Commercial Lead - Defence

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Commercial Lead to join our growing Defence team in Derby.

Working within a highly regulated environment, you will provide strategic commercial leadership across complex programmes, ensuring successful delivery, robust commercial governance and exceptional client outcomes.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to lead commercial teams, shape commercial strategy and act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders while contributing to some of the UK's most significant Defence programmes.

SC clearance or eligibility to obtain it is essential.

You'll be responsible for

• Providing strategic commercial leadership across major programmes and portfolios.
• Acting as the senior commercial lead and trusted advisor to programme leadership teams and key stakeholders.
• Establishing and maintaining commercial governance frameworks, ensuring compliance and best practice across programme delivery.
• Leading commercial risk and opportunity management, ensuring informed decision-making and successful programme outcomes.
• Overseeing commercial performance, financial reporting, forecasting and assurance activities across multiple projects.
• Leading and developing high-performing commercial teams, promoting collaboration, continuous improvement and professional development.
• Driving commercial strategy, contract optimisation and value-for-money outcomes throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Supporting procurement and contract strategies, ensuring alignment with programme objectives and business requirements.
• Managing senior stakeholder relationships across client organisations, delivery partners and supply chains.
• Identifying opportunities for service growth, innovation and enhanced client value.

You'll need to have

• Significant experience leading commercial functions within Defence, Nuclear, Infrastructure or other highly regulated environments.
• Extensive knowledge of NEC contracts, commercial governance, contract management principles and programme-level commercial assurance.
• Proven experience managing commercial risk, programme performance, commercial assurance activities and delivering value-for-money outcomes.
• Strong leadership experience, including developing and managing high-performing commercial teams and multidisciplinary project environments.
• Experience advising senior stakeholders, influencing strategic programme decisions and managing complex client relationships.
• Degree qualified in quantity surveying, commercial management or a related discipline, with MRICS or other relevant professional accreditation preferred.
• Current SC clearance (essential), with experience supporting major Defence or Nuclear programmes and working within complex client-side or integrated delivery environments.

What's on offer

• Car allowance.
• Hybrid working.
• Private medical cover.
• Life assurance.
• Income protection insurance.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Discretionary annual salary reviews.
• Family-friendly policies.
• 22 days annual leave + 2 Mace Days + 3-day Christmas shutdown + 1 additional day of leave for every 2 years of service + bank holidays.

Our values

Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.

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