Commercial and Assurance Lead - Local Government

Commercial Governance and Assurance Lead - Local Government - London - Hybrid Rate: £750 per day IR35: Inside IR35 Contract: Interim Working pattern: Hybrid A council is seeking an experienced Commercial Governance and Assurance Lead to design and embed governance across its procurement and contract management lifecycle. You will translate high level operating model principles into practical frameworks, controls and assurance arrangements that improve decision making, maintain accountability and support timely delivery. Key Responsibilities Design and implement a commercial governance framework aligned to the procurement and contract management operating model. Define decision rights, approval thresholds, stage gates, escalation routes and accountabilities. Align governance with the Council's Constitution, corporate requirements and relevant legislation, including the Procurement Act. Develop proportionate, risk based assurance covering compliance, performance and value for money. Streamline governance forums, approval processes and reporting to remove duplication and delay. Produce decision matrices, RACI models, templates, assurance checklists and practical guidance. Establish reporting covering savings, commercial risk and delivery confidence. Test and embed arrangements through pilots, training, adoption monitoring and handover. Essential Experience Significant governance, assurance or commercial transformation experience within the public sector or a similarly complex organisation. Proven experience designing procurement and contract management governance frameworks. Strong understanding of public sector procurement legislation and formal decision making requirements. Experience translating operating models into practical processes, controls and guidance. Demonstrable delivery of risk based assurance and implementation into business as usual. Strong stakeholder management across procurement, legal, finance, audit, corporate governance and operational teams. *Rates depend on experience and client requirements