Commercial Specialist

Job summary

Complex Transactions (CTT) is a diverse team of commercial experts who - prior to joining us - have gained experience across a range of sectors, industries and procurement categories. Working in a pan-Government consulting role our objective is to support and enable Departments to deliver their most challenging and demanding objectives. All of our work is high profile, high value or integral to Government policy. In many cases it is all three. This recruitment campaign aims to increase the commercial specialist capacity in the team.

Our assignments take us to the heart of Government and we are at the forefront in addressing the commercial challenges that make this country operate. From renegotiating contracts for the Department for Work and Pensions to supporting transformational projects for HMRC. Our work ensures the delivery of services that impact the everyday lives of citizens across the UK. CTT is in the unique position of consistently shaping and influencing some of the biggest deals that exist in either the public or private sector.

Our role as internal consultants across Government enables us to influence the full spectrum of the commercial agenda. From levelling-up, procurement reform, Net Zero, social value, and digital transformation we have an opportunity to influence and apply these initiatives across central, local government and the private sector supply chains. We also assess challenges from multiple perspectives, including fiscal, financial, economic, risk, deliverability and many others besides.

The team structure is not typical of the civil service and is a reverse pyramid of senior commercial specialist expertise. The team currently has c.45 members. You don’t need to have a background in public sector procurement to join us. We're more interested in your commercial acumen, leadership, flexibility and desire to make a difference.

Job description

For this campaign we are particularly looking for people who have strong experience in one or more of these key industry sectors technology/digital (including Artificial Intelligence), major civil construction, healthcare, defence and Private Finance Initiative (PFI) /Public Private Partnerships (PPP). Your role will involve:

• Being a trusted advisor to commercial, policy, operational and programme leaders to help in the delivery of complex commercial programmes. Providing expert advice and support to some of the most high profile and complex commercial programmes and initiatives in Government
• Supporting departments to structure their sourcing and commercial strategies to deliver value for money on departmental programmes and projects.
• Shaping and leading commercial negotiations with both new and incumbent suppliers through to great outcomes; providing strategic advice and support to complex contracts during the procurement phase, contract exit and contract reviews.
• Resolving high-value commercial disputes between government departments and strategic suppliers.
• Identifying how Government can address best practice commercial approaches to ensure transparency, effective pricing and robust exit arrangements, in more complex contracts.
• Playing an active role in contributing to building/developing the expertise within the CTT and across Government. Act as a technology/digital (including AI), major civil construction, healthcare, defence or PFI sectors commercial thought leader with peers to develop and share best practice.

You will also:

• Be amongst the most senior members of the Government Commercial Function and play a role in the broader commercial reform programme led by the Government Chief Commercial Officer.
• Play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the Cabinet Office and across Government.

To be successful in this role you’ll have a track record of commercial success in leading in one or more of these key industry sectors technology/digital (including Artificial Intelligence), major civil construction, healthcare, defence or Private Finance Initiative (PFI)/Public Private Partnerships (PPP) programmes and driving them to completion. Additionally, you’ll have demonstrable experience of managing complexity when making commercial decisions.

Locations
The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.

Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

Please note that CTT will be hosting an Engagement Call on 16/02/2026 at 12pm. You can reserve a spot on Eventbrite by using the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/commercial-specialist-recruitment-campaign-tickets-1982494133320?aff=oddtdtcreator

Person specification

To be successful, you will need to demonstrate capability against the following criteria (described in our application system as Technical Skills) both within your application and at the final panel interview:

• Significant commercial expertise and experience gained from a career in one or more of these key industry sectors: technology/digital (including Artificial Intelligence), major civil construction, healthcare, defence and Private Finance Initiative (PFI)/Public Private Partnerships (PPP), likely to have been gained from working with or in blue-chip organisations at a senior level. Evidence of running insource/outsource conversations and transitioning.
• Strategic deal-maker with extensive experience leading multiple, large-scale, complex negotiations and deals. You are adept at balancing assertive commercial tactics with the relationship management skills necessary to align with senior level stakeholders.
• Senior leader with extensive evidence of designing, shaping and agreeing innovative sourcing and commercial strategies from a lead role in a complex organisation.
• Expertly navigates complexity to influence key outcomes. Confidently handles rigorous questioning from senior stakeholders without much oversight.
• Demonstrate outstanding consultancy skills likely to be gained in a professional services environment. Proven ability to establish immediate credibility and influence strategic outcomes with diverse internal and external stakeholders, demonstrates outstanding influencing and communication skills alongside strong network development.
• Demonstrate high levels of credibility, gravitas and business acumen with a natural presence that is likely to result in successfully influencing outcomes, operating at senior c-suite levels.
• Track record of success in leading commercial programmes, driving them forward to completion, this will include building, developing and leading teams.
• Demonstrable experience of managing complexity when making commercial decisions.

In addition, to be successful, candidates will need to demonstrate capability against the commercial people standards. These are assessed at the Commercial Assessment and Development Centre.

• Be amongst the most senior members of the Government Commercial Function and play a role in the broader commercial reform programme led by the Government Chief Commercial Officer;
• Play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the Complex Transactions Team and across government.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Strategic deal-maker, extensive experience leading multiple, large-scale, complex negotiations/deals. Adept at balancing assertive commercial tactics with the relationship management skills necessary to align with senior level stakeholders.
• Significant commercial expertise from tech/AI, construction, healthcare, defence, or PFI/PPP. Blue-chip, senior-level experience managing complex in/out-sourcing strategies & service transitions.
• Demonstrate high levels of credibility, gravitas and business acumen with a natural presence that is likely to result in successfully influencing outcomes, operating at senior c-suite levels.
• Outstanding consultancy skills; proven ability to establish immediate credibility and influence strategic outcomes with diverse stakeholders. Strong influencing, communication, and network development skills demonstrated.
• Senior leader with extensive evidence of designing, shaping and agreeing innovative sourcing and commercial strategies from a lead role in a complex organisation.

Benefits

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.

For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.

Kindly refer to the following link for the GCF Rewards and benefits page.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-benefits/

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview.

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on 11/03 and 17/03 and will require a full day's attendance.

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team on commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.

For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the attached candidate pack.

Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the Technical Skills (essential criteria) and your Job History (CV) that you will be asked to provide during the application process. Further help and advice on our application and selection process can be found at this web address https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-how-to-apply/

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-re…
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Lynsey Munro
• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should direct this to the Head of Commercial Resourcing Hub at the following email commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk quoting the vacancy reference number (if applicable) and the details of your complaint. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission via the following web page: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

447903 - Commercial Specialist - Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 621kB)Guaranteed Interview Schemes (GIS) Opens in new window (pdf, 70kB)