Commercial Lead

Scotland Excel is continuing to experience a growing demand for our capability as a centre of procurement expertise for public sector, from local authorities across Scotland and other organisations in the public domain. As a result, we are seeking to recruit a Commercial Lead on a 24-month fixed-term basis to join our National Savings Team or Projects Team.

As Commercial Lead, you will drive procurement excellence by developing and implementing innovative sourcing strategies, improving processes, and delivering value for local authorities. You ll engage with stakeholders, manage supplier relationships, analyse spend data, and ensure contract performance meets objectives. Your work will support sustainable procurement, deliver savings, and help shape best practice across Scotland Excel s portfolio.

The successful candidate will have a good understanding of public sector procurement and enjoy working across various clients, services, and opportunities simultaneously. We are seeking individuals with a strong commercial acumen combined with a thirst to drive procurement savings and efficiencies. Excellent negotiation skills and analysis experience will be key to the role.

Principal Role

• Assume ownership for developing and implementing process improvement initiatives to delivery greater efficiencies
• Drive commercial excellence through the implementation of well-defined sourcing strategies
• Ensure compliance with standing orders, statutory provisions, EU directives, other relevant legislation and key stakeholder policies, procedures and processes
• Identify savings opportunities and implement innovative procurement strategies throughout the contract life cycle to ensure the delivery of efficiency, effectiveness and value to local authorities
• Implement robust performance reporting framework to monitor effectiveness of projects delivered
• Liaise with and positively influence key stakeholders in the procurement process to ensure optimum solutions are delivered
• Responsible for review and analysis of established sourcing arrangements and implementing refined processes to realise the benefits of collaborative procurement

Key Responsibilities

• Analysis of spend data to develop a clear understanding of contract development and enhancement opportunities
• Assess key stakeholder needs in order to manage/develop contract solutions which ensure effective service delivery
• Conduct negotiations with suppliers in accordance with stakeholder policies and procedures, ensuring that key client groups are represented in an effective and professional manner
• Develop, prepare and submit a range of reports required to monitor the performance and effectiveness of suppliers and contracts, recommending action plans for any areas of performance improvement to the Programme Manager
• Ensure that own work activities comply with Scotland Excel s commitment to health and safety regulations
• Identify and develop new sources of supply for relevant commodities or services, conducting supplier appraisals as appropriate
• Identify project deliverables and work with relevant staff to plan the resource and agree the implementation plan for the projects
• Lead stakeholder groups to develop and implement innovative procurement strategies, ensuring that key objectives and critical success factors are achieved
• Lead supplier visits in order to achieve effective contract delivery, providing development support where appropriate
• Manage the closure of projects including the handover to the appropriate owner and undertaking a lessons learned review as appropriate

Desired Qualifications and Qualities

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Project management qualification and/or experience
• Achieved, working toward or willing to work towards full membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or equivalent.

Relevant Experience

• Significant experience in a commercial environment
• Experience of solving complex business problems and translating these into a clear strategy and plan
• Experience of managing stakeholder relationships at all levels within an organisation

The following values are at the heart of everything we do at Scotland Excel and the successful candidate will be expected the demonstrate these daily:

• Professional
• Respectful
• Courageous
• integrity

About Scotland Excel

Scotland Excel is an award-winning Centre of Procurement Expertise providing a wide range of procurement, commissioning, consultancy, and learning and development services for our members.

Since 2008, we have helped to establish procurement as an effective driver for local and national economic growth and wellbeing. Our £2bn portfolio of collaborative contracts supports the delivery of savings, social value, community benefits, fair work practices and environmental policy, and covers a wide range of public services including construction, roads, transport, environment, corporate and education.

Scotland Excel also develops and manages arrangements which support the commissioning of care services for children and adults. Our national care contracts are developed in partnership with care professionals, including care providers, to support person-centred outcomes embedded within national policy.

We also provide procurement and consultancy services to help our members get the most from their procurement resources, ranging from ad-hoc tendering support through to transformation programmes and strategic procurement partnerships.

The Scotland Excel Academy offers applied learning programmes leading to accredited qualifications in procurement, leadership and management, coaching and mentoring, project management and business analysis, as well as short courses and workshops.

Scotland Excel is a non-profit organisation working with members from across the public sector including local authorities, health and social care partnerships, housing associations, and other public and third sector organisations.

As well as a competitive salary, you will have:

Access to a defined benefits pension with Strathclyde Pension Fund. Current combined contribution of employee and employer varies depending on earnings but can be between 24-32%

A generous holiday allowance of 33 days including public holidays. This increases on a sliding scale up to an additional ten days subject to length of service

Flexible working opportunities including hybrid working and a nine-day fortnight

Access to staff discounts through Vivup employee benefit platform

Time off during office closure over Christmas and New Year (included in holiday allowance)

Our commitment to employee engagement including regular corporate and team events as recently recognised by us retaining Gold Investors In People Award

A wealth of training opportunities including from our own award-winning Academy

How to apply

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, whether it is public or private sector. Secondment opportunities may also be available subject to agreement from current employer and Scotland Excel. Applications are also welcome from candidates with disabilities and guarantee an interview to those candidates who meet the essential requirements for the position. If you have a disability, please make us aware when submitting your application.

To be considered for this post, please complete the forms below and attach your CV (max 3 pages).

Submissions received after the closing date may not be considered.

All applicants will be asked to provide proof of their right to work in the UK and any offer of employment will be conditional upon verifying documentary evidence before employment commences.