Assistant Commercial Managers

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Corporate Services Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Communications, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Private Office, Security, Estates and Information.

We are seeking talented individuals to join us at Senior Executive Officer (SEO) level to support the delivery of our commercial objectives. These roles will appeal to experienced procurement or contract management professionals, as well as individuals with strong analytical or transferable skills who are looking to develop their commercial capability within central government.

The Home Office Commercial Directorate is undergoing a significant programme of transformation and growth, with recruitment across all grades to strengthen our capability and deliver departmental priorities.

As a Senior Executive Officer (SEO), you will play a key role in delivering procurement and contract management activity across a complex and high‑profile portfolio. You will operate across the commercial lifecycle, supporting the delivery of critical goods and services while ensuring value for money, compliance, and effective risk management.

These roles offer the opportunity to work on a diverse range of commercial activities, building expertise in public procurement and contract management within a central government environment. Successful candidates will benefit from structured development and opportunities to work towards professional qualifications.

Job description

Key responsibilities

As an SEO in the Home Office Commercial Directorate, you will:

• Lead and deliver procurements.
• Plan and deliver procurement activity in line with Home Office policy and procurement legislation, including developing sourcing strategies, procurement documentation, and managing market engagement.
• Manage contracts and supplier performance
• Be responsible for contract delivery, working with business leads and suppliers to manage performance, risks, and changes, ensuring contracts deliver intended outcomes.
• Support complex commercial activity
• Contribute to high‑value or high‑risk procurements and contracts, working alongside G7 Commercial Leads to provide commercial insight, financial analysis, and delivery support.
• Engage stakeholders and shape requirements.
• Establish effective relationships with business stakeholders to understand requirements, align commercial strategy, and support delivery of operational priorities.
• Develop commercial strategies and pipelines.
• Support the development of category strategies, sourcing plans, and commercial pipelines, identifying opportunities to improve value and efficiency.
• Provide commercial advice and guidance.
• Advise stakeholders on procurement routes, policy, and market considerations, ensuring alignment with Home Office and Cabinet Office guidance.
• Ensure compliance and governance.
• Deliver commercial activity in line with relevant legislation (including the Procurement Act 2023 and the public contracts Regulations PCR 2015), governance processes, and assurance requirements.
• Build capability and support continuous improvement.
• Contribute to a high‑performing commercial function by sharing knowledge, mentoring others where appropriate, and identifying opportunities to improve commercial outcomes.

Role expectations

• You will typically operate with a degree of autonomy within defined governance frameworks.
• For the most complex or high‑risk activity, you will support and work alongside a Grade 7 Commercial Lead.
• Some roles may include line management responsibility for junior staff.
• All roles are expected to contribute to delivery, capability development, and continuous improvement of the commercial function.

Working pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available, subject to discussion and business/role requirements.

Travel

Some travel may be required for meetings/workshops.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Commercial delivery experience

• Proven experience delivering procurement and/or contract management activity within a commercial environment, including supporting or leading elements of sourcing, contract award, or contract management.

Commercial lifecycle expertise

• Strong understanding of the end‑to‑end commercial lifecycle, with demonstrable practical experience in at least one area (e.g. procurement, supplier management, or contract delivery), and the ability to apply this to deliver outcomes.

Commercial judgement and value focus

• Ability to apply commercial thinking to deliver value for money, manage risk, and support effective decision-making, including experience of balancing cost, quality and delivery considerations.

Systems, governance and compliance

• Experience of working within commercial governance frameworks and using e‑sourcing tools, contract management systems or similar to deliver compliant, auditable commercial activity.

Stakeholder and supplier management

• Proven track record to engage effectively with stakeholders and suppliers, influencing outcomes and managing relationships to support delivery across complex or competing priorities.

Communication and commercial application

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to interpret and apply commercial information (e.g. contracts, requirements, or market insight) and provide clear, practical advice to stakeholders.

Continuous improvement and capability

• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities to improve commercial outcomes, processes or delivery, and contribute to building capability within a team or function.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate hands-on commercial, procurement, or contract management experience in their application.

Desirable criteria

• CIPS qualified or working towards CIPS.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits