Assistant Director Commercial
| Posting date: | 11 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £67,313 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 August 2025 |
| Location: | Southampton |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 409650/1 |
Summary
Would you thrive in a high-profile role guiding major aviation contracts and strategic programmes?
Have you built a track record of delivering value for money in complex, high-stakes commercial environments?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
HM Coastguard (HMCG) is the operational arm of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, responsible for delivering six vital functions: Search and Rescue, Pollution Response, Vessel Traffic Management, Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Emergency and Disaster Management.
HMCG operates through three specialist delivery disciplines. Maritime Operations and Aeronautical Operations both coordinate activity from operations room environments, while Coastal Operations manages resources and service delivery along the UK coastline.
The HM Coastguard Major Programmes Team leads the delivery of a high-value, complex portfolio worth over £2 billion. These programmes are critical to modernising and enhancing HM Coastguard’s services.
The team is responsible for ensuring that all projects are delivered into service successfully, with robust contract oversight and performance management throughout the programme lifecycle. The focus is on achieving strong commercial outcomes and delivering value for money, with each programme tailored to meet its specific requirements and objectives.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Read more in the Benefits section below!
Find out more about what it's like working at MCA:
MCA roles: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers
The Assistant Director, Commercial leads all major commercial activity across HM Coastguard’s aviation contracts and programmes, reporting to the Senior Reporting Officer (SRO) for Major Programmes. This senior role requires strong leadership, commercial expertise, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments. The postholder will oversee contract delivery, support future procurements, and ensure robust processes, value for money, and strategic outcomes—safeguarding the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s interests in high-value, high-impact services.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:
Provision of commercial leadership for all HM Coastguard major programmes, driving and developing innovative commercial solutions to the MCA's aviation needs into the future.Accountable for the tracking, reporting and assessing of performance metrics for aviation and other services provided to HM Coastguard and the MCA across a range of contracts.Leading negotiations for changes to current aviation contracts, in line with the contract change control procedures.Driving the development of commercial negotiation strategies for all HM Coastguard major programmes, and leading negotiations with bidders.Accountable to the SRO Major Programmes, lead the development and creation of procurement documentation, including key performance indicators, contractual clauses, options analysis and the optimal route to market.Directing, leading and managing the external legal consultancy in support of the programmes, ensuring key work packages are developed to support procurement.Accountable for development of the commercial case for all business cases related to major programmes.Provision of senior Commercial subject matter expertise advice and support at external scrutiny and approval boards, as directed by the SRO.Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.
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