Commercial Lead & Contract Manager - Strategic Sites Accelerator

Posting date:	08 June 2026
Salary:	£57,511 to £68,328 per year
Additional salary information:	National: £57,511 - £64,708 London: £61,234 - £68,328
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	19 June 2026
Location:	London
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	460717/6

Summary

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 programme’s 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 team’s 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 SSA’s overall approach to commercial relationships, supporting additional procurement exercises, onboarding and contract management. This will also extend to supporting OfI’s 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 NDP’s 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.

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