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: 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