Commercial Manager
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced energetic commercial professional to bolster the Commercial Team during a period of extensive activity. This opportunity is for fixed term period until August 2028.
The Commercial Manager will be a senior member of the Commercial Services Team, with specific responsibility for delivering commercial services to the Future NHS Workforce Transformation Programme and support for any services that may transfer from DHSC/NHS England.
In this role you will have responsibility for leading and overseeing commercial input into the Programmes. This will range from providing strategic insight to help shape the future target operating model(s) to leading pre-market engagement sessions with some of the largest suppliers in the world and onto delivering and managing large scale complex contracts. You will also be liaising with some of the most senior leaders in our organisation and in our external stakeholders too.
To be successful in this role you will need to be a strategic thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture. You will be a confident leader with great people skills and with the ability to lead the commercial workstream within the Future NHS Workforce Transformation Programme.
Main duties of the job
The Commercial Manager will support the organisation achieve transition of services and later transformation by:
- Leading the procurement of a service integrator / technology partner to support our Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) teams build transformed service platforms;
- Work with DHSC/NHS England to obtain support for any transferring services;
- Support the DDaT and Programme team by conducting Due Diligence required to transition services;
- Support the novation of contracts.
The Future NHS Workforce Transformation Programme
Electronic Staff Record (ESR) is a critical NHS system and is one of the world's largest integrated HR & Payroll Solutions with 1.9m NHS employees. ESR provides other services such as: HR, absence management, learning and talent management, occupational health and recruitment.
A contract was awarded to Infosys Ltd in October 2025 for £1.2bn to take on the existing ESR service from by 1 September 2026, but then to build a new transformed solution and to role that out to over 300 User Organisations (the 1.9m users), then finally decommissioning ESR in 2030.
The Commercial Manager will support the Programme to achieve the Transformation roll out by:
- Supporting the Commercial Lead for the Programme in contract management,
- Managing the various advisor contracts,
- Ensuring Social Value benefits are realised,
- Supporting contract governance boards
About us
Here at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), what we do matters.
We manage the NHS Pension scheme, process prescription payments and much more. Our services are used by NHS organisations, contractors and the public: we're proud to be part of something meaningful, that touches millions of lives.
We design our services around customer needs and place people at the heart of our organisation. That's why when you join us, you'll be empowered and supported to help your career grow.
As one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, we're connected to our values: Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We care about our people, our purpose, and your progress.
We strive to offer a fantastic colleague experience, where every colleague is heard, supported and respected. Wellbeing, diversity and inclusion is at the centre of this, and you can join our Lived Experience Networks who help us bring our authentic selves to work.
We're committed to being a flexible employer and we try to offer a working pattern that suits you where possible, through hybrid working, flexible hours and more.
Alongside a competitive salary with pay progression, we offer a people-centric benefits package, connecting you to the rewards and benefits you value most!
Ready to join us in delivering business service excellence to the NHS, helping people live longer, healthier lives? Apply today and see where the NHSBSA can take you.
We are people connected to care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role, you are accountable for:
- Leading and ensuring that appropriate contracts are put in place that meet customer / client needs
- Supporting the delivery of effective sourcing strategies for the organisation and its customers
- Planning strategic sourcing strategies by implementing and developing structured procurement processes that are fit for purpose.
- Implementing and ensuring compliance with the NHSBSA SFIs and other controls and governance requirements, and that all necessary approvals are in place.
- Leading and managing high profile and complex negotiations for major sourcing activities.
- Ensuring, as a result of spend analysis, that appropriate procurements are undertaken and savings are delivered.
- Ensuring that the NHSBSA selects the most effective type of agreement for the service / product procured and plans are in place to deliver financial savings.
- Promoting behaviours that encourages a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and delivery of value for money outcomes.
- Making complex decisions through detailed analysis of options, and recommend solutions using persuasion and influencing skills on higher value, high detailed contracts and strategic sourcing.
- Creating a more capable and efficient Commercial Services Team through sharing knowledge and role modelling effective commercial and leadership behaviours
- Working with customers and clients (using market knowledge and commercial rigour) to develop their requirements into clearly defined specifications.
- Ensuring that commercial outputs are aligned to Customer / Client expectations.
- Implementing and ensuring that effective commercial contract governance is undertaken.
- Developing and managing budgets as required.
- Representing Commercial Services in variety of high profile internal and external forums
- Supporting business development and growth activities within relevant NHSBSA directorates, through delivery of effective commercial solutions.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
- Specialist knowledge of contract and schedule construction, contracts that involve the delivery of public services by the private sector, procurement and sourcing strategies, relevant legislation, Public Contract Regulations and NHS/Government policies
- Knowledge and expertise to be able to manage highly complex relationships
- Proven experience of providing dynamic and effective leadership, a natural people manager able to motivate and inspire teams and individuals
- Excellent communication skills, written and oral; articulate and robust in presenting ideas
- Strong influencing and negotiation skills, a good builder of productive relationships, able to gain support from all parties
- A good organiser of time and activities, able to identify key issues and priorities
- Determined and tenacious, committed to seeing delivery through to completion
- Project planning and management techniques
- The DHSC and HM Treasury approvals processes
- Political awareness, and awareness of broader aspects which may impact on the area of expertise
Experience
- Significant demonstrable experience of negotiating high profile complex commercial agreements including those for managed services
- Responsibility for running procurement processes including producing tender documentation
- Managing contractors, professional advisers and staff resources to achieve corporate/commercial objectives
- Producing/contributing to business cases
- Managing complex stakeholder environments
- Delivering procurement projects within budget and on time
- Experience of drafting and advising on complex outsourced managed services and contracts including KPIs, SLAs, contract schedules
- Knowledge of the service provider market and wider stakeholder environment
- Experience of risk management, corporate governance and quality management systems
- Proven negotiation experience in the Public and Private sector
Qualifications
- Degree and/or CIPS qualification with additional business qualification (e.g. MBA) or significant demonstrable experience
- Membership of professional body
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer details
Employer name
NHS Business Services Authority
Address
Stella House
Goldcrest Way
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE15 8NY
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://careers.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/