Head of Commercial Assurance

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 348445**Salary**:

- £64,660 - £72,665-
- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Grade 6**Contract type**:

- Fixed term
- Loan**Length of employment**:

- to 31/3/25**Type of role**:

- Commercial**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Cardiff, Wales, CF10 1EP : Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 8FT : Leicester, East Midlands (England), LE4 5SP : Didcot, South East England, OX11 0QRAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.

**Our Inclusive Environment**

We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

**Job description**:
The Head of Commercial Assurance will support the Assistant Director of Commercial with assurance and governance activity. A priority for the post holder will be to work with the existing commercial team to create a new Corporate Procurement Policy and update to the Corporate Grant Policy, in addition to a range of assurance activity.

The Commercial team plays a pivotal role in enabling this activity and offers exposure to a wide variety of commercial activity, presenting an exciting opportunity for those who work in the team.

**Person specification**:
The Head of Commercial experience will require the skills and experience to deliver the following objectives:

- To lead on the development of the Corporate Procurement Policy.
- To lead on the update of the Corporate Grant Policy.
- Ensure the Contract Management Framework, and supporting documentation, is fully implemented and the business training needs identified.
- Integrated Assurance Map: Lead on behalf of the commercial team, ensuring commercial matters are captured and lines of defence in place and effective.
- Internal and DSIT Commissions: Support and co-ordinate the response to both internal and external commissions.
- Integrated Transformation Programme: Support the Assistant Director of Commercial on transformation activity as directed.
- Identify improvement areas and internal audit requirements.
- Lead on Commercial Continuous IAF assessment

**Essential criteria**
- Experience of Public Contracts Regulations and knowledge of Procurement Reform changes
- Experience of awarding grants and grants best practice
- Experience of policy drafting
- Ability to consider and influence the needs of others while observing compliance with commercial service standards
- Experience of Contract Management strategies
- Ability to identify and mitigate commercial and procurement risk, particularly in the context of corporate assurance activity
- Ability to develop and deliver training material
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships.
- Ability to communicate clearly, succinctly and persuasively in writing, in meetings and in presentations.
- MCIPS or working toward (Level 4 or above)

**Desirable criteria**

**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together

**Technical sk