About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Head of Commercial to join the Parliamentary Commercial Directorate at the House of Lords. You will lead delivery required within our Works category, working on high-profile and unique projects within a uniquely political organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team and to work at the heart of operational delivery and pipeline planning. You’ll work with varied stakeholder groups across Parliament to provide expert commercial advice and ensure that commercial processes and templates are being utilised to deliver successful, compliant procurements.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a leadership position and has extensive commercial and contract management experience which they can apply to a range of projects and programmes within the Works category.

Job description

You’ll be accountable for –

• Providing deep subject matter expertise on NEC contract options including authoring bespoke contracts.
• Providing expert commercial advice in relation to Works contracts including construction and related project, cost, design and other services
• Managing major procurements throughout the procurement cycle.
• Maintaining a procurement plan (a “Pipeline”) for the Works category, ensuring continuity and compliance of contracts that are due for expiry, renewal, or retendering.
• Supporting the Works Deputy Commercial Director in drafting and taking forward policies and procedures in relation to the Works category area.

For the full list of responsibilities, please see the job description attached.

Person specification

What we’re looking for –

• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply at Level 6(MCIPS) or Level 5 CIPS, equivalent experience or other relevant qualifications.
• Deep subject matter expertise on NEC suite of contract terms and contracting options.
• Ability to provide expert commercial advice in relation to Works contracts including construction and related project, cost, design and other services.
• Detailed knowledge of compliance requirements associated with public sector procurement regulations and ability to manage major Works procurements throughout the procurement cycle.
• Ability to promote procurement policy, awareness and contract management practice to both professional and lay audiences.
• Ability to lead, manage and develop a team.

 

It would be even better if you had or if you’re willing to learn…

• Category / Procurement Leadership – being able to drive forward relevant strategies whilst demonstrating category expertise.
• Proven experience in influencing Senior Internal and External stakeholders

Benefits

What you’ll get in return

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service)
• Generous pension scheme
• Hybrid working
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

The work we do is vital to House of Lords, and you will be a pivotal member in the team strengthening the work of the House. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK parliament. It is independent from and complements the work of the House of Commons to:

• Make laws
• Check and challenge the actions of the government through questions and debates
• Investigate public policy and provide a forum of independent expertise

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please complete your online application by 23.55 on 03 March 2024.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact hlrecruitment@parliament.uk or call 0207 219 5973.

The House of Lords Administration is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of their age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender/sex, gender reassignment/trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. The Administration will also consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. For this role we particularly welcome applications from groups which are currently underrepresented within the team, including applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates and candidates with disabilities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.