Head of Commercial (6-Month Fixed Term Contract)
Location: Remote (UK) with occasional travel to London
Salary: £100k-120k pro rata
Contract: 6-Month Fixed Term Contract
Start Date: Immediate
We are supporting a leading organisation within the government services sector in the search for an experienced Head of Commercial to join on an initial 6-month fixed-term contract.
This is a critical interim appointment, providing senior commercial leadership during a period of organisational transition. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring commercial governance, contract performance and risk management remain robust while longer-term decisions are made regarding the function's future structure.
Candidates must be available to start immediately or at short notice.
The Opportunity
Reporting into senior leadership, you will provide strategic commercial oversight for a major government outsourcing contract, leading commercial risk management, governance, contract compliance and value protection across the full contract lifecycle.
This role will suit a commercially astute leader with extensive experience managing large-scale outsourcing, BPO, managed services or IT services contracts within the UK public sector. Experience supporting complex mobilisation and implementation programmes is highly desirable.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide senior commercial leadership across a major government services contract
- Lead commercial risk assessment, governance and value protection activities
- Oversee complex customer and supplier negotiations, including contract variations and change controls
- Support mobilisation, implementation and transformation programmes from a commercial perspective
- Manage commercial implications of legal, regulatory and policy changes
- Lead dispute avoidance and commercial issue resolution activities
- Ensure adherence to commercial policies, governance frameworks and approval processes
- Build and maintain senior relationships with client procurement and commercial teams
- Provide commercial assurance to programme, operational and transformation leadership
- Identify, manage and escalate commercial and contractual risks
- Support strategic planning, forecasting and delivery objectives
About You
Essential Experience
- Significant senior commercial leadership experience within large-scale outsourcing, BPO or IT services environments
- Proven track record leading complex commercial negotiations and post-contract management activities
- Experience supporting mobilisation and implementation programmes
- Strong understanding of contract law within public sector environments
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including risk assessment and commercial modelling
- Experience operating within structured governance and approval frameworks
- UK public sector contracting experience
Highly Desirable
- Experience managing Central Government contracts
- Experience overseeing long-term, high-value outsourcing agreements
- Supplier and subcontractor management expertise
- Strong understanding of contract pricing mechanisms and commercial models
- Experience developing and monitoring contractual KPIs
- Leadership Profile
Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity to step into a high-profile leadership role, providing commercial direction on a significant government services contract during a pivotal period. You'll have the autonomy to make a real impact while working remotely with a highly experienced leadership team.
Immediate availability is essential.