Commercial Lead & Contract Manager - Strategic Sites Accelerator

The Strategic Sites Accelerator (SSA) Programme is a national initiative launched under the Industrial Strategy aimed at unlocking complex, high-potential commercial and industrial sites across the UK to drive investment and economic growth. Led by the Office for Investment (OfI), the programme will deploy a range of interventions to assist, accelerate, and acquire strategic sites. This includes a novel approach to the use of Financial Transactions (FTs) to allow DBT to invest in stalled site projects to drive progress and seek a return on its investment. Given the capabilities required, the SSA will be delivered in partnership with a newly contracted National Delivery Partner (NDP). The SSA is designed to overcome barriers to site development by combining policy intent with financing and delivery execution, ensuring projects move forward in alignment with ministerial and departmental priorities.

The postholder will be the lead commercial contract manager responsible for overseeing the performance, compliance and value for money delivery of all commercial contracts held by OfI for the SSA Programme, including the programmes NDP contract, as well as contracts with investors or Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) where the SSA Programme has made investments. The NDP will play a significant role in the delivery and success of this flagship programme, providing both specific expertise in commercial real estate, financial modelling, asset management and programme delivery, making up a large proportion of the teams overall delivery capacity. This contract is worth 5m over 3 years and is classed as a government silver contract, requiring effective management to ensure value for money throughout the lifecycle.

This role ensures that the NDP fulfils the commercial, financial, technical, and programme delivery requirements set out in the contract, ensuring they integrate into the team and meet relevant milestones, KPIs and obligations. The role will also ensure a healthy working culture across the OfI and NDP teams which maximises the use of both skill sets.

The postholder will also ensure OfI complies with its own obligations to the contract, including timely and accurate payment of invoices.

The SSA programme is likely to also need additional contracts throughout its lifecycle, notably for a separate M&E supplier, legal advice and potentially other specialist advisors. The role holder will lead on the SSAs overall approach to commercial relationships, supporting additional procurement exercises, onboarding and contract management. This will also extend to supporting OfIs commercial obligations through its site investments with private sector partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day management of the NDP contract, ensuring full compliance with all obligations and deliverables.
• Support onboarding of the NDP and embed a positive and integrated working culture across the OfI and NDP teams.
• Establish and run contract governance structures, ensuring accurate reporting, transparent decision‑making, and timely escalation of risks and issues.
• Oversee the NDPs portfolio‑wide delivery approach, ensuring concurrent workstreams operate effectively and are aligned with programme milestones and ministerial expectations.
• Ensure contractual KPIs and Service Levels are monitored, drive continuous improvement and ensure contract change‑control procedures are followed where applicable.
• Work with the NDP on appropriately packaging and pricing additional work packages not included under their fixed fee, ensuring these reflect value for money and are adequately
• Ensure invoices are accurate and are paid in a timely manner, working with DBT finance and OfI Finance and Operations team.
• As required, support additional procurement processes and manage other SSA contracts including for specialist suppliers, such as legal advice.

Essential Experience and Skills

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage.

• Demonstrable experience of contract management, delivering day‑to‑day oversight of supplier performance and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.
• Proven ability to work effectively with external delivery partners (at senior level), including supporting onboarding, maintaining positive, collaborative working relationships and addressing stakeholder conflicts.
• Experience contributing to and operating contract governance arrangements, including performance reporting, issue tracking, and escalation.
• Demonstrable experience coordinating multiple workstreams or activities in parallel, ensuring delivery against agreed milestones and priorities.
• Experience monitoring contractual KPIs and service levels, identifying performance issues and supporting continuous improvement.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to keep clear records and provide clear, timely updates on progress, risks, and issues.
• Strong business acumen and sense of value for money, particularly in a public sector context.

Desirable

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates.

• Experience supporting procurement activity, such as call‑offs or sourcing specialist suppliers.
• Experience managing or supporting contracts with professional services suppliers, including advisory or legal services.
• Experience working on large or complex programmes with senior stakeholder interest.