Commercial Specialist - Digital, Data and Technology

Commercial Specialist – Digital, Data & Technology

Division – Operations

Department – Procurement

Salary – National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £69,200 to £112,400 and London £76,100 to £123,600 per annum. Salary offered will be based on skills and experience.

Are you looking for a procurement role that sits within a senior leadership team? Do you evangelise procurement best practice? Are you a strategic, outcomes-focused thinker that enjoys improving teams and ways of working? If so, this could be the perfect role for you.

About the FCA 

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. Follow this link to find out more About the FCA.

We do this to make sure financial markets work well for individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The FCA prevents vulnerable consumers from falling victim to scams, unfair lending practices, or inappropriate financial products – your work will help safeguard millions of everyday people from harmful financial practices.

The team

Our Technology Vision Statement empowers the FCA to be a digital-first and data-led smart regulator by delivering a secure, agile, and cost-effective technology, data and digital ecosystem that enhances decision-making, transparency and operational efficiency. Since our last strategy not only has the digital & technology landscape undergone significant change, but our clients are generating more data and seeking greater insights from it– as DTI we must define how we will embrace new technologies to stay relevant. 

You’ll join the FCA’s Procurement Management team during an exciting time of change and transition. We have launched our new procurement tool (Atamis) and will add Supplier Relationship Management and Contract Management digital enablement going forward - this with Procurement Reform will be catalysts for taking the function to the next level.

What will you be doing?

As Commercial Specialist for Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) you’ll step into a pivotal role shaping the future of our digital and data capabilities while managing over 50% of our third-party spend - more than £150m annually.

Reporting directly to the Chief Procurement Officer, you will have accountability for delivering all DDaT-related procurements through a framework of Category Strategies. You will be a key support to the CPO in building procurement best practice and will work closely with the CIO to streamline and influence the shape and delivery of the portfolio.

As well as ensuring procurements are in line with Public Procurement Regulations, you will support effective Supplier Management and contribute to the overall procurement strategy.

You’ll tackle complex and rapidly evolving markets, using your DDaT expertise to deliver significant value and manage risks. You’ll have the unique opportunity to transform DDaT category management, moving to a strategic, value-adding powerhouse, with the potential to influence the FCA technology landscape and save millions of pounds every year.

• Establish and roll out effective category strategies that align to FCA priorities, including senior stakeholder engagement, market intelligence, pipeline planning and benefits tracking

• Provide coaching and mentoring to develop your team’s strategic capability

• Develop and manage a pipeline of procurement projects covering all spend through a Category Management Structure, ensuring commercial outcomes delivered across DDaT categories are optimal, compliant, consistent, and add value

• Provide advice, insights, guidance on best practice procurement linked to strong market intelligence

• Make judgements on supply market capability to deliver FCA’s requirements and develop alternative strategies if needed and to mitigate risks

• Influence stakeholders with limited public sector procurement experience, promoting innovative routes to market that enhance efficiency and outcomes

• Balance risk and control, prioritising early intervention to save time and resources

• Ensure delivery of major tender processes to meet business needs, drive the right outcomes, and identify cost savings and value adding initiatives

What you will get from the role 

• Spearhead a change program to transform DDaT procurement into a strategic function that delivers measurable impact

• Partner with the CPO and CIO to challenge conventional approaches, influence stakeholders, and embed best practices in an evolving function

• Work with sophisticated tech markets and tools, ensuring the FCA stays ahead in regulating innovative sectors like crypto assets

• Mentor and develop a dedicated team, enhancing their skills and creating a multiplier effect across the portfolio

• Contribute to the FCA’s ambition to be a digital-first regulator, making a lasting impact on how we deliver value to consumers and markets

• Join during an exciting time of transition, build a strong network with new senior leaders, and leverage new tools like Atamis to take procurement to the next level

If you’re passionate about procurement, technology, and making a tangible difference, apply now to join us on this exciting journey. Be part of a team that’s redefining procurement at the FCA and shaping the future of regulation.

Which skills are required?

We are a Disability Confident Employer; therefore, disabled people or individuals with long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. (To learn more about the Disability Confident Scheme Click Here)

Minimum   

• Previous public sector DDaT procurement and category management experience overseeing complex supplier negotiations including bespoke IT solutions and multi-year contracts (ideally Software and Managed Services with Tier1 suppliers within central government, an arm’s length body, or a regulator)

• Proven leadership experience managing commercial and procurement teams in large complex organisations and experience working closely with senior (CTO, CISO) stakeholders

• Track record of delivering significant procurement benefits (including value for money and risk mitigation) and improving ways of working change programmes, ideally embedding best practices

Essential  

• Deep understanding of tech markets and commercial models

• Confident explaining what public sector procurement legislation means in terms of opportunities and risks

• Comprehensive knowledge of procurement concepts, processes and techniques including supply chain management, supplier performance metrics, risk management and supplier relationships

• Strong collaborative and relationship building skills and able to engage with and persuade senior managers and other business “clients”

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

Within the workplace you will have access to various employee resource groups which aim to promote and achieve a healthy work / life balance and support our diversity ambitions.

Did you know? 50% of our Executive Committee are women.

The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of the organisation. Given this, we particularly welcome applications from women, minority ethnic, disabled, and neurodivergent candidates for our role.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• 28 days holiday per year plus bank holidays

• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time)

• Private healthcare with Bupa 

• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8%

• Life assurance

• Income protection

We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements.  Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares.  We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want but we can explore what might work best for both sides.

Follow this link to see what life is like at the FCA – Life at the FCA

Application Support

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition requiring changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter using the details below and they will be happy to discuss this further with you.

Useful Information and Timeline

• This role is graded Senior Manager – Corporate

• The internal role title is Senior Category Manager – Digital, Data & Technology

• When submitting your application, please tailor your CV to highlight how you meet the minimum and essential requirements above

Timeline:

• Advert Closing Date: Midnight 28th April (please submit your application by 11.59pm Sunday 27th April)

• CV Review/Shortlist: 29th April

• Phone Screening Interview: 2nd May – 6th May

• First Stage Interview: w/c 12th May

• Senior Manager Assessments: w/c 19th May

• Second Stage Interview: 29th & 30th May

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role - please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time. 

Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role, please contact [email protected].

Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted.