Lead Senior Commercial Manager Complex Transactions - P&C Technology in London

Salary: Competitive

Grade: Band 4

Contract type: TfL

Reference: 4140

Team: P&C Technology

Contract details: Permanent / Full Time

Application closing date: 2nd

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right‑to‑work checks. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.

Overview of the role

At Lead level, we are seeking experienced professionals who can operate with full strategic ownership from day one. You will lead complex, high-value transactions, influence senior stakeholders, and set direction across major programmes. This is not a development role, but a position for individuals already operating at this level. Transport for London is seeking a senior commercial leader with significant depth of experience to lead complex technology programmes within Procurement & Commercial (P&C). This is a hands‑on delivery role with accountability for commercial strategy, execution, and assurance across some of TfL’s most critical and high‑value technology programmes, with a combined procurement value in the billions. The initial deployment for this role is to act as the lead guiding mind on a £1.2bn Networks & Telecommunications tender which supports both corporate and critical operational elements of TfL’s Network Infrastructure.

The postholder will act as the senior commercial authority across programmes, providing leadership to teams, assurance to senior stakeholders, and direct involvement in complex commercial and contractual activity.

Key accountabilities

• Provide senior commercial leadership and direction across major, high‑value, and high‑risk technology programmes, setting clear commercial strategy and standards for delivery across the portfolio.
• Personally lead complex commercial activity, including requirements, sourcing strategies, market engagement, negotiation, contract award, and contract management for major technology programmes, maintaining direct oversight of critical decisions and outcomes.
• Act as the senior commercial authority on complex contractual structures, risk allocation, commercial models, and governance, providing expert guidance and challenge to programme teams, senior leaders, and delivery partners.
• Influence and advise senior stakeholders across TfL, providing early, evidence‑based commercial insight and challenge to inform investment decisions, business planning, and programme delivery strategies.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a commercial team, setting clear expectations, building deep commercial capability, driving performance improvement, and ensuring high‑quality commercial outcomes across all assigned programmes.

Additional responsibilities

• Ensuring all commercial governance, approvals, and assurance activity is delivered to a consistently high standard.
• Working closely with Legal, Finance, Programme Directors, and senior suppliers to protect TfL’s commercial, financial, and reputational interests.

Skills, knowledge & experience

• Extensive senior‑level commercial experience (typically gained over a number of years) leading complex, high‑value procurement and contract activity in regulated environments.
• Proven track record of hands‑on leadership across large‑scale technology programmes, with direct accountability for outcomes.
• Expert knowledge of commercial strategy, contract law, procurement models, and supplier management.
• Significant experience with technology contracts, ideally services based, claims management, dispute resolution, and complex commercial risk mitigation.
• Strong people leadership experience, including developing senior commercial professionals and leading teams through complex delivery.
• Ability to operate credibly and confidently at executive and senior leadership level, providing assurance, challenge, and direction.
• Experience in public sector, transport, infrastructure, or similarly complex delivery environments.
• Professional qualification (e.g. CIPS or equivalent).
• Experience leading large‑scale technology or digital transformation programmes.

Application Process

Please apply using your CV only. Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV. PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs to make the process fair.

Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:

• Final salary pension scheme.
• Free travel for you on the TfL network.
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home.
• 29/30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays.
• TfL is committed to work‑life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow.
• Private healthcare discounted scheme, Tax‑efficient cycle‑to‑work programme.
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers.
• Discounted Eurostar travel.

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

Vetting Process

At Transport for London, safety, trust and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter explains the checks we carry out before you join us, helping ensure we create a safe, inclusive and reliable network for everyone who depends on our services. We simply ask that the information you provide is honest and accurate so we can progress your application smoothly. If something doesn’t match or can’t be verified, we may not be able to move forward with your application, but we’ll always treat you with transparency, respect, and clear communication throughout.