decisions through data and increase productivity through modern technology, simpler processes and more effective shared services.

Working within a strategic commercial team, you will independently lead defined commercial workstreams and procurements, taking ownership of delivery with limited supervision. You will work within the portfolio's commercial strategy and governance arrangements, supporting senior commercial leads on the most complex or strategically significant activity.

Key responsibilities

• Lead defined end-to-end procurements, from developing requirements and market engagement through tendering, clarification, negotiation, award and mobilisation.
• Draft and quality-assure sourcing strategies, governance submissions, tender documents, review materials, contractual schedules, award recommendations and supplier communications.
• Advise on routes to market, procurement compliance, commercial risk, value for money and contracting options, escalating material or novel issues where required.
• Build effective relationships with programme, technical, finance, legal, security and policy colleagues to maintain progress towards agreed outcomes.
• Analyse supply markets, pricing, options and commercial risks to support evidence-based decisions.
• Translate requirements into measurable contractual obligations, performance arrangements, governance and change controls.
• Maintain accurate commercial plans, pipelines, risks, actions, decisions and records in line with organisational policy and applicable procurement legislation.
• Provide guidance and task leadership to Commercial Officers and other colleagues where appropriate.
• Manage competing priorities, identify issues early and take practical action to deliver to agreed timescales and standards.

Person specification

You will be commercially astute and delivery focused, with the judgement to own substantial work within a wider programme and governance structure. You will be comfortable working with ambiguity, able to simplify complex issues and confident engaging with senior and specialist stakeholders.

Essential skills and experience

• Practical experience of independently delivering end-to-end procurements or other substantial commercial activity in a complex organisation.
• Sound understanding of public-sector procurement legislation, commercial policy and governance requirements.
• Experience of developing procurement strategies and high-quality tender, governance and contractual documentation.
• Experience of public-sector frameworks, including Crown Commercial Service arrangements, or comparable routes to market.
• Ability to analyse commercial, pricing and risk information and turn it into clear recommendations and actions.
• Strong stakeholder-management and influencing skills, including constructive challenge and consensus building.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and demanding deadlines with limited day-to-day supervision.
• Clear written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Completion of Transforming Public Procurement training, or willingness to complete it promptly.
• Experience of complex transformation, technology, digital, shared-services or business-process procurements.
• Experience of procurements involving bespoke contractual provisions, negotiations or significant commercial risk.
• Contract management, supplier performance, change control or post-award commercial assurance experience.
• Experience of task leadership, coaching or quality assurance of less-experienced commercial colleagues.
• Experience in central government or another regulated public-sector environment.

Qualifications and experience

• CIPS Level 4 or an equivalent commercial qualification, or demonstrable equivalent professional experience.
• At least five years of relevant commercial or procurement experience, including ownership of end-to-end activity.

To discuss the opportunity in confidence, please get in touch