Commercial Lead – HR & Professional Services

Full Description

We are recruiting on behalf of our public sector client for a Commercial Lead who sits in a team responsible for delivering end-to-end commercial lifecycle management and supporting the wider business in working with third parties.

The team proactively manage large complex and operationally critical outsourced service contracts, to ensure that they receive the quality services they are paying for and achieve value for money through the entire life of the contract.

This is an exciting time to be working in commercial management as the department is in the middle of a large-scale transformation, working to deliver the following strategic aims:

• Build a world class capability and team;
• Engage effectively with our markets and suppliers;
• Improving and simplifying how we work;
• Delivering outcomes through commercial policy.

Role Description

This role sits in the Corporate & Professional Services (CaPS) team, which is responsible for the end to end commercial lifecycle for enabling categories such as HR, contingent labour, consultancy and training, as well as commercial contract management of the strategic contracts within this pillar.

This role is an integral part of the Professional Services team within the CaPS pillar supporting the Transformation Directorate with their Professional Service requirements, to support delivery of the Commissioners Turnaround Plan.

You will also work closely with colleagues within the commercial function to contribute and feed into the category strategies and offer insight and best practice across the wider team. You will also develop relationships with key and strategic suppliers, driving value for money and risk management excellence across the category. 

You will be expected to work autonomously to ensure effective stakeholder management and work within the commercial and wider governance framework processes and procedures. You will drive performance management, risk management, issues resolution, financial management, change control and overall contract and statutory compliance whilst being responsible for continuous improvement (service and value).

As a leader in the Commercial function, you will support rolling out contract management standards across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Ensuring effective Commercial Contract and Supplier Management within the category:

• Ensuring effective day to day delivery of the contract against its objectives

• Managing contract variations, providing practical advice and strategic direction. Identifying where changes in the contract are required and adopts strategies to implement these

• Evaluating whether a contract is achieving a successful return on investment, in the light of value for money considerations

• Overseeing the realisation of benefits achieved as a result of the performance management regime or change control, and challenging non-delivery of benefits and escalates when required

• Evaluating the performance of suppliers against the specification, reporting regularly

• Driving innovation and improvement in contracts

• Managing risk and reward mechanisms in contracts and key performance indicators

• Monitoring progress against the business objectives and works with suppliers and customers to develop improvements

• Actively managing strategic relationships to deliver mutual benefit for those involved

• At a delivery level, holding both suppliers and customers accountable for living up to their contractual commitments. Resolving disputes effectively and efficiently

• Performing contract exit activity, from pre-emptive action to transactional, process led tasks

• Managing the disposal process of assets that are no longer needed once the current contract expires

Strategic delivery and management within a category:

• Inputting into wider Category Strategy, bringing insight and analysis gained from managing a contract / contracts

• Developing commercial approaches that deliver requirements that are in line with business needs, category strategies and market trends

• The development of category strategies and delivery of sourcing requirement within the pillar, as part of the team supporting business as usual and project activities

• Understands demand by forecasting and planning requirements with internal stakeholders and suppliers

Understands relevant sourcing options and analysis, and delivers positive outcomes through the procurement process:

• Leading planning and strategy for re-procurement of relevant contracts and able to undertake soft market testing

• Performing end-to-end strategic sourcing activities and serving as a subject matter expert

• Works with key stakeholders to develop a clear and agreed view of business requirements, and supports business units in articulating their commercial requirements

• Advising and providing professional guidance throughout the sourcing process, considering and evaluating a range of sourcing models

• Supports the development of options for a business case, including articulating associated benefits and producing supporting arguments for the preferred option

• Identifies opportunities to develop collaborative partnerships with suppliers

• Provides a procurement service which delivers demonstrable value for money and compliant goods and services contracts as part of a team of procurement professionals on larger procurement activities

• Leading negotiation relating to commercial activity, and has knowledge and experience with negotiation techniques. Leads and guides others in negotiation

Building and maintaining key relationships with important external stakeholders:

• Managing supplier and stakeholder relationships effectively to deliver organisational benefits.

• Providing practical advice to stakeholders enabling early engagement and challenging business need and demand as well as reviewing contract risks. Seeks early active involvement of internal stakeholders in the sourcing process and contract management. Internal stakeholders will include colleagues who are users and buyers of the goods and services within the category, and relevant business units and colleagues within the Forensic function.

• Performance and day-to-day management of a team where applicable
• Mentoring and providing guidance to junior members of the team
• Working within a secure environment upon sensitive projects as required
• Deputise for Head of Category if required

Essential Criteria

Candidates must submit a curriculum vitae and statement of suitability, both evidencing how they meet the following essential criteria:

• Experienced and knowledgeable in how the market works and what drives business decisions, innovations and commercial strategy in consumers and suppliers alike.
• Evidence of having delivered organisational benefits to customers through effective design and/or implementation of procurement / contract management strategies; able to describe value add and savings in a strategic context in a complex commercial environment.
• Excellent understanding of sourcing and procurement methodologies, ideally within a regulated or 4 public sector environment.
• Experience of developing, delivering and implementing contract management plans evidencing commercial management and delivery at senior level in complex and high value environments.
• Evidence of developing effective supplier relationships and the ability to resolve issues in performance or variations in supply without the need for legal or contractual recourse, working in partnership to deliver continuous improvement and innovation for all parties including complex performance management and incentivisation mechanisms.
• Experience working and effectively influencing senior stakeholders with or without authority projecting personal impact and credibility at all levels (including senior) of the organisation and the external market, demonstrating an ability to influence, persuade and effectively communicate.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a demanding workload whilst balancing both operationally urgent and important tasks to deliver to deadlines aligned with strong project management capabilities gained through practical professional experience,
• Evidence of inspirational and inclusive leadership, developing a professional culture and building commercial capability. Empowers team members through coaching, mentoring and sharing of expertise/knowledge.

Desirable Criteria

• Working knowledge of purchasing processes and systems (Purchase-to-Pay).
• CIPS qualification / IACCM certification (or working towards).
• Experience of designing and implementing category strategies.