Commercial Lead
Overview of Responsibilities
The salary for this role is £67,858 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance, MCIPS required) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Onsite working is expected for 2-3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for flexible working.
This role can be based at any of the following sites - Culham, Oxfordshire
This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) / be eligible for SC Clearance (must have resided in the UK for the last 5 years) [delete as appropriate], including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data.
The Role
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? Join our team and contribute to the future of fusion energy. As Commercial Lead, you will play a pivotal role in to lead the development and implementation of strategic, compliant, and value-driven procurement practices for the Commercial category pillar or programme area assigned, providing all commercial advice and support. This role reporting to a Senior Commercial Lead, provides support to Facilities Management teams covering Hard and Soft FM organisation wide, covering electrical, mechanical, building and civil maintenance, in addition to the soft FM services of cleaning, catering, grounds maintenance and security and postal services. The role ensures commercial procurement activities align with government policies, deliver best value for public funds, and support organisational objectives. This includes managing supplier relationships, mitigating risks, fostering sustainable and socially responsible procurement, and providing expert guidance to internal and external stakeholders. By providing effective leadership and driving continuous improvement, the role contributes to the efficient, transparent, and ethical management of public resources.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Leading, advising and representing UKAEA on all aspects of procurement activities and responsible for defining the procurement strategy for the RAICO Programme.
- Providing representation at DESNZ Commercial Boards and Cabinet Office for presentation and review of proposed strategies and take full responsibility for compliance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.
- Full responsibility for their direct procurement resource and for flexing additional procurement resource when necessary to meet constantly changing strategic deadlines and to ensure the delivery of organisational and RAICO objectives.
- Lead negotiations for high-value, high-complexity contracts and contract variations, ensuring alignment with project objectives and organisational requirements. Provide strategic guidance and direction throughout the contract lifecycle to secure optimal terms, mitigate risks, and maximise value
- Communicates effectively, actively wishes to engage with teamwork ethos, strong morale, and strong working relationships.
- Addresses and resolves conflict directly and constructively within the team and customers, including Senior Managers, Directors, and stakeholders
- Has prime procurement and commercial responsibility for ALL projects within their team.
- Works with DESNZ and Cabinet Office (Liaising with government) for all Commercial requirements at >£10m.
- Identifies and implements all commercial impacts of new/existing Commercial proposals and takes full responsibility and accountability and informs the HOC of all novel and contentious issues.
- Implements contract management processes to ensure measurable performance against the requirements throughout the contract life cycle.
- Coordinates efforts at all levels with other units of the organisation to ensure alignment of objectives and outcomes.
- Leading initiatives to optimise value for money across procurement activities and identifies opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and supplier innovation.
- Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and ethical procurement practices.
- Has the skills, knowledge, and experience to understand, influence, drive and negotiate with internal and external customers.
Qualifications
Essential Requirements:
- MCIPS qualified
- Extensive experience of Public Sector Procurement for complex programmes
- Knowledge of Find A Tender Service (FTS).
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to negotiate at the highest levels with suppliers
- Commercially astute and customer focused
- Excellent negotiation skills with some understanding of New Engineering Contract (NEC) form of Contract
- Possess strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to influence at senior levels
- Expertise and experience to act as the lead expert for complex/critical Procurement and Commercial issues and influence both internal and external stakeholders.
Additional Information
A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/
UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds who want to help us achieve our mission. We are under-represented from some groups and so want to encourage applications in particular from women in STEM, people from Black British Caribbean and African backgrounds and from Pakistani and Bangladeshi British backgrounds. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) and Wellbeing and our EDI Networks actively promote Inclusion and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.
UK Atomic Energy Authority is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information.
Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.
