Commercial Intelligence and Systems Manager
Salary: £56,745 per annum
Band: UKRI Band F
Hours: Full Time (Condensed hours and flexible working patterns considered)
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire or Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot (Hybrid working available including a minimum of 2 days a week in the office)
Closing Date: Sunday 27 th July 2025
Purpose of the Commercial Directorate
The UKRI Commercial Directorate is responsible for both procurement and non-procurement commercial activities within UKRI.
For procurement activities, the Directorate is responsible for assurance and the complete procurement cycle from beginning to end, including planning, sourcing and contract management for goods, services and works for the organisation, in a legally compliant manner whilst obtaining value for money.
For non-procurement commercial activities, the Directorate provides commercial advice, operational support and assurance on non-procurement commercial activities and other contractual arrangements to support relevant business areas within UKRI to achieve their objectives.
For clarity, this role sits within the procurement activity of the Directorate but may perform some non-procurement commercial activities.
Management Authority
Area - Commercial Directorate
Staff - Currently 1 individual, but due to the flexible nature of the team, this could flex upwards by up to 3 x individuals. The role will report to the Commercial Director
Contract authority - The ability to propose and set policy for UKRI Commercial (with ultimate approval with Head of Commercial/Commercial Director). Specific procurement budgets are held by individual budget holders in the business areas.
Purpose of the role
* To drive and coordinate continuous improvement activities, through improving existing processes and introducing and implementing new ones in a consistent and agile manner.
* To drive the improvement in data integrity, reporting and overall Commercial Intelligence across the procurement lifecycle, to enable improved analysis, decision making, and forecasting.
* Provision of centrally-based analysis and project/change management expertise
* To support data integrity, systems and reporting requirements for the whole Commercial team and develop and maintain specific 'dashboards' to aide better informed, agile procurement decision making.
* A focal point for provision of up to date and a relevant central source of training and coordination for core UKRI Commercial systems and processes, and standard procedures.
* Full ownership of the Commercial web-presence
* To maintain and ensure effective and consistent sharing and communication of information within the team and externally to end user networks, and other stakeholders, establishing reliable feedback mechanisms to inform continuous improvement plans + regular reports
* To ensure alignment between Commercial continuous improvement plans with UKRI corporate level governance and relevant change programmes.
* Provide leadership and co-ordination on all aspects of procurement regulations, legislation, policy and controls, working with legal colleagues to provide additional support and training for specific aspects of procurement and contract law not catered for within the Commercial team.
Roles and Responsibilities
* Supporting the Commercial Function Leadership team with the production, revision and delivery of an agreed long-term plan for continuous Improvement for Increase the value of analytics, optimising systems and efficiency of the whole team (which will include exploration and assessment of new technology tools, including artificial intelligence-based tools.
* The development, revisioning and maintenance of the full procurement document repository, including templates, guidance, policy, standard operating procedures and position statements - link to website update/leadership
* The creation, revisioning and maintenance of the Commercial team Communication Plan
* Leadership and project management support for all aspects of UKRI Commercial development plans including those that are tied into other organisational programmes
* Custodian for of all primary Commercial Intelligence across the procurement lifecycle, with the responsibility for driving the team towards and maintaining 100% visibility, accuracy, completeness. This includes, but not limited to our performance data, procurement & contract records (with full audit trail), procurement forecast data and specific trend analysis.
* Responsibility for a small team supporting the wider Commercial function.
* Optimising outputs from existing/future systems, as well as responsibility for developing and maintaining an ongoing systems and information roadmap to support overall Commercial Strategy.
* Develop and coordinate ongoing and relevant system Training Programmes with senior managers within the Department
* Coordinating with Commercial Leadership team, the development and maintenance of a Contract Management framework which promotes consistent best practice, informing guidance and operating procedures which drive clear policy for both UKRI Commercial and UKSBS, optimising the analytics and intelligence sources available (whilst continuously exploring new sources)
* Supporting system and MI improvement initiatives with key UKRI suppliers as directed by Commercial Leadership team
* Coordinate, appraise and recommend the use or key tools/techniques to assess relevant supply market, risks, level of competition, trends and new opportunities to inform market understanding
Key Areas of Accountability
* Continuous Improvement planning and delivery
* Leadership to ensure robust and fully optimised systems and reporting to provide Commercial Intelligence to enable informed procurement decision making and assurance.
* Ensuring up to date and relevant revisions of procurement policy and guidance documents - amend to reflect systems
* Core systems and process training - amend to reflect systems and MI
* Identification and advising of the latest changes new legislation, and applying to Commercial processes and policy
* Identifying and realising system process efficiencies to enable reduction in non value-add activities across the team.
* Providing specific and tailored analyses, reports and dashboards, for both internal and external consumption, ensuring timescales and requirements for specific repeat activities are adhered to, such as reporting to DSIT, Crown Commercial Service etc...
Personal attributes:
* A natural problem solver
* Relentless focus on improvement at any level for him/herself and team.
* Focus on process and outcomes
* Ability to distil theory into practice with clarity and understanding for all stakeholders
* Ability work in a logical and structured way but agile manner
* An ability to bring direction to project delivery
* Driven to understand the latest innovation in tools, systems and processes and within not afraid to suggest new ways of working, to support business change.
* Able to present clear and logical reasons for proposals;
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels;
* Ability to explain technical procurement procedures, regulations and provide training and advice to a wide and different audiences in a systems and analytics context
Knowledge, qualifications skills and experience
(S) - Assessed at shortlisting
(I) - Assessed at interview
(S&I) - Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Essential
* Demonstrable experience of managing and leading direct teams and/or project teams effectively; (S&I)
* Familiar with process modelling, gap analysis, impact/benefit analysis; (S)
* Proven record in improving data integrity for commercial intelligence with teams (S&I).
* Working knowledge of Procurement Regulations, Procurement & Contract Law and the legislative framework which underpins procurement activities with the UK (S&I)
* Management-level commercial analytics experience gained in a complex organisation (S&I);
* Experience of delivering continuous improvement projects and procurement transformation, ideally within a public sector environment;(S&I)
* Significant experience of working within a Commercial function role providing analytics and intelligence support and leadership within a highly technical organisation; (S&I)
* Demonstrable ability to undertake analysis and present in a digestible format for a range of audiences. (S)
* Experience of procurement risk identification, management and mitigation within system and analtytical environment (S)
* Root cause analysis and process re-engineering (S&I)
* Excellent working knowledge of large organisational Finance and Procurement systems (i.e ERP) (S)
Desirable
Education, qualification and training:
* Degree level in a commercial discipline or equivalent
* MCIPs qualified or equivalent
* Project Management qualification
* Continuous Improvement Training
* Relevant analytics qualifications
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package! We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning! A list of benefits below;
* An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
* 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
* Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
* Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
* Flexible working options
Please click here for more details on the https://www.discover.ukri.org/benefits-of-working-at-ukri/index.html
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org .
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.