Senior Commercial Manager

Job summary

• Senior Commercial Manager
• £85,000 per annum
• Bedford
• Permanent
• Hybrid Working

Ready to make a real difference? Join us at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) as our Senior 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 Senior Commercial Manager you will play a key role in achieving strong commercial outcomes for MaPS Customer Directorate. The role provides senior expertise across the commercial lifecycle, ensuring contracts, grants, suppliers, procurement and commissioning activity support strategic priorities, manage risk and deliver value for money. 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 lead, advise on or assure sourcing, procurement, contract management, supplier relationship management and governance activity across a portfolio of contracts, projects or services. Working closely with stakeholders in our Customer directorate to shape requirements, select appropriate routes to market, negotiate effective outcomes and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policy and internal governance.

Reporting directly into the Head of Commercial (Customer) this role involves the line management of a Commercial Manager, working closely with other commercial colleagues to deliver excellence in leadership, performance, development and coaching. You will be expected to operate with autonomy, use sound judgement and provide clear commercial advice, escalating risks and issues where required and delegating as appropriate. You will be an active and contributing member of the wider commercial team, sharing experience and knowledge to develop our functional delivery.

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

Commercial Leadership and Advice

• Provide clear, practical commercial advice to stakeholders, project teams and senior leaders.
• Develop strategies that support organisational priorities and deliver measurable value.
• Identify, assess and manage risks, issues and opportunities, escalating material matters appropriately.

Sourcing and Procurement

• Lead, advise on or assure sourcing and procurement activity in line with relevant regulations, policies and governance requirements.
• Work with stakeholders to define requirements, evaluate route-to-market options and develop proportionate procurement documentation.
• Lead tendering, evaluation, negotiation and award activity for both contracts and grants to secure compliant, value-for-money outcomes.
• Ensure records, approvals and governance submissions are accurate, timely and complete.

Contract and Supplier Management

• Manage or oversee contracts and grants throughout their lifecycle, including mobilisation, delivery, performance, change, transition and exit.
• Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations, service levels, key performance indicators and agreed outcomes.
• Lead negotiations, contract variations, dispute resolution and continuous improvement activity.
• Build effective working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders, maintaining appropriate governance and third-party assurance.

People and Team Contribution

• Provide guidance, coaching or line management to commercial colleagues where required.
• Improve tools, templates, processes and ways of working so the commercial function operates consistently and effectively.
• Promote professional standards, collaboration and knowledge sharing across the team.

Person specification

You will need to demonstrate the following experience;

Essential

• Relevant commercial, procurement or contract management experience is essential.
• MCIPS, World Commerce & Contracting accreditation or an equivalent professional qualification is desirable.
• Significant experience in commercial, procurement or contract management, ideally within a complex or regulated environment. Including a good working knowledge of PCR2015 and PA23.
• Strong understanding of the commercial lifecycle, including sourcing, procurement, contract management, supplier management and governance.
• Ability to provide practical advice, manage risk and influence stakeholders at different levels.
• Experience negotiating commercial terms, managing contract change and improving value for money.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes at pace.
• Experience of general grant funding competitions, grant management and the Government Grant Functional Standards desirable but not essential

Personal attributes

• Sound judgement and strong problem-solving skills.
• Clear and confident communicator, able to tailor messages for different audiences.
• Collaborative, proactive and able to build effective working relationships.
• Analytical and detail-focused, with the ability to interpret commercial and financial information.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the confidence to challenge constructively.
• Committed to continuous improvement, professional standards and ethical commercial practice.

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

Application Process

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 25/09/2026 – 28/09/2026

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
• A task or Presentation

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

Job Reference: MaPS01249

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