Director of Commercial & Funding Operations

Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

. Work with Programme Directors to develop funding strategies, calls, selection processes, and coherent portfolios .

Posted 10/22/2026full-timeLondon • United KingdomLead💰 £135,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in funding strategy development, procurement processes, and governance compliance while effectively leading teams and managing complex stakeholder relationships. Proficient in commercial negotiation and decision-making with a focus on public trust and value for money.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Funding Strategy DevelopmentEnd-To-End Procurement ManagementCommercial NegotiationGovernance ComplianceLeadership and Team Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Funding Lifecycle ManagementDue DiligenceSupplier SelectionContractingRisk ManagementMarket ResearchDecision DocumentationPerformance EvaluationInvestment OperationsPublic-Sector Commercial Work

Soft Skills

Clear CommunicationJudgment Under UncertaintyCoachingProblem-SolvingRelationship Building

Tools & Technologies

Data Automation ToolsAI Tools

Industry Keywords

Government GrantsCommercial StandardsR&D FundingStrategic ProcurementComplex Supplier Management

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Work with Programme Directors to develop funding strategies, calls, selection processes, and coherent portfolios
Design and deliver funding calls, including eligibility criteria, guidance, timetables, applicant communications, reviewer processes, evaluation, and decision records
Oversee selected proposals through due diligence, budgets, approvals, milestones, commercial terms, and signed awards
Set ARIA’s approach to sourcing and supplier management
Support important or difficult negotiations, supplier issues, and renewals
Maintain grants and commercial governance, including policies, delegations, and risk management
Set team direction and priorities and ensure adequate resources, capacity, and support
Build relationships with government stakeholders and commercial teams
Develop templates, playbooks, guidance, records, escalation routes, and systems to scale the function
Provide the Executive team with visibility into pipelines, workload, commitments, risks, and delays
Coordinate commercial, legal, financial, and programme expertise for unusual or strategic transactions
Partner early with Programme Directors to provide commercial insight into programme design
Apply proportionate commercial judgement while maintaining fairness, value for money, compliance, and public trust
Report directly to the COO

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience leading a sizeable or complex funding, investment, procurement, commercial, or comparable capital-deployment operation
Strong leadership ability, including setting vision, delegating, coaching, and prioritising
Understanding of the full funding or investment lifecycle, including market research, community engagement, opportunity design, selection processes, documented decisions, due diligence, and agreements
Understanding of end-to-end procurement and sourcing, including market engagement, supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, handover, performance, and renewal
Ability to turn governance and compliance requirements into proportionate policies, controls, and guidance
Sound judgement when making decisions with incomplete information and knowing when to obtain specialist support
Commercial astuteness, including evaluating assumptions, navigating novel award and contracting structures, and negotiating with third parties
Clear communication of complex funding, commercial, and governance issues
Good-humoured, low-ego, hands-on approach, comfortable moving between strategy and practical problem-solving
Significant experience spanning multiple areas such as R&D funding, strategic procurement, complex supplier management, venture capital, investment operations, or public-sector commercial work (desirable)
Direct experience with government grants or commercial standards and stewardship of public money (desirable)
Experience using data, automation, or AI tools to reduce administration and improve operational decision-making (desirable)

Benefits

Comp & perks

27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
Enhanced family leave arrangements
A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
Life Assurance
2 days of paid volunteer days
5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
Cycle to Work scheme
An excellent office location in Kings X, London
Discretionary bonus