Senior Commercial Lead

UK Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £80190

Bonus up to 7%

Pension with 21.5% employer contrib.

25 days leave + 2.5 privilege days

8 Bank Holidays

Site closure 3 days over Christmas

Job summary

UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is seeking a Senior Commercial Lead to steer procurement strategy across Professional Services and Integrated Engineering. You will manage a portfolio exceeding £100 million, shaping innovative commercial strategies and ensuring governance, supplier capability and high-performance teams to support fusion energy programmes.

The role requires onsite presence (3–5 days/week), strong leadership, and experience in complex public sector procurements.

Qualifications

• Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
• Degree or equivalent relevant experience required
• Extensive experience leading complex end-to-end procurements in public sector
• Strong knowledge of public procurement legislation and its use in practice
• Experience developing procurement and commercial strategies at programme or portfolio level
• Ability to influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders and government bodies
• Dynamic leadership with track record of building high-performing teams

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing and procurement across Professional Services and Integrated Engineering categories
• Develop category and commercial strategies and two-year delivery plans for ATEN programme
• Design innovative procurement and contracting solutions for agile programme delivery
• Manage commercial risk, governance and regulatory compliance
• Build commercial intelligence from markets, suppliers and entrants
• Engage senior stakeholders including government departments and universities
• Provide advice on complex procurement and commercial matters
• Implement contract-management processes and monitor supplier performance
• Mentor Commercial Managers and Specialists and support CIPS qualifications
• Align commercial strategies with UKAEA programmes and organisational objectives

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Procurement strategy

Commercial governance

Negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Education

CIPS membership

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industryand research organisations to achieveground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the gridby developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the Job

The Senior Commercial Lead is responsible for the strategic direction of procurement across UKAEA’s Professional Services and Integrated Engineering categories, including commercial delivery of the ATEN programme. You will oversee a major portfolio with expenditure exceeding £100 million, developing innovative commercial strategies that support the future of fusion energy. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for complex procurement, commercial governance, supplier capability and the development of a high‑performing team.

What You’ll be Doing

• Lead all sourcing and procurement activity across the Professional Services and Integrated Engineering categories.
• Develop and implement category and commercial strategies, including the overall commercial strategy and two-year delivery plans for the ATEN programme.
• Design innovative procurement and contracting solutions that enable agile, efficient programme delivery.
• Develop appropriate approaches to commercial risk, assurance, governance and regulatory compliance.
• Build commercial intelligence through analysis of markets, suppliers, industry capacity and emerging entrants.
• Lead commercial engagement with senior stakeholders, government departments, the Cabinet Office, universities, industry and other partner organisations.
• Provide expert advice on complex, critical, novel or contentious procurement and commercial matters.
• Implement effective contract‑management processes and monitor supplier performance throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Lead, inspire and develop Commercial Managers and Commercial Specialists, including mentoring colleagues undertaking CIPS qualifications.
• Ensure commercial strategies, policies and processes align across UKAEA programmes and support organisational objectives.

What You’ll Bring

• Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, together with a degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Extensive experience of leading complex end-to‑end procurements within the public sector.
• Strong knowledge of current public procurement legislation and its practical application.
• Significant experience of developing procurement and commercial strategies at programme or portfolio level.
• The ability to influence and negotiate effectively with senior internal and external stakeholders, including government bodies.
• A dynamic and motivational leadership style, with experience of developing high-performing commercial teams.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:

• A salary of £80190
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 privilege days; 8 Bank Holidays
• 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.

Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates.

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.