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Commercial Manager

Government Actuary's Department

Department
Government Actuary's Department
Location
London, Edinburgh
Openings
1 post
Grade
SEO
Salary
£53,539 to £65,335
Closing
9 days left
Profession
Finance
Contract
Permanent
Security clearance
BPSS
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
Apply on Civil Service Jobs

Job summary

GAD is strengthening its commercial capability and is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to join its Commercial team. Working with the Head of Commercial & Contract Management and colleagues across the department, you will provide practical commercial support from the earliest identification of a need through procurement, award, mobilisation, contract management and exit or renewal.

You will lead and support procurement activity, translate business needs into clear sourcing approaches, provide advice on governance and compliance, and help GAD secure value for money while managing commercial, delivery and supplier risk. You will help to maintain the department’s commercial pipeline and contract records, support effective supplier and contract management, and build commercial capability across GAD.

This is a varied role with significant cross-functional contact. It suits someone who can combine sound commercial judgement with organised delivery, clear communication and a strong understanding of public spending rules.

What they’re looking for

  • Commercial advice and business partnering
  • Provide clear, proportionate commercial advice to teams across GAD, challenging requirements and supporting early planning.
  • Help stakeholders define outcomes, whole-life value, affordability, timescales, dependencies and commercial risks.
  • Escalate novel, contentious, high-risk or legally complex matters where specialist input is required.
  • Procurement and sourcing
  • Lead procurement activity from planning and market engagement through tender, evaluation, award and handover.
  • Support robust business cases, outcome-focused requirements, sourcing strategies and evaluation approaches.
  • Analyse markets and suppliers, identify suitable frameworks or routes to market, and recommend options that deliver value for money.
  • Draft and quality-assure procurement and contract documentation, facilitate evaluation and moderation, and support negotiations and award recommendations.
  • Governance, assurance and compliance
  • Ensure activity complies with procurement legislation, government policy, GAD guidance, financial controls, delegations and transparency requirements.
  • Advise on approval routes and maintain clear, proportionate and auditable records of decisions, evaluations and approvals.
  • Identify commercial risks or control weaknesses, recommend mitigation and escalate concerns promptly.
  • Contract and supplier management
  • Ensure effective handover and mobilisation, with clear ownership, governance, performance measures, risks and escalation routes.
  • Support contract managers with supplier performance, KPIs, risks, relationships, benefits and record keeping.
  • Advise on variations, extensions, disputes, underperformance, renewal and exit before commitments are made.
  • Lead day-to-day commercial oversight of GAD’s building services contracts and escalate property-service issues where necessary.
  • Commercial information and planning
  • Maintain the commercial pipeline, contract register and supporting records, including owners, approvals, risks and key dates.
  • Use commercial information to identify upcoming procurements, renewals, expiries and opportunities for savings or improved outcomes.
  • Provide concise reporting on procurement progress, contract coverage, supplier performance, risks and actions.
  • Capability and improvement
  • Support commercial training, guidance, templates and coaching for business owners, evaluators and contract managers.
  • Share knowledge, improve ways of working and maintain continuing professional development.

Behaviours you’ll be assessed on

This advert says the panel will score you against these behaviours at SEO level. Each one links to worked examples.

Job description

  • Enable colleagues across GAD to obtain goods and services through compliant, proportionate and well-evidenced commercial routes.
  • Deliver procurement activity that supports business outcomes, value for money, fairness, transparency and effective risk management.
  • Improve visibility and control of GAD’s commercial pipeline, contracts, obligations, approvals and key dates.
  • Support the business to establish contracts for successful delivery, with clear ownership, performance measures, governance and escalation routes.
  • Build commercial awareness and confidence across GAD through advice, guidance, training and knowledge sharing.

Nationality requirements

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)

Selection process

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

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

  • A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained.
  • A Personal statement of up to 500-words explaining how you meet the essential criteria for the role, with particular reference to the criteria provided in the person specification of the JD.

Your CV and Personal Statement will be used to assess the essential criteria listed in the job description.

During the interview you will be assessed on the experience and behaviours listed in the Person Specification and detailed in this advert. The interview will include a presentation, details of which will be sent to those invited to interview.

  • Application deadline: 23:55 hrs on 22 November 2026
  • Shortlisting: w/c 23 November 2026
  • Interviews: w/c 07 December 2026
  • Interview location: In office (London, E14 4PU)

Please apply via our recruitment portal below.

As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please do not email your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. The desirable criteria will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates. Behaviours will be assessed at sift and interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Agency Notice: We will not pay agency fees for any candidate submitted in response to this advertisement unless we have explicitly agreed and contracted with an agency to support that specific role prior to advertising. Agency referrals will only be recognised where prior approval has been obtained from the Recruitment Team for the specific vacancy. Any other candidate submissions will be treated as direct applications.

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

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