Commercial Lead - IT Sourcing, Procurement & Transition

Commercial Lead - IT Sourcing, Procurement & Transition

Part-time, deliverables-based engagement.

Expected duration: 9-12 months .

Start date: ASAP .

Rate: Up to £450 P.D Outside IR35

Anticipated total effort: up to 72 days across the engagement lifecycle.

Flexibility to align effort with programme milestones, key procurement activities, governance requirements, and transition events.

Suitable for an independent consultant or interim commercial specialist seeking a fractional assignment.

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Lead to drive and oversee the commercial aspects of a major IT sourcing and transformation programme. The engagement spans three key phases: IT operating model design, procurement and supplier selection, and transition to a new service delivery arrangement.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the sourcing strategy, leading market engagement and procurement activities, managing commercial risks, and supporting the mobilisation of new services.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the commercial lead across a multi-phase IT transformation and sourcing programme, covering operating model design, supplier procurement, and transition activities.
• Translate the target operating model into a coherent sourcing and commercial strategy, including lot structure, contract design, commercial model, service scope, and pricing approach.
• Lead end-to-end market engagement activities, including:
• Supplier market testing and engagement.
• Development of procurement documentation (RFI, ITT, evaluation materials).
• Definition of output-based service requirements and specifications.
• Evaluation moderation and supplier selection processes.
• Negotiation and contract award support.
• Operate confidently within UK public sector procurement regulations, including the Procurement Act 2023, and utilise appropriate procurement frameworks where required.
• Develop and manage critical commercial documentation and schedules, including:
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Service credit mechanisms.
• Benchmarking and charging models.
• Change control processes.
• Exit management provisions.
• Continuous improvement commitments.
• Lead the commercial aspects of incumbent supplier exit activities, including review of contractual obligations, transition requirements, asset and licence transfer considerations, third-party dependencies, data management, and TUPE implications.
• Collaborate closely with procurement, finance, legal, technology, operational, and senior leadership stakeholders throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Prepare business case inputs, affordability assessments, governance papers, and board-level decision materials.
• Support contract mobilisation and service commencement activities, including obligations tracking, governance establishment, and implementation of ongoing commercial management processes.
• Establish the commercial management framework required to govern supplier performance post-transition.

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• Proven experience leading at least one large-scale IT outsourcing procurement, re-procurement, or supplier transition programme.
• Strong commercial and sourcing expertise covering complex IT services and managed service environments.
• Demonstrable experience managing procurement activities from strategy through to contract award and mobilisation.
• Ability to operate effectively at executive, senior leadership, and board level while remaining hands-on with commercial documentation and delivery activities.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across multi-disciplinary teams.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within the NHS or wider UK public sector environment.
• Strong understanding of public sector procurement regulations and framework agreements.
• Familiarity with multi-supplier operating models and SIAM (Service Integration and Management) environments.
• Experience supporting large-scale business and IT transformation initiatives.