I am seeking an experienced Commercial Director to take ownership of a complex, high-value (£50m) public-sector contract. This role is critical to stabilising, mobilising, and transforming the contract from tender award through delivery and into long-term business-as-usual (BAU) operations.
The successful candidate will bring order to a challenging post-tender environment, establish robust commercial and delivery frameworks, and act as the senior commercial interface between us and the client, and internal delivery teams.
This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring someone comfortable operating in ambiguity, resolving legacy issues, and building scalable, auditable commercial models suitable for public-sector scrutiny.
Key Responsibilities
Contract Mobilisation & Stabilisation
Take ownership of the contract post-award and bring structure to a complex and evolving delivery environment
Lead the mobilisation and onboarding phase, ensuring contractual obligations, deliverables, and dependencies are clearly defined and achievable
Establish a clear deliverable model aligned to the contract, technical scope, and expectations
Commercial & Financial Management
Own all commercial governance for the contract
Resolve tender-phase ambiguities, assumptions, and inconsistencies
Put in place robust invoicing, cost tracking, and revenue recognition processes
Ensure accurate, timely, and auditable invoicing in line with public-sector requirements
Manage variations, change control, and commercial risk throughout the contract lifecycle
Contract Tracking & Performance
Implement effective mechanisms to track contractual obligations, KPIs, SLAs, and milestones
Provide clear reporting to senior stakeholders on financial performance, risk, and delivery status
Ensure compliance with public-sector governance, audit, and assurance requirements
Transformation & Change
Lead the transformation phase of the contract as services move from mobilisation into steady-state delivery
Align commercial models to evolving operational realities
Support changes to scope, service models, or delivery approaches while protecting our commercial position
BAU Transition & Long-Term Management
Oversee the transition from transformation into BAU operations
Ensure the contract is commercially sustainable, well-governed, and scalable
Act as long-term commercial owner of the relationship
Stakeholder Management
Serve as senior commercial interface with the client
Build trusted relationships with stakeholders, suppliers, and partners
Work closely with internal teams including operations, finance, legal, delivery, and executive leadership
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
Proven experience as a Commercial Director / Head of Commercial / Senior Commercial Manager
Strong background in public-sector contracts, ideally local authority or government
Experience managing large, complex contracts (£20m+), preferably £50m+
Demonstrated ability to:
Untangle complex tender outputs
Create clear delivery and commercial models post-award
Establish invoicing and governance from first principles
Strong understanding of contract mobilisation, transformation, and BAU transition
Excellent stakeholder management skills, including senior public-sector clients
Comfortable operating in high-pressure, ambiguous environments
Benefits
Pension Scheme
EV Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Flexibility within the 37 hours p/week
33 days Annual Leave
Life Assurance (4 x Salary)
TPBN1_UKTJ
- Location:
- United Kingdom
- Job Type:
-
FullTime
- Category:
-
Management;Management