Strategic Commercial & Contracts Leader — Hybrid

Nelson City Council; Nelson; Hybrid; NZD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing leave

Fully subsidised health insurance

Hybrid working arrangements

Generous leave provisions

Learning and professional development

Employee benefits and discounts

Meaningful projects for community well

Outdoor recreation access

Job summary

Nelson City Council is transforming to become a more customer-focused, data-driven organisation. We seek an experienced commercial or contract management professional to lead frameworks and supplier partnerships across Council programmes, strengthening governance and delivering value-for-money outcomes.

You will work within the Enterprise Programme Management Office to drive commercial decision-making, manage risks, and improve contract performance, collaborating across teams to lift capability

Qualifications

• Experience in a commercial or contract management role.
• Ability to develop contract frameworks, negotiate effectively and manage supplier performance across complex programmes.
• Understanding of contract management and procurement in the New Zealand public sector, including Government Procurement Rules, probity, risk governance and value-for-money principles.
• Comfort using AI-supported analysis to strengthen commercial insight and reporting.
• Ability to influence across the organisation and connect commercial insight with delivery and strategic outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and embed commercial and contract management frameworks across Council programmes.
• Provide oversight of key programme and supplier contracts, including performance, risk and compliance.
• Build strategic supplier relationships that support performance, innovation and long-term value.
• Lead commercial negotiations and procurement strategies to achieve value-for-money outcomes.
• Work alongside the EPMO and project teams to embed commercial best practice and strengthen programme governance.
• Partner across Council to improve commercial capability and contract management practices.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Contract management

Negotiation

Procurement knowledge

AI-assisted analytics

Education

Tertiary qualification in business/commerce/law or related discipline

Job description

Nelson City Council is transforming to become a more customer-focused, data-driven organisation. We seek an experienced commercial or contract management professional to lead frameworks and supplier partnerships across Council programmes, strengthening governance and delivering value-for-money outcomes.

You will work within the Enterprise Programme Management Office to drive commercial decision-making, manage risks, and improve contract performance, collaborating across teams to lift capability