Assistant Commercial Manager

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Key Information

Package – Salary circa £40k plus generous benefits including Final Salary Pension, free travel on the TfL network, discounted Network Rail travel, Healthcare options & staff discounts schemes (further details below)
Location – Most programmes are based in either Southwark, North Greenwich or Stratford

The roles are on a hybrid working pattern, currently 50% office attendance.  

Contract Type – TfL/Permanent

Who we are

Transport for London (TfL) is one of the best known and most successful Integrated Transport Authorities in the world. We’re at the forefront of technological innovation, and the envy of transport authorities around the globe.

It’s an exciting time at TFL with a diverse range of projects and programmes delivering improvements and enhancements to our assets or maintaining the network to Keep London Moving. To support this, we have a number of procurement and contract management opportunities to deliver value for money and the right outcomes for TfL and ultimately for those that live, work, and visit London.

Join our inclusive organisation and take the next step in your procurement and commercial career.

About the Team 

From mission critical systems that govern the movement of trains; digital information and payment systems across London; asset refurbishment or enhancement or customer movement; to buying engineering, architectural, professional services, marketing, and branding services including generating significant revenue for TfL, P&C plays a key role in delivering all aspects of Transport for London’s obligations. It is our responsibility to plan, strategize and procure and manage every essential component that TfL needs to deliver the millions of journeys that take place on our network each day.

With responsibility for the significant £6bn+ spend that is needed to keep London moving, the commercial activity P&C drive, ensures we get the best return on investment and deliver outstanding long-term value.

About the business area

The Commercial I.T. Team core categories cover: Networks & Hosting, Apps & BI, Surface Operations, End User Computing (EUC), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Revenue.  Within these categories procurement and contract management activities are undertaken to ensure ongoing value for money for TfL.

The team support a mix of technology contracts, covering a wide range of business services.  Examples include back-office systems used to run solutions such as iBus and those required for road network management as well as the physical assets that the back-office solutions underpin, such as Traffic Signals and Countdown signs at bus stops. Enabling software such as Geographical Information Systems and Computer Aided Design are also within the team’s remit.

We also have a large portfolio looking after CCTV, Safety Cameras, and Enforcement Cameras, which generate revenue for TfL whilst ensuring our Health and Safety objectives are met.  Revenue is another significant area within the team with key contracts that look at the hardware and software required to support TfL being able to collect fares on the network.

Role Overview

As an Assistant Commercial Manager at TfL, you will support the Senior Category Manager and Commercial Managers in the delivery of strategic commercial direction for projects and categories from concept through specification, contract and procurement, design, delivery, verification, and operational support.

You will provide a professional compliant procurement service for allocated user stakeholders within the TfL Group to achieve value for money and high stakeholder satisfaction.

To succeed in the role, you will be required to identify savings opportunities through timely and accurate management information. You will also plan, build, and maintain a wide breadth of stakeholder relationships and define and operate compliant procurement process across 3–12-month horizon, bridging self-skills and development gaps.

Key Accountabilities

Financial

• Identify, negotiate, and implement contract & framework agreements which deliver high value for money
• Maintain accurate auditable records of procurement process compliance
• Assist reviews/negotiations of contracts during their term to ensure continued fitness for purpose with respect to scope, budget and performance change, risk and be responsible, day to day, for the development, negotiation, and agreement of TfL Change Requests.

Stakeholder

• Plan and engage with users to understand contract specifications and with suppliers to develop profile of delivery capability
• Build into contract & framework developments, TfL's sustainable procurement obligations and preferences including assurance of procurement authority level adherence

Business Process

• Conduct procurement process in a collaborative manner (advice, tendering, evaluation award & contract management) efficiently using preferred technology-based methods
• Build supplier, category and market understanding through performance management, research, and stakeholder briefings

Learning and Development

• Engage with CIPS (or similar) professional training. Deputise for immediate manager from time to time
• Prepare timely and accurate management information (e.g. lead buyer reports) covering aspects of stakeholder engagement in the procurement process lifecycle

Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively and to influence others through presentations, negotiation, and written reports at all levels, i.e. up to Head of Department level within TfL and up to Managing Director level externally.
• Proven time management and skills to be able to prioritise work in a highly pressurised environment.

Experience

• Proven experience in commercial negotiations for procurements for at least two life cycles.
• Experience in contract/purchase order management and administration and proven experience in using supporting office systems. Some experience of using SAP is desirable.
• Experience in preparing, reviewing, and agreeing Contract terms and conditions and commercial schedules.
• Experience in working in procurement and/or contract management roles in the IT field if possible.

Knowledge

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of current public sector procurement legislative requirements and proven experience in applying these to day-to-day procurement activities and documentation.
• Computer literate and experienced in use of standard spreadsheet and WP software packages.

Key Interfaces

The Jobholder will be asked to work within one of the in the main IT Categories supporting the Senior Category Manager and Commercial Managers, however, they will also have the following key interfaces:

• Procurement & Commercial Heads of Department.
• Stakeholder Senior Managers
• Finance Business Partners
• Supplier Senior Management 

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Application Process 

• Please apply using your CV only. PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.
  • Think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV. Please ensure your CV document is saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 1234) and the file size is a maximum of 1MB

The closing date for applications is Sunday 3rd August 2025 @ 23:59

Assessment stages:

1. If your application is shortlisted for interview, we will first schedule you in for a short 10-15 telephone interview
2. If successful, you will then be invited to attend a competency-based interview
3. The final stage is the call with the hiring manager for the business area

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. 
 
Benefits  
In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow.  Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:
 
Final salary pension scheme 
Free travel for you on the TfL network 
Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays 
TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional) 
Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
Retail, health, leisure and travel offers 
Discounted Eurostar travel
 

Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4 week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.