Head of Commercial (Works) in London

On behalf of UK Parliament, we are looking for a Head of Commercial (Works) (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract based in London minimum 2 days a week and as needed for onsite meetings. This senior leadership role will provide commercial leadership for Works procurement across the Parliamentary Estate, including high value capital investment and asset maintenance projects.

Working alongside the existing Works Commercial Deputy Director, you will lead the Works commercial team, manage senior stakeholders, and ensure compliant, value for money procurement aligned with public sector regulations. You will act as a subject matter expert on NEC contracts, advise senior leaders across Parliament, and contribute to commercial strategy, policy, and capability development.

As a Head of Commercial (Works), your main responsibilities will be:

• Provide senior commercial leadership for the Works Category across the Parliamentary Estate, working jointly with the existing Works Commercial Deputy Director.
• Lead the end to end commercial delivery of complex, high value Works procurements, including capital investment, construction, facilities management, design, and asset maintenance contracts.
• Act as Parliament’s subject matter expert on NEC contracts, including selection of appropriate NEC options, drafting bespoke amendments, and advising on risk allocation and commercial mechanisms.
• Develop, implement, and oversee category and sub category strategies to ensure alignment with organisational priorities, budgets, and long term estate plans.
• Ensure all procurement activity is fully compliant with public procurement legislation (PCR 2015, PA 2023), internal governance, and commercial policies.
• Provide strategic commercial advice to Directors, Programme Leads, and Senior Responsible Owners, acting as a trusted advisor on complex and sensitive commercial matters.
• Deputise for the Commercial Director (Works) as required, representing the function at senior leadership and cross Parliament forums.
• Lead and oversee supplier and contract management strategies, ensuring effective transitions from procurement to contract management and resolution of commercial risks and issues.
• Drive value for money, identifying, quantifying, and delivering commercial savings and wider benefits across Works spend.
• Play a central role in commercial assurance, including peer review, quality gates, and participation in the Commercial Assurance Board.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, embedding best practice, standardisation, and innovation in commercial processes and templates.
• Oversee data quality, management information, and reporting for the Works category, ensuring transparency and informed decision making.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of commercial policies, standards, and capability frameworks across PCD.
• Line manage and develop Heads of Commercial, ensuring strong performance management, capability building, and succession planning.
• Champion the values and behaviours of both Houses, acting as a visible ambassador for the Parliamentary Commercial Function.

Extensive expertise in NEC3/NEC4 contracts and proven delivery of high-value, high-risk Works procurements in the public sector. Strong knowledge of public procurement legislation, including PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023, within complex and regulated environments. Demonstrable leadership experience transforming and leading commercial or procurement functions in large, politically sensitive organisations. Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate senior and mixed-experience commercial teams, driving performance and continuous improvement. Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills, with resilience, sound judgement, and strong political awareness.

Eligible and willing to go through CTC Clearance. Public sector experience CIPS Level 5 (or equivalent demonstrable experience), with willingness to study further if required.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident: As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UK Parliament guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.

UK Parliament guarantees to interview veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.