Commercial Lead, Business Management, Operations Manager

Department: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Location: Salford, Cardiff, Birmingham

In this role, you will gain a unique perspective across entire portfolios and lead the delivery of commercial support across multiple programmes.

As Commercial Lead, you will be responsible for the end-to-end commercial lifecycle for the Cyber category. Reporting to a Group Head of Commercial within the DSIT Commercial Directorate, you will work in close collaboration with Policy Leads and will have line management responsibilities.

The role involves providing expert commercial advice to policy and programme teams in the Cyber Security directorate, supporting the design and delivery of commercial interventions, and overseeing the management of key supplier relationships. You will also play a central role in shaping the programme’s commercial strategy, including contract design, sourcing approaches, procurement delivery, and contract management. This will include supporting programme evaluation, ensuring adherence to standards, and maintaining strong financial assurance across the portfolio.

• Lead the end to end delivery of commercial requirements within the defined category, covering both grants and contract relationships, both in approach to market and the management of existing commercial relationships.
• You will provide the link between the Programme and the DSIT Commercial Directorate. Providing support to policy colleagues in your assigned category defining their approach to market and working to ensure timely execution of procurement activities in line with DSIT and Cabinet Office policies, processes, regulations and legislation.
• You will promote DSIT Values, plan and oversee the professional development and training of any staff you may be responsible for. Set high performance expectations, developing the capability of all those you activity manage, valuing difference to deliver results, inspiring people and creating a shared sense of purpose across the Department.
• As part of the Commercial Directorate, you will ensure you are responsive to business needs whilst effectively managing business & commercial risks, and ensure the Programme is responsive to deliver these requirements.
• Assist with the implementation and embedding of supplier relationship management and Contract Management processes in the department.
• Support the wider policy teams in the development of business cases with specific consideration to the commercial approach to delivering a Programme of innovation interventions to deliver the government’s digital, telecoms and technology policy programmes.

• Sound knowledge of Public Sector Commercial and Procurement policies and procedures, PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023;
• Significant experience in utilising CCS Frameworks & leading open procurement procedures to enable policy outcomes;
• A demonstrable track record of delivering value for money across both works and technology categories;
• Proficient procurement professional with relevant applied and/or theoretical knowledge, in management process development and implementation, category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship development and performance management, specification, report and recommendation writing;
• Practical experience of managing varied procurement operations working in a corporate procurement environment ideally subject to public procurement law.
• Experience of managing goods and services procurements and leading contract negotiations;
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills plus a track record of leadership, setting strategic goals, and driving commercial and procurement activities;
• Demonstrable experience of operating in a senior environment and delivering results, notably securing value for money, including experience of procurement planning, management and business processes;
• Evidence of your commitment to personal development;
• Ability to operate with autonomy, working flexibly and innovatively with policy colleagues across all of our work areas;
• Experience of building professional, dynamic relationships across the organisations and with stakeholders.