Head of Commercial, Works

House of Commons; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave (30→35 days)

Civil Service pension

Job summary

The House of Commons is recruiting a senior Head of Commercial, Works Category, to drive strategic procurement across construction, refurbishment and facilities management for the Parliamentary estate. You will lead complex procurements from inception to award, shaping commercial strategies and ensuring value for taxpayers.

You will influence senior stakeholders, manage high-value contracts, and develop a high-performing team in a hybrid setup with at least 40% in-office presence.

Qualifications

• CIPS Level 5 membership (MCIPS) or equivalent required or demonstrated through work
• Strong knowledge of NEC family of contracts and contracting options
• Deep understanding of PCR2015 and PA2023 in public sector procurement
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and navigating difficult conversations

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial delivery across a portfolio of major Works procurements (construction, refurbishment, facilities management)
• Develop innovative commercial strategies and contract options
• Provide expertise on NEC contracts and public sector compliance throughout the procurement cycle
• Shape the future direction of Parliament's commercial function and lead a high-performance team

Skills

NEC contracts expertise

Public sector procurement

Senior stakeholder management

Leadership & people development

Education

CIPS Level 5 membership (MCIPS) or equivalent

Desirable Level 6 MCIPS

Job description

What You'll Be Doing

An exceptional opportunity has arisen to join the Parliamentary Commercial Department (PCD) as Head of Commercial, Works Category. This senior leadership role places you at the heart of some of the most complex, high-profile and strategically important construction, refurbishment and estates projects in the country, helping to ensure Parliament has the commercial capability needed to deliver services and maintain one of the world's most iconic and historically significant estates. Working within the bicameral Parliamentary Commercial Department, you'll lead commercial delivery across a portfolio of major Works procurements, including construction, building refurbishment, facilities management, infrastructure, conservation and estate improvement projects. You can find out more about the team here: Parliamentary Commercial Department - UK Parliament. This is a unique opportunity to influence how nearly £1 billion of annual expenditure delivers value for taxpayers while supporting the operation of a globally recognised democratic institution. You will lead complex procurements from inception through to contract award and implementation, develop innovative commercial strategies, provide expertise on NEC contracts, and help shape the future direction of Parliament's commercial function at a time of significant growth and transformation. This role is offered on a hybrid working basis, with an expectation of you spending a minimum of 40% of your time in the office. Find out more about working at the House of Commons.

Why Join us?

• Generous annual leave starting at 30 days and increasing to 35 after one full working year.
• Enrolment in the excellent Civil Service pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Flexible working options that help you find a balance including enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave, caring leave and alternative working patterns.

What We're Looking For

• Qualification: Candidates for this role should hold membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) at Level 5 or be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of expertise gained through relevant work experience, and a willingness to study for a formal qualification if required. It would be an advantage for candidates to be qualified to Level 6 (MCIPS).
• Proven subject matter expertise on NEC suite of contract terms and contracting options.
• Commercial knowledge and experience on the procurement and management of high value Works contracts including high value Building refurbishment projects, Facilities management, construction, cost management, design and other services, and detailed knowledge of compliance requirements associated with public sector procurement regulations through the procurement cycle. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of PCR2015 and PA2023.
• Proven experience in influencing senior internal and external stakeholders, building and maintaining successful working relationships and communicating clearly to diverse audiences both orally and in writing. The successful candidate will have the ability to navigate difficult conversations with stakeholders and be able to find mutually acceptable solutions to contentious issues where required.
• Experience of leading a high-performance successful procurement or commercial function. Demonstrable experience of successfully managing, motivating and developing others, including promoting an inclusive working environment.