Commercial Business Partner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to develop experience, skills and knowledge in delivering strategic procurement in a leading research organization.

The UKRI Commercial Directorate is responsible for both procurement and non-procurement commercial activities within UKRI.

For procurement activities, the Directorate is responsible for assurance and the complete procurement cycle from beginning to end, including planning, sourcing and contract management for goods, services and works for the Organisation, in a legally compliant manner whilst obtaining value for money.

For non-procurement commercial activities, the Directorate provides commercial advice, operational support and assurance on non- procurement commercial activities and other contractual arrangements to support relevant business areas within UKRI to achieve their objectives.

Job description

Support the Head of Procurement in developing and delivering UKRI‑wide commercial strategies across multiple spend categories. Identify commercial opportunities, ensure effective contract performance throughout the lifecycle, and drive improvementss in efficiency, value for money, and procurement capability. Providede expert advice on procurement regulations, lead supplier relationship management for strategic suppliers, and contribute to continuous enhancement of the central procurement function

Your responsibilities:

• As a member of the Commercial Directorate senior management team, support cross‑group alignment on procurement strategy, processes, and policy.
• Ensure all procurement activity uses the most effective route to market, delivering value for money and full regulatory compliance.
• Provide oversight and support on procurement activities delivered through UK SBS, ensuring sound decision‑making and appropriate assurance.
• Provide support for UKRI wide commercial projects and work with wider Commercial team to assign tasks and delegate to appropriate team members.
• Challenge and support major projects and programmes to ensure commercial approaches optimize value and manage risk effectively.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, acting as the escalation point for major decisions and contract approvals.
• Apply tools, data, and market analysis to assess supply markets, risks, trends, and opportunities to improve commercial insight.
• Use management information and datasets to support strategic planning and commercial decision making.
• Promote high standards of commercial professionalism across the function and wider organisation.
• Other duties as agreed from time-to-time with line manager.

Key Areas of Accountability

• Management of Procurement staff assigned to support UKRI wide projects.
• Commercial risk management and procurement benefit realization.
• Leadership and escalation for Contract Management activities.
• Maintaining strong relationships with key commercial stakeholders.
• Ensuring compliance with procurement policy on behalf of the Head of Commercial.
• Support to internal and external audits and resolution of associated actions.

Person specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

Education, qualification and training:

• Degree level in a commercial discipline or equivalent (S).
• MCIPs qualified (S).

Technical skills, experience:

• Demonstrable experience of managing and leading strategic procurement projects effectively (S&I).
• Significant experience and knowledge of managing complex commercial transactions (I).
• Management-level commercial experience gained in a complex organization (S&I).
• Experience of delivering complex procurement projects in a public sector environment (S).
• Experience in a procurement role providing procurement support to a highly technical organization (S).
• Experience of contract and supplier management, including dispute resolution (S&I).
• Experience of procurement risk identification, management and mitigation (I).
• Ability to understand, interpret, advise, amend and negotiate contracts terms (S&I).

Personal attributes:

• Customer focused - committed to an ethos of an accountable, cost effective, high-quality, customer-driven service delivery.
• Able to present clear and logical reasons for proposals.
• Analytical and able to use facts and data to assist with commercial decision making.
• A natural problem solver.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels.
• Ability to explain technical procurement procedures and provide training and advice to a wide audience.
• High degree of commercial awareness and a confident negotiator.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,589, UK Research and Innovation contributes £16,973 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

1st interview incl presentation.

Interviews will either take place remotely via Teams or in person face to face.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@ukri.org

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitmement@ukri.org