Deputy Director - Digital and Security

Salary - £101,000 - £131,000, GCO Pension, GCO Terms. Up to 20% performance-related pay available on accreditation.

Locations - York, Glasgow - Locations for existing Cabinet office COHMT employees will be honoured in line with CO policy.

The COHMT Commercial team is currently undergoing an exciting strategic evolution, transitioning into a highly specialised Commercial Delivery and Operations model. As part of this transformation, we are looking for an inspiring and collaborative Deputy Commercial Director to lead our Digital, Technology, and Security cluster.

In this role, you will have a significant impact on some of the UK’s most critical digital and security transformations. You will lead a high-performing team, drive commercial strategies for major technology platforms, and shape the way the government buys innovation. If you are passionate about using your commercial expertise to deliver value for taxpayers, championing SME inclusion, and fostering a supportive, dynamic, and kind team culture, this is a uniquely rewarding opportunity to shape the future of government technology.

Your role will have a significant impact delivering policy objectives, strengthening commercial acumen across both departments and ultimately delivering value for taxpayers. We are looking for a talented commercial professional to join the Commercial Leadership Team and help to deliver strategic, operational and cultural change, transforming how commercial services are delivered across both departments. This will be a stretching and uniquely rewarding position.

Person specification

• Strategic Category Leadership: Develop and own the overarching commercial strategy for a highly complex and dynamic portfolio encompassing Digital, Security, and HM Treasury. You will be accountable for maturing category offers and leading on high-profile, strategic initiatives including the GBNI/NewMat plane programme, critical national security capabilities, and major enterprise software agreements (e.g., Microsoft, Google, AWS).
• Senior Stakeholder Partnering: Build trusted, highly effective relationships with senior executives across the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. Act as a definitive commercial authority to shape future operating models and commercial strategies for sensitive business areas, including UK Security Vetting, COBRA Resilience, and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.
• Resilient & Inclusive Leadership: Provide outstanding, steady leadership to a multidisciplinary commercial team, particularly through periods of significant organisational change or location strategy transitions. Foster a psychologically safe, inclusive environment, and actively coach team members to achieve commercial accreditations through Assessment and Development Centres.
• Complex Deal & Dispute Resolution: Act as the senior escalation point for complex, high-risk commercial situations. You will proactively intervene to negotiate terms, prevent formal legal challenges, resolve 'working at risk' situations, and eliminate financial risks such as double-licensing costs.
• Governance & Functional Excellence: Drive commercial capability and robust governance across the departments. This includes chairing Commercial Assurance Boards, implementing targeted spend controls for Consultancy and Professional Services, and establishing overarching agreements like the Memorandum of Understanding governing commercial services between the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury.
• Contract Management & Audit Compliance: Ensure rigorous contract management standards are embedded across the Security, Digital, and HM Treasury portfolios. You will be accountable for driving continuous improvement against internal audit targets, ensuring vital accreditations are met and maintained.
• Data Integrity & Transparency: Champion the use of commercial systems and artificial intelligence to enable senior, data-driven decision-making. You will hold absolute accountability for maintaining 100% compliance in commercial data integrity, pipeline visibility, and statutory contract publication times.
• Managing Change & Continuity: Seamlessly manage complex inter-departmental transitions into and out of your cluster, ensuring absolute continuity of critical live services and mitigating risks associated with contingent labour or transitioning digital systems.
• Supply Chain Diversity: Strategically leverage external delivery partners and frameworks to ensure the department benefits from market innovation. You will embed a relentless focus on securing value for money while continuously exceeding Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) utilisation targets across all new procurements.
• Commercial Leadership Team Contribution: Work collegiately as a pivotal member of the Commercial Leadership Team, helping to set the overarching functional strategy, championing continuous improvement, and driving the transformation of the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury commercial offering.

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 COHMT and across government.

Technical skills

• Champions robust data governance and transparency. Demonstrates the ability to achieve flawless contract publication rates and utilises market data to drive strategic supply chain diversity and high SME award rates.
• Significant experience as a senior decision-maker overseeing high-value portfolios across tech, security, and corporate services. Capable of making robust, evidence-based decisions under pressure.
• Exceptional track record of leading complex negotiations with global technology giants. Able to assess software agreements to secure favourable terms, mitigate financial risks, and deliver millions in cashable savings.
• Expert in navigating complex stakeholder landscapes at the senior level. Proven ability to embed commercial thinking into organisational decision-making and foster productive relationships with external stakeholders.
• Lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams. Committed to developing commercial knowledge across the organisation, supporting your team's professional growth, and championing an inclusive and diverse working environment.
• Manage complex digital, tech, and security suppliers. Experience of devolved contract management & operational contract management across business units. Deliver savings, resolve disputes, and support effective supplier management strategies.