Commercial & Procurement Specialist

Company Description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists.

We have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

Hybrid working – in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week, up to 5 days per week on client site. Client locations include Bristol, Andover, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Swindon, Cheltenham.

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance‑based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

Do you feel the desire to join a highly motivated team that aims to create positive and lasting changes in the world? Our Major Programme Services (MPS) team is looking for an exceptional Commercial & Procurement Specialist. As part of PA’s Delivery stream, PA’s Centre of Excellence for all project, programme, and portfolio capability, MPS works across Defence, major projects & infrastructure, transport, and public sector in client‑facing roles on long‑term assignments.

Having experienced repeated successes in delivering value and excellence for our clients, most of whom are within daily commuting range from home, we are in high demand and are now expanding further across the UK.

As a Procurement & Commercial Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in executing complex projects across various industries. Your expertise and strategic thinking will be crucial in delivering successful outcomes for our clients. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative and innovative environment, shaping projects that drive meaningful impact.

• Design and run major procurements: helping clients to understand their requirement and how to leverage major procurements to improve their business; create the procurement and contracting strategy, commercial agreements and advise on how to drive the best from the market.
• Project manage and provide expert advice on the procurement process: manage supplier engagement; evaluate tenders; negotiate and close deals; and make the business case to launch procurements and award agreements.
• Advise and put systems and processes in place to transition from legacy to new frameworks and contracts, and properly manage major contracts including associated business change.
• Review client procurement and commercial team performance, identify and lead programmes to restructure the function and improve capability, including category management, supplier relationship management and sustainable supply chains.
• Support renegotiation and improvement of agreements or help resolve major disputes.
• Provide effective commercial management for PA’s largest complex assignments, often with large collaborative teams.

• Experience working with large and complex procurements, in equipment, digital services, and infrastructure.
• Understanding of the procurement lifecycle and comfort around identifying procurement and commercial strategies; running sourcing processes; managing evaluation of tenders; negotiating and closing deals; and managing major contracts.
• Experience advising on contract terms and designing agreements to drive the best from a particular market.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including managing multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with major government procurements,…