Commercial Specialist

Job Description

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall

Salary: £49,221 - £53,826 per annum (pro rata for part time) (pay award pending)

Working Hours: 37hrs - 7.4 hrs a day 5 days a week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 19th June 2026

Interview Date(s): week commencing the 22nd June 2026

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference?

Do you want a job where no two days are the same?

About the Role

This Commercial Specialist (Grade 13) role sits within the Commissioning Support Unit and provides a rigorous commercial approach across designated procurement categories, working closely with Senior Commercial colleagues, commissioners and contract managers. The post develops and delivers category strategies, leads high-value sourcing activity through the full procurement lifecycle, and supports effective supplier relationship management to secure value for money and strong service outcomes. It also provides commercial insight and challenge to commissioning plans, ensures compliance with procurement regulations and internal procedure rules, and maintains robust procurement/contract records while collaborating with partners such as ESPO and other public sector bodies. The Category for this role is mainly Operational Property and Facilities Management.

About You

To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:

• Hold a degree or equivalent professional qualification (MCIPS) or other relevant commercial/professional qualification and have evidence of continuing professional development.

• Have extensive experience of procurement at an influential level in a large, complex organisation and have extensive sourcing and/or contract management experience relevant to category/s. This will include experience of developing and implementing a category management approach and having knowledge of the the supply market, specifications, cost drivers and the relevant regulatory environments.

• Have a proven track record of leading high-value, complex sourcing activity through the full procurement lifecycle, including market engagement and supplier management and successfully engaging with a range of stakeholders partner bodies, building effective working relationships and promoting organisational reputation and interests.

• Have knowledge and understanding of fundamental contract law and the relevant procurement legislation and key national policy drivers (including EU Procurement Directives, Public Contract Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023).

• Experience of managing and delivering successfully a number of projects simultaneously and delivering to deadlines whilst being innovative and creative, with ability to think through complex issues/problems to reach successful conclusions.

• Be able to communicate clearly at all levels (verbally and in writing) and negotiate effectively to achieve desired outcomes with evidence of the successful management of strategic commercial relationships to ensure positive provider performance, to improve value for money and achieve service outcomes.

• Experience of implementing organisational change and effective working with staff and other stakeholders within a customer focused environment.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:

Rosie O'Doherty - Senior Commercial Specialist (Place)

Telephone: 0116 3051615

Email: Rosie.Odoherty@leics.gov.uk

How to Apply

At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.

If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.

By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

About us

About Leicestershire County Council

At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone.

Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose.

For further information on what it’s like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following:

Our Recruitment Process
Our Organisational Values
Our Employee Benefits
Working for Us