Commercial Officer

Job Description

About us  

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.  

About the job

As Commercial Officer, you’ll support procurement and contract activity from initial market engagement through to contract completion. You’ll work across professional services, construction, facilities management and the supply of goods and services. You’ll help deliver compliant, efficient procurements that provide value for money.

What You’ll be Doing

• Support procurement and contract-management activity across the full commercial lifecycle.
• Run below-threshold tender exercises, including supplier pre-qualification, tender evaluation and reporting.
• Manage call-off agreements and mini-competitions under government frameworks.
• Support large or complex procurement projects and help teams meet key milestones.
• Work with internal teams, suppliers and stakeholders to support effective commercial outcomes.
• Provide guidance and training on commercial processes and requirements.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with relevant legislation, government standards and assurance processes.
• Analyse commercial data, validate information and produce clear, accurate reports.
• Help improve procurement systems, processes, policies and working practices.
• Support the development of commercial apprentices by sharing guidance and good practice.

What You’ll Bring

• A practical understanding of public sector procurement regulations, including the Procurement Act 2023.
• A track record of supporting tender exercises from initial planning through to contract award.
• GCSEs in Maths and English at Grade 4/C or above, or equivalent qualifications.
• Previous responsibility for supporting internal and external stakeholders to achieve procurement objectives.
• Strong numerical skills and the ability to analyse data and produce meaningful reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word, together with familiarity with ERP systems.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.

Benefits 

We have a generous range of benefits (see the full list here) and highlights include:   

• A salary of £32903
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus 
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution  
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 'privilege' days; 8 Bank Holidays
• Additional 3 days of site closure over Christmas break  
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions  

Our commitment to ED&I 

UKAEA's mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce. 

Please email talent@ukaea.uk if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates. 

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.