Commercial Lead – Gov Digital Services & Cyber UnitSpecific

The Government Digital Service (GDS) leads the design and delivery of user-centred digital public services across government, while the Government Cyber Unit (GCU) helps strengthen cyber resilience, protect public services and support the government in responding to evolving digital threats. The GDS and GCU Commercial team supports these priorities by securing the technology, digital and specialist services needed to deliver critical programmes, including Modern Digital Government, the AI Opportunities Action Plan, and work to improve the security and resilience of public services.

The wider DSIT Commercial team is recognised for its supportive, forward-thinking environment, offering the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology, digital strategy and national security priorities. You will join professionals committed to continuous improvement, excellent public service delivery and challenging conventional procurement methods where this helps deliver better outcomes.

As part of our team, you will collaborate with experts across digital, procurement, cyber, policy and delivery professions. The Commercial team works closely with project managers, digital architects and policy leads to ensure government programmes are delivered smoothly and provide real benefits. This includes supporting new digital platforms, agentic AI solutions, the Prime Minister’s AI Exemplars, the National Cloud Strategy and services that improve the security, resilience and responsiveness of government.

This role provides a gateway to meaningful work with national impact. You will contribute to major initiatives that make public services simpler, safer and more accessible, while helping government use emerging technology responsibly and effectively.

We encourage you to apply if you are motivated by making a difference, eager to work in a collaborative and innovative team, able to challenge conventional procurement processes, and confident operating at both strategic and operational levels in a fast-paced environment. Your expertise will be valued, and you will have the chance to drive change that benefits millions of people.

The Commercial Lead in the Government Digital Service (GDS) and Government Cyber Unit (GCU) may involve a degree of line management varying depending on ongoing projects and departmental needs, but the role will require strong leadership skills to guide, mentor, and work as part of a multidisciplinary team they work within to deliver high-impact solutions.

Key customers and stakeholders for the Commercial Lead include internal GDS & GCU, senior government officials, external suppliers, and partner organisations across the public sector. The role also interfaces with procurement specialists, legal advisors, and finance teams to ensure best value and compliance in all commercial activities.

In your role you’ll own the end-to-end lifecycle for your projects, drawing support from commercial and other commercial colleagues working as a part functional team. The Commercial Lead will be directly involved in managing contracts for strategic digital transformation projects, including large-scale technology procurement, software licensing agreements, and supplier partnerships through developing and deploying the use of innovative procurement practices.

The role also leads on key procurements that support government-wide digital initiatives and is responsible for ensuring that all programs align with strategic objectives and deliver measurable value.

It is envisaged that the role will sit within the GDS and GCU commercial team, part of DSIT’s central Commercial team, providing vital commercial support and leadership across the department’s most high-impact digital, cyber and technology programmes. Initial remits will focus on the recently expanded Government Digital Service (GDS), including the National Data Library, AI and digital capability, alongside the Government Cyber Unit’s remit to strengthen cross-government cyber resilience, protect public services and support secure digital transformation. These programmes sit at the forefront of public sector transformation and offer an excellent opportunity to work on digital delivery at scale.

You’ll lead commercial activity across the full lifecycle — from planning and sourcing through to contract management and supplier performance. Working closely with digital, policy, delivery and operational teams, you’ll help shape commercial approaches that support delivery outcomes and drive value. Key responsibilities may include:

• Designing and delivering sourcing strategies and commercial solutions, including elements of contract and supplier management
• Managing supplier relationships and applying commercial levers to support delivery
• Embedding commercial insight and thinking within multidisciplinary teams
• Preparing clear commercial advice and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Contributing to continuous improvement of DSIT’s commercial tools, processes and ways of working

As part of a centralised function, you’ll be joining a flexible and collaborative commercial team that supports a broad and evolving portfolio. These roles offer the chance to make a tangible impact on digital services with national reach.

As a key member of the DSIT Commercial team, you’ll lead commercial activity within a defined area of the GDS portfolio and wider DSIT.

You’ll work closely with delivery, policy, digital and operational colleagues to shape and deliver commercial solutions that support outcomes, drive value and manage risk. You’ll be part of a flexible and collaborative commercial function supporting DSIT’s digital transformation goals.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview. Please note: Only candidates that achieve an A grade at ADC will be invited to interview for this role.

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on Wednesday 18th November 2026 and will require a full day's attendance.

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team on commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.

For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the attached candidate pack.

Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the Technical Skills (essential criteria) and your Job History (CV) that you will be asked to provide during the application process. Further help and advice on our application and selection process can be found at this web address https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-how-to-apply/

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-recruitment/

IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.