JOB SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a Commercial Manager – FM to join our Commercial Function within the Corporate group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Our successful candidate will have:

• Experience of procurement in either in the public sector or FM sector.
• Evidence of developing, implementing, and administering purchasing strategies and drafting contracts that require analysis, comparison, and assessment.
• Successful negotiation and issue resolution and advising and supporting stakeholders
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end Public Sector Procurement lifecycle and core principles in particular the respective responsibilities of procurement and wider stakeholder groups, understanding the market procurement and tender administration with a good grasp of contract management principles.
• Understanding and experience of Public Contracts Regulations 2025 and the Procurement Act 2023
• Good understanding of complex policies and guidance and being able to interpret, explain and apply them to senior stakeholders to support decision making.
• Experience of Public Sector Contracts and preferably NEC contract templates.

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!

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)
• 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 work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

The Commercial Manager - FM will lead on the end-to-end Procurement activities specifically and principally manage tenders in line with the MHRA procurement policy. These tenders may be run via public sector frameworks or under the Procurement Act 2023. There will be tenders that fall below the PA23 thresholds; the principles of PA23 for below threshold procurements will apply.
The role supports good contract management across the MHRA Estates and Facilities teams and provides high quality Public Sector Procurement advice to Agency staff of all grades.

The position for Commercial Manager - FM, reports to the Head of Commercial for the Category and delivers across a set of ambitious and exciting commercial challenges. The key activities are to:

• engage with the business stakeholders to achieve Agency goals and understand future supply requirements
• manage the commercial pipeline and draft sourcing strategies and plans.
• run end to end procurements
• achieve value for money for the taxpayer
• manage commercial risk effectively
• follow and implement Public Procurement Regulations
• draft contracts

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Running tenders for all FM requirements using PA23. Running further competitions from Public Sector frameworks. Running ‘below threshold’ tenders that meet MHRA procurement policy and UK Government Transparency requirements.
• Engaging with stakeholders at all levels and working in partnership with Agency divisions to develop and execute strategies for sourcing requirements in line with the Agency procurement policy.
• Actively manage the FM category procurement pipeline by ensuring own awareness of incoming projects and impending contracts expiring over the short / medium and long term and engaging with contract owners to develop and implement strategies.
• Deliver robust and compliant contracts that demonstrate value for money, maximise the return on investment, manage risk appropriately and deliver improved
• performance, seeking alternative commercial and service delivery models as appropriate.
• Provide support and advice for the stakeholder community and promote procurement excellence, and good contract management whilst actively challenging inappropriate processes or bad practice to aid compliance.
• Maintain accurate record keeping and administration of commercial activities in particular the e-sourcing/contract management platform (Atamis), the FM pipeline and meeting our statutory transparency obligations.

Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:

• Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
• Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
• Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
• Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required