Senior Commercial Lead

Overview of Responsibilities

About us  

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 industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.  

About the job

The Senior Commercial Lead will provide strategic commercial leadership for UKAEA’s Robotics, Repurposing and Decommissioning Directorate, supporting major programmes including RACE, RAICo and JET Decommissioning. Managing procurement activity across a portfolio exceeding £100 million annually, you’ll shape commercial strategy, strengthen supplier capability and enable innovative solutions that support the future of fusion energy. This is an opportunity to influence high-value programmes while working with senior leaders across government, industry and research.

What You’ll be Doing

• Develop and lead the commercial strategy for UKAEA’s Robotics, Repurposing and Decommissioning programmes.
• Deliver strategic procurement across a portfolio exceeding £100 million annually, ensuring value for money and regulatory compliance.
• Design innovative sourcing approaches that strengthen supplier capability and support future fusion programmes.
• Lead commercial governance, assurance and risk management across major programmes and procurements.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government, industry, research organisations and key suppliers.
• Analyse markets and emerging supplier capability to inform long-term commercial strategy and future programme delivery.
• Provide expert commercial advice to senior leaders on complex procurement and contractual matters.
• Ensure compliance with the Public Procurement Regulations 2023 and wider public sector commercial requirements.
• Lead, develop and mentor a high-performing commercial team, building capability and professional excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement of commercial policies, processes and category strategies across the Directorate.

What You’ll Bring

• CIPS Chartered status and degree level qualification, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Extensive experience leading complex, high-value public sector procurement and commercial programmes.
• Strong knowledge of the Public Contracts Regulations and Public Procurement Regulations 2023.
• Demonstrable experience developing commercial strategy, governance and risk management for major programmes.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders across government, industry and research organisations.
• Proven leadership experience 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.

Benefits 

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

• A salary of £80,090 (inclusive of a £7K specialist allowance)   
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus 
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution  
• 25 days annual leave, 2.5 privilege days and 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 talent@ukaea.uk 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.