Deputy Director - Head of Commercial Digital Migration and Border

Thank you for considering this important role with the Home Office commercial team. The Home Office plays a critical role in keeping our citizens safe and our country secure, contributing to a safer, fairer and more prosperous United Kingdom. Our work spans tackling crime and serious harm, strengthening border security and managing migration, countering terrorism, and supporting policing to protect communities. We are also committed to protecting vulnerable people and delivering high-quality public services that maintain public confidence.

Commercial is central to delivering these priorities. We manage a multi-billion-pound portfolio of third-party spend, working with suppliers across a diverse and complex range of goods and services. These include some of the most high-profile and operationally critical programmes in government, spanning Asylum, Borders and Migration, Public Safety, Homeland Security, Digital, and the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme.

Our Commercial Directorate brings together over 300 procurement and contract management professionals, working as a strategic partner to the business to deliver value for money, strengthen supplier performance, and ensure effective delivery of outcomes.

This is an exciting time to join us. We are partway through a programme of transformation, strengthening our capability across all grades and positioning Commercial as a trusted and influential partner at the heart of the Department.

Digital, data and technology are crucial to the Home Offices responsibility for securing the border, safer streets and national security. The Home Office is at the forefront of digital innovation. Our digital services have already transformed the publics experiences through smoother UK border crossings, faster, more convenient passport applications, and technology-assisted policing. The Deputy Director Commercial is a senior leadership role within the Home Office Commercial function, responsible for shaping and delivering high-value commercial outcomes that support critical public services and national priorities. This role is key to support the next phase of the Home Office digital transformation.

You will lead a large, multidisciplinary commercial team (typically 40 colleagues across different locations and specialisms), providing clear direction, developing capability and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality, efficient and compliant commercial services.

The role works across a diverse portfolio of contracts and programmes. This may include major outsourced services, complex service delivery contracts, professional services, and large-scale operational procurements that directly support frontline delivery. You will be accountable for overseeing significant commercial spend and ensuring suppliers deliver against agreed outcomes.

You will work closely with senior leaders across the Home Office, including policy, operational and finance teams, to ensure commercial strategies are aligned to business priorities. The role also involves direct engagement with key suppliers and partners, as well as collaboration with other government departments to share best practice and drive consistent standards.

A key focus of the role is strengthening how contracts and supplier relationships are managed. You will lead improvements in contract management capability, embed clear and consistent standards across teams, and drive a more structured, strategic approach to working with key suppliers.

This is a fast-paced and high-impact environment. You will be expected to lead through ambiguity, make sound and timely decisions, and identify practical opportunities to improve performance, reduce risk and deliver better value for money.

This role offers the opportunity to influence how major public services are delivered, improving outcomes for citizens while ensuring strong stewardship of public funds.

Locations:

The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.

Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

• Provide clear strategic leadership across commercial activity, setting direction and ensuring delivery of high-quality outcomes aligned to organisational priorities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team (typically 40 staff), building capability, supporting career development and creating an inclusive, high-expectation culture.
• Take overall accountability for a portfolio of complex, high-value contracts and commercial activity, ensuring delivery against agreed performance, cost and quality outcomes.
• Oversee and strengthen supplier relationships, driving improved performance, innovation and long-term value from key delivery partners.
• Act as the senior lead for contract management across the department, providing direction, setting expectations and ensuring a consistent, high-quality approach across both commercial and operational teams.
• Develop and embed a more structured approach to managing strategic suppliers, improving outcomes across delivery, cost control and risk management.
• Build strong, credible relationships with senior stakeholders across policy, operational and finance teams, influencing decisions and ensuring commercial considerations are fully integrated into business planning.
• Engage directly with senior representatives from key suppliers to resolve issues, improve performance and maintain effective, constructive partnerships.
• Ensure robust governance and assurance across all commercial activity, including effective risk management, compliance with relevant regulations and clear, evidence-based decision making.
• Identify and deliver practical improvements to commercial performance, including simplifying processes, improving ways of working and strengthening capability across teams.
• Champion consistent standards, best practice and continuous improvement in contract and supplier management across the organisation.
• Contribute to wider organisational transformation by improving how commercial services are delivered and supporting long-term capability development.