Associate Commercial Lead
Posted by: Gambling Commission
Employed By: Gambling Commission
Job Title: Associate Commercial Lead
Salary: £42,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time; Fixed contract
Location: Hybrid with regular travel to Birmingham
Application Deadline: 2nd August 2026
This role is open to secondments, with salary to be discussed where secondment arrangements apply.
The role:
As an Associate Commercial Lead you will support the delivery of commercial excellence across the Commission by managing commercial activity throughout the end-to-end commercial lifecycle. The role works collaboratively with stakeholders to develop commercial strategies, deliver procurements, manage supplier and contract performance, and ensure commercial decisions support organisational objectives, value for money and responsible stewardship of public funds.
You will provide expert commercial advice, challenge and assurance to our business areas, helping stakeholders understand commercial opportunities, risks and obligations whilst driving continuous improvement in commercial practice.
The team:
This is an exciting time to join our small commercial team as we are just about to launch our first Commercial Strategy and associated continuous improvement plan. In addition with new categories of work needing commercial support, an increased focus on ensuring value for money in our contracts we provide a unique opportunity for an experienced public sector commercial or procurement specialist to apply and evolve their skills across the commercial lifecycle, in business partnering, and in driving alignment with our functional standard.
Our offer to you:
• Civil Service Pension, with 28.97% employer contribution. Click for more information
• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 29 days after two years’ service (pro rata)
• Holiday purchase scheme (option to buy up to five extra days annual leave)
• Flexible working & family friendly policies
• Ergonomic, fully accessible office, very close to Birmingham New Street Station
• Open, collaborative and people focused culture
Your responsibilities:
Commercial Strategy and Planning
• Contribute to the development and implementation of our commercial strategy that support organisational priorities and aligning with our functional standard.
• Forecast and manage commercial requirements within assigned business areas.
• Analyse market conditions, supplier capability, demand forecasts and organisational needs to inform commercial decisions.
• Support the maintenance of the Commission's commercial pipeline to ensure sufficient planning and delivery timescales.
• Identify opportunities to achieve efficiencies, savings and broader organisational value through commercial activity.
Procurement and Sourcing
• Lead and support end-to-end procurement activity using appropriate public sector routes to market.
• Develop sourcing strategies that achieve value for money, compliance and organisational outcomes.
• Work with stakeholders to define business requirements, evaluate options, and assess benefits and risks.
• Conduct market engagement and supplier discussions to support informed procurement decisions.
• Support negotiations with suppliers to secure favourable commercial outcomes.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with legislation, policy, governance and assurance requirements.
Contract and Supplier Relationship Management
• Act as the commercial lead for designated contracts and supplier relationships.
• Support effective contract management through governance, performance monitoring, risk management and change control.
• Develop constructive supplier relationships that encourage innovation, continuous improvement and value creation.
• Support contract mobilisation, transition, renewal and exit planning activities.
• Identify and escalate commercial risks, ensuring appropriate mitigations are in place throughout the contract lifecycle.
Stakeholder Management and Commercial Advice
• Build strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the Commission.
• Provide professional commercial advice and challenge to support effective decision making.
• Influence stakeholders to adopt commercially sound solutions that deliver organisational objectives.
• Communicate complex commercial information clearly and concisely to a diverse audience.
• Work collaboratively across teams to balance competing priorities and deliver successful outcomes.
Commercial Governance, Risk and Capability
• Apply commercial policies, procedures and governance requirements consistently.
• Support commercial assurance activities and maintain accurate commercial records.
• Uphold high standards of commercial ethics, integrity and transparency.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial processes, guidance and tools.
• Promote commercial awareness and capability across the Commission.
• Contribute to the development of a positive and inclusive commercial culture.
What we’re looking for:
Essential criteria (assessed at shortlisting and interview):
• Excellent knowledge of public sector procurement principles and commercial governance gained through demonstrable experience in a procurement, commercial, contract management or supplier management role in the Public Sector.
• Good understanding of end-to-end commercial lifecycle management
• Experience of delivering value for money through commercial activity, negotiation, procurement or contract management.
• Ability to identify, assess and manage commercial risks.
Desirable criteria (assessed at interview):
• Experience of contract mobilisation, transition, renewal or exit planning.
• Experience of category strategy development or category management.
• Experience of supplier relationship management and performance improvement.
• Experience of commercial systems and reporting tools.
Your application:
We value diversity in our workplace and are committed to a culture where each individual is engaged and feels that their contribution is valued and respected. We welcome all applications from candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role.
To apply for this position, please see the Gambling Commission careers website.
The Gambling Commission have an anonymised recruitment process, so you should not attach a CV to your application. Instead, application questions will ask you to evidence how your personal skills, qualities and experience match the essential criteria for the role.
In the event of a high volume of applications, we will prioritise candidates based on their strength in the Commercial Strategies & Planning capability, in the above Essential Criteria.
The selection process for this vacancy will comprise of a 10-minute presentation and an in-person interview. The discussion subject for your presentation will be shared when you are invited to interview. To prepare for your interview please familiarise yourself with the STAR technique for answering interview questions.
The closing date for this role is midnight on 2nd August 2026.
Interviews are expected to be held week commencing 10th August 2026.
Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before applying as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.
Incomplete applications will be discounted from shortlisting. Please ensure your application is fully completed and submitted before logging out of your account.
About us:
The Gambling Commission is the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing and regulating gambling activities in the United Kingdom. Our primary role is to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly, openly, and free from crime, while also protecting vulnerable individuals from harm.
We regulate various forms of gambling, including casinos, bingo, sports betting, and lotteries, and issues licenses to operators. We are committed to ensuring a safe and responsible gambling environment, promoting transparency, and enforcing compliance with legal standards to maintain public trust in the industry.
We’re proud to have notable industry recognition, including the Regulatory Excellence Award from the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This prestigious award recognized the Commission's international leadership in enhancing consumer protection through industry collaboration.
Please apply if you want to be part of an organisation that is force for good!