Commercial Manager

Job summary

• Commercial Manager
• £73,000 per annum
• Bedford
• Permanent
• Hybrid Working

Ready to make a real difference? Join us at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) as our Commercial Manager. This is your chance to play a meaningful role in helping people across the UK build stronger financial futures and to do it as part of a supportive, energetic team.

Why this role matters?

As Commercial Manager you will provide professional procurement and commercial support across MaPS Customer Directorate, helping teams to plan, source, manage and improve contracts in line with public sector policy, governance requirements and commercial best practice. You will be supporting colleagues with commissioning best-in-class solutions that directly support the UK public, seeking innovative ways to maximize benefit to millions of people in need of Debt Advice, Money or Pensions Guidance.

You will support a range of commercial activity, including sourcing, supplier engagement, contract and grant management, governance, negotiation and stakeholder management, with a focus on delivering value for money and wider organizational benefits.

The post holder will work collaboratively with colleagues across commercial, finance, legal, policy, digital, operations and delivery teams to support effective procurement and contract outcomes. You will be an active and contributing member of the wider commercial team, sharing experience and knowledge to develop our functional delivery.

Job description

Sourcing

• Use commercial knowledge and experience to identify suitable routes to market for a range of goods and services requirements
• Assess available sourcing options, articulate the benefits and risks of each approach, and recommend the most appropriate route to market
• Run compliant procurement and grant funding award procedures efficiently, transparently and at pace
• Complete commercial governance, approvals and documentation clearly and effectively
• Support commercial pipeline planning by identifying upcoming requirements, key milestones, dependencies and potential procurement risks
• Provide practical commercial advice to internal stakeholders on routes to market, procurement options, commercial risks and value for money considerations

Commercial Contract Management

• Provide commercial contract management support in line with agreed terms, governance processes and organisational requirements
• Support commercial negotiations, variations and change control activity to ensure agreements remain appropriate, affordable and commercially advantageous
• Support supplier performance management by monitoring delivery, addressing issues, reviewing service levels and identifying opportunities for improvement

Commercial Delivery

• Review, develop and maintain commercial systems and documents, including digital pipeline and contract records, and documents such as specifications, statements of work, schedules, service levels and contracts
• Build effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders throughout the commercial lifecycle
• Contribute to improvements in commercial tools, templates, processes and ways of working to support consistent and effective delivery

Person specification

Essential

• Relevant commercial, procurement or contract management experience is essential.
• MCIPS, World Commerce & Contracting accreditation or equivalent professional development is desirable but not essential
• Solid public sector or regulated environment commercial experience. Including a good working knowledge of PCR2015 and PA23
• Good understanding of procurement routes, commercial governance and contract management principles
• Proven track record of working effectively with delivery teams, business managers and project stakeholders to achieve service objectives
• Strong experience of sourcing, negotiating, varying and managing contracts across a range of categories
• Ability to run compliant, pragmatic commercial activity at pace while managing risk effectively
• Experience of general grant funding competitions, grant management and the Government Grant Functional Standards desirable but not essential

Personal attributes

• Sound judgement and confident decision-making, with the ability to solve problems pragmatically
• Clear and effective communicator, able to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels
• Collaborative team player who is self-motivated, organised and able to work independently
• Analytical, with strong attention to detail and the ability to interpret commercial information
• Confident negotiator with sound commercial judgement and a focus on achieving value for money
• Able to build trusted relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders

About Us

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is based in Bedford, in a recently renovated modern office. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become an integral part of a dynamic organisation, working to help people across the UK.

At the heart of the Money and Pensions Service are our values – caring, connecting, and transforming, which are the foundation of our success. They permeate every area of our work and define all our business relationships and the way we work with each other. We’re not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but we need people who align themselves with our values:

• Caring

We care about our colleagues and the people whose lives we are here to transform.

• Connecting

We will transform lives through our ability to make positive connections.

• Transforming

We are committed to transforming lives and making a positive societal impact.

Our Inclusive Working Environment

By fostering our values, we are immensely proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. The diversity of our people is a strength that we embrace and wish to build upon, so we are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds. We work hard to ensure that we have a progressive approach to inclusion, equity, and belonging. We really do want our colleagues to “bring their whole selves to work.”

Our colleague and ally networks encompass LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women’s health, men’s health, ethnicity, and diversity.

Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave – 30 days plus Bank Holidays
• Pension scheme – contributions matched 2 to 1 (up to 10% of your salary)
• Interest-free loan for season tickets for buses and trains
• Cycle to work Scheme
• Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
• Life assurance scheme
• Give as you earn scheme
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
• PAM Assist and PAM Life scheme (Wellbeing)
• Enhanced family and sick pay
• Paid volunteering (2 days a year)
• Recognition Scheme
• Discounts portal to numerous retailers

Flexible Working

At MaPS, we take pride in our flexible approach to work. As standard, we work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in the office per month. Hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and our headquarters in Bedford will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Career Development

In MaPS, we take career development seriously. We actively encourage and support applications from our existing MaPS colleagues. However, we do follow the Civil Service Commissioner recruitment principles, which means that you will be required to participate in a full, open, and fair process.

Reserve List

If you are successful at interview, we operate a reserve list where your details will be held for up to 6 months. Should a vacancy come available in that time with the same essential criteria, reserve list candidates will be offered that position with no further assessment required.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: recruitment@maps.org.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Step 1: Submit Your Application

Open: 28/08/2026 , Deadline: 13/09/2026

To apply, please submit the following document:

• Your most up-to-date CV

Step 2: Telephone Interview

Between 28/08/2026 – 16/09/2026

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to a telephone interview with one of our recruiters. This is an opportunity to:

• Discuss your experience in more detail
• Learn more about the role and our organisation
• Ask any questions you may have

Step 3: Final Stage Interview

Hosted on 01/10/2026 – 02/10/2026

Successful candidates from the telephone interview will be invited to attend a remote interview over Microsoft Teams. This stage will include:

• A series of competency-based interview questions

We follow fair, open, and merit‑based recruitment in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

Job Reference: MaPS01248

Close Date: 13/09/2026

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity a