Assistant Commercial Lead in Aberdeen

Salary: £42,385 - £46,850

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract type: Permanent

Business area: DESNZ - Energy Infrastructure - Great British Energy

Type of role: Commercial Procurement and Contracts Management

Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available: 2

Location: Aberdeen

Job summary: Great British Energy will be a publicly owned, operationally independent energy company, designed to drive clean energy deployment, boost energy independence, create jobs and ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy. Setting up Great British Energy is one of government’s first steps for change and we will do this in a way that means it will have both an early impact and long-term success.

In this role, you will help deliver commercial, procurement and contract management excellence for Great British Energy (GBE). With the aim of becoming a trusted commercial advisor, you’ll provide a customer-focused service that understands business needs and stakeholder priorities. You will build strong relationships with GBE’s key suppliers, driving value for money and robust risk management across the organisation.

You will lead elements of the full commercial lifecycle – from shaping strategy and policy, assessing sourcing options and running procurement processes, through to contract and supplier management. The role may also involve developing and delivering grants. Working both independently and as part of a collaborative team, you’ll draw on your commercial expertise to drive performance, overcome challenges and adapt to changing priorities.

As part of establishing GBE’s new commercial function, you’ll embed best practice and processes developed by DESNZ, ensuring commercial principles are integrated from the outset. Building strong relationships across GBE will be key to ensuring commercial engagement in all activities.

Key responsibilities may include:

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing activities and act as a subject matter expert.
• Work with stakeholders to define clear business requirements and commercial needs.
• Provide professional guidance throughout the sourcing process, evaluating models and options.
• Develop commercial input for business cases, demonstrating benefits, value for money and risk considerations.
• Influence procurement policy and standards across GBE.
• Identify opportunities for collaborative supplier partnerships.
• Deliver compliant procurement services that achieve demonstrable value for money.
• Negotiate with third parties using effective commercial techniques.
• Ensure sourcing compliance and adherence to frameworks.
• Manage one or more low-to-medium complexity contracts and grants, ensuring governance, performance, risk and financial controls.
• Evaluate supplier performance and report regularly.
• Contribute to supply chain strategy and relationship management.
• Maintain positive commercial relationships to enhance performance and create added value.
• Monitor demand patterns and introduce demand management mechanisms.
• Analyse supplier risk and ensure business continuity while protecting GBE’s risk position.

Essential Criteria:

• Proven experience delivering end-to-end procurements, using central frameworks and open procedures.
• Experience managing one or more low-to-medium complexity contracts, with a strong understanding of contract management principles.
• Background in procurement, grants, commercial or buying roles.
• Understanding of commercial law and ability to apply key commercial tools effectively.
• Ability to manage cyber, personnel and physical risks within your remit.
• Commitment to applying standards that prevent corruption, fraud and unethical behaviour in supply chains.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, supporting performance and resolving issues.
• Skilled in communicating effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience delivering under Public Contract Regulations 2015 and/or Procurement Act 2023 regimes.

Benefits:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

Office attendance: The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK.

Selection process details: This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and technical statement.

We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact.