Head of Contracts - Major Projects

National Grid; Hemington; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) seeks a senior leader to own end-to-end commercial accountability for a major portfolio and to build a high‑performing commercial function. The role combines strategic governance, cost control, and value delivery across a multi‑site environment.

The position offers hybrid working with travel to NGED locations 2–3 times per week and a mandate to drive transformation, governance, and strategic commercial excellence across major projects.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Commercial Director or Head of Commercial role.
• Experience leading commercial function within engineering or infrastructure.
• Track record in building new commercial functions within an existing business.
• Strong capability in managing multi‑million‑pound budgets and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Hold end-to-end commercial accountability for the Major Projects portfolio (~£400m annual spend).
• Report to the Director of Major Projects and align strategy with broader objectives.
• Build and lead a high‑performing commercial function with cost controls and value tracking.
• Act as a key member of the Major Projects Leadership Team shaping strategy and governance.
• Develop commercial standards and embed best‑practice processes across supply chain contracting.
• Provide commercial expertise and leadership across procurement and contracting.

Skills

Contract leadership

Commercial strategy

NEC4 contracts knowledge

Stakeholder influence

Budgeting & reporting

Job description

We’re seeking a Head of Contracts – Major Projects to play a critical leadership role within our Major Projects function at National Grid.

This role carries commercial responsibility for a portfolio of circa £400m annual spend and will focus on building a new commercial team within Major Projects. You will design, implement, and embed commercial processes that enable effective cost control, value tracking, and robust measurement of progress against spend. As a member of the Major Projects Leadership Team, you’ll help shape strategy and culture, ensuring cost consciousness, strong governance, and value delivery sit at the core of how we operate. This is a high‑impact role requiring strategic influence, strong commercial judgement, and the ability to drive meaningful transformation across a complex organisation.

And because we know flexibility matters, this role offers a hybrid working approach—a mix of home and office working and you’ll also have the freedom to base yourself at any of our sites across the East Midlands, West Midlands, South West, or Wales, with travel to NGED locations 2–3 times a week.

Main Responsibilities

• ities
  Hold end‑to‑end commercial accountability for the Major Projects portfolio, with approximately £400m annual expen
• ditureReport to the Director of Major Projects, ensuring commercial strategy is aligned with wider business obje
• ctivesBuild and lead a high‑performing commercial function within Major Projects, establishing clear cost control, progress measurement, and value tracking pro
• cessesAct as a key member of the Major Projects Leadership Team, contributing to strategy, performance, and cultural devel
• opmentSet commercial standards and governance, owning commercial systems and embedding best‑practice processes and ways of w
• orkingProvide commercial expertise and thought leadership across supply chain and contracting
• topicsDrive change and transformation across the organisation, delivering consistent commercial disc
• iplinePartner with Procurement to develop effective contracting strategies that embed cost and progress controls within supply chain con
• tractsAct as Commercial Counsel to the Major Projects Director, supporting financial target setting, budget development, and ongoing budget moni
• toringEnsure compliance with contractual obligations, managing and resolving disputes as re
• quiredLead performance reporting, budgeting, and governance processes to support effective decision‑
• making

Ideal Candidate

• ndidate
  Proven experience in a Commercial Director, Head of Commercial, or similar senior commercial leaders
• hip roleExtensive experience leading commercial subject matter experts within an engineering or infrastructure env
• ironmentDemonstrated success building a new commercial function within an existing
• businessStrong experience managing, compiling, and controlling large, complex, multi‑million‑pound
• budgetsProven capability in leading performance reporting and budgeting processes in comparable organ
• isationsStrong analytical approach to complex commercial and contractual ch
• allengesDeep knowledge of NEC4 contracts and programmatic contract ma
• nagementAbility to influence strategically at all levels of the organisation and with external stak
• eholdersTrack record of communicating compelling business cases and securing buy‑in for significan
• t changeStrong people leadership skills, including coaching, developing talent, and creating cohesive, high‑performi
• ng teamsCommercial excellence underpinned by a strategic
• mindsetExcellent leadership, organisational, communication, and interpersonal

skills

About Us

We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light and power for homes and businesses, working outdoors with underground cables, overhead lines and substations that operate between 230 and 132,
000 volts. National Grid employs over 29,000 people worldwide. We are building an inclusive workplace, a place to actively celebrate the cultures, personalities and preferences of our colleagues – who in turn help to build the success of our business and reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future and we are doing this in a fast-moving industry with an increasing focus on tackling climate change, exploring new energy sources that are renewable, low carbon, and improve efficiency to m
eet demand.