Commercial Procurement Manager

Overview of Responsibilities

The Commercial Manager plays a critical role in shaping and delivering UKAEA’s strategic commercial agenda. This position leads the development, negotiation, and management of complex commercial agreements—including collaboration contracts, consortium arrangements, and framework deals—across the organisation. Operating at the heart of high-value, multi-million-pound engagements, the role enables impactful partnerships and supports the delivery of UKAEA’s growing Research & Development (R&D) portfolio.

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Core responsibilities

• Lead commercial input into major projects and programmes, ensuring timely, high‑quality support aligned with project milestones.
• Shape commercial strategy for non‑regulated procurements, partnerships, and collaborations.
• Provide expert judgement on risk allocation, negotiation approach, and commercial positioning.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including:
• Collaboration agreements, Consortium and NDAs
• Identify and mitigate commercial, legal, financial, and delivery risks throughout the negotiation lifecycle.
• Resolve commercial issues and disputes, escalating where appropriate
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Procurement, IP, Programme Management and technical teams to ensure agreements meet organisational needs.
• Act as a key interface with external partners, suppliers, research institutions, and industry collaborators.
• Support internal governance forums with commercial insight and reporting, including performance, risks, and pipeline.
• Promote continuous improvement and contribute to the development of commercial policies and frameworks.

Salary

£57,117 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension

Programme

Department

Procurement

Discipline

Management

Site Location

UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire

Type of Employment

Full-time

Reference Number

REF4082J

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Public Sector procurement, with sound knowledge of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR 2023).
• Broad technical understanding across a range of procurement categories, underpinned by strategic procurement expertise.
• Commercially astute and customer-focused, with the ability to balance value, risk and stakeholder priorities.
• Advanced negotiation skills, including experience negotiating at senior levels and a working knowledge of NEC forms of contract.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders.
• Collaborative and effective team player, contributing positively within a Commercial Procurement team environment.

Additional Information

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/ but highlights include:

• £57117 base salary inclusive of specialist allowance
• Final salary defined benefit scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave, plus 3 days Christmas closure, 2.5 privilege day and 8 Bank holidays
• Flexible and hybrid working options

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit.

Benefits

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive

Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs.

UKAEA leads the way in realising fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for groundbreaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovation, Commitment, Trust, and Collaboration.