Commercial Lead

Role: Senior Commercial Lead Contract Length: to 31/3/27

Location: Preferred: Leeds - Alternative: Manchester (with regular travel to Leeds – weekly/fortnightly)

Attendance is 60% per week office based. IR35: inside

Role Context: These roles sit within a strategic digital programme in DWP Corporate Services.

This is not a technical or hands-on digital role. Instead, the focus is on strategic commercial leadership, supporting programme delivery through governance, procurement expertise, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidates will operate at a senior, enterprise level, helping shape delivery models and ensuring alignment across a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic commercial leadership across a high-profile digital programme

• Lead and support delivery model assessment at a programme/enterprise level

• Manage and influence senior stakeholders (Director level through to operational teams)

• Ensure strong programme governance, assurance, and compliance

• Support and oversee end-to-end procurement activity

• Work across cross-functional teams to drive alignment and delivery outcomes

• Operate effectively in a high-visibility, assurance-driven environment

Essential Experience

Suppliers should prioritise candidates with clear, demonstrable experience in:

• HMT Green Book business cases (hands-on experience essential)

• Public Accounts (PA) 2023 exposure

• Working within large, complex public sector programmes

• End-to-end procurement and commercial lifecycle management

• Operating in high-assurance/governance environments

• Influencing and challenging senior stakeholders

• Experience with CCS frameworks

Desirable Experience

• Experience in large-scale programme procurements

• MCIPS qualification

• Familiarity with Atamis procurement system

Key Skills

• Strategic thinking and programme-level insight

• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication

• Commercial acumen and procurement expertise

• Governance and assurance oversight

• Ability to operate in ambiguity and at pace

Candidate Profile - We are looking for candidates who:

• Are strategic, not delivery-focused technical specialists

• Have operated at senior programme or portfolio level

• Are confident working across complex organisational structures

• Can challenge constructively and influence senior decision-making