Head of Commercial Activity – Band G

A unique opportunity has arisen for a commercial leader to join the Government Agency that holds the register of the UK’s 4m limited companies. As Head of Commercial Activity, based in Cardiff, Wales you will earn £56,366 - £65,959 in this permanent full-time role.

We are looking for someone to lead our commercial activities, including £30m of annual purchasing and managing an estate that includes a large freehold building in Cardiff with multiple tenants, and leased offices in London, Edinburgh and Belfast. Ensuring the efficient use of these budgets and premises will be a key focus for this role. Our digital programme requires innovative commercial arrangements with our suppliers and partners, a modern and flexible working environment and efficient use of all our resources.

The Role

This is a senior leadership role reporting to the Finance Director, with regular opportunities to work with the Board and non-executives and influence the commercial approach of the whole organisation.

You will be responsible for our commercial strategy, our estates strategy and our efficiency strategy;

You will need to work with Cabinet Office and other relevant commercial frameworks, including collaborative cross-Government arrangements, outsourced services and centres of excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement

• Lead a centralised procurement team responsible for the acquisition of goods and services at best value for Companies House.
• Ensure compliance with EU, UK Govt, Departmental and Companies House procurement policies, procedures and governance.
• Head of Profession for commercial skills – responsible for providing commercial assurance and best practice contract and supplier management across Companies House.
• Improving Companies House’s commercial capability – driving savings within existing contracts, holding supplier performance to account and ensuring robust scrutiny/governance before new contracts are agreed.
• Responsible for an annual 3^rd party procurement spend of around £25m.
• Manage and develop 4 x procurement team members.
• Budget holder for annual spend of £7m.
• Responsible for Companies House procurement strategy and policy.
• Lead on commercial and procurement issues matters with BEIS and Cabinet Office – including spend controls and approvals.
• Management of corporate risk in relation to commercial and contractual matters.
• Liaison with key Companies House stakeholders to ensure procurement delivery is in line with wider organisational strategies.
• Member of BEIS Commercial Operations senior network group  – liaising with other Heads of Procurement on collaborative opportunities and shaping the organisational design of the departmental commercial operations function.

Estates

• Lead a centralised estates team responsible for ensuring a suitable and safe working environment across all Companies House properties.
• Responsible for Companies House estates strategy, ensuring property lease management, refurbishments and upgrades are in line with wider government estates strategy.
• Manage and develop 6 x estates team members.
• Budget holder for annual spend of £5m.
• Lead on property and estates matters with BEIS and Cabinet Office – including Govt. hub agenda, departmental shared services and property asset management.
• Management of corporate risk in relation to property and estates matters.
• Liaison with key Companies House stakeholders to ensure estates delivery is in line with wider organisational strategies, including requirements for IT infrastructure and the operational working environment.

Efficiency

• Responsible for driving efficiency across Companies House
• Tracking, monitoring and driving achievement of the Companies House corporate efficiency target.
• Chair of Efficiency Forum
• Responsible for monthly report to Main Board on efficiency target progress
• Identifying new opportunities across the business in both resource, process and contractual efficiencies.
• Reviewing, monitoring and identifying opportunities to improve productivity across Companies House

You will hold an appropriate professional qualification which supports the nature of the role together with significant relevant and demonstrable experience of working in a commercial environment.

You should also be able to demonstrate a good understanding of estates management in relation to a multisite organisation, and managing and directing specialist and technical teams

We'll assess you against these competencies during the selection process:

Leading and communicating 

Achieving Commercial Outcomes

Managing a quality service 
Ensure the service you provide thoroughly considers your stakeholders’ needs and a broad range of available methods to meet these, including new technology and new ways of working

Building Capability for All
Coach and support colleagues to take responsibility for their own development (through giving accountability, varied assignments and ongoing feedback)

Changing and Improving 
Encourage and recognise a culture of initiative and innovation focused on adding value – give people space and praise for creativity

Delivering Value for Money
Achieve the best return on investment and deliver more for less on by managing resources, maximising the use of assets and driving efficiency 

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Basic clearance is required for this role.

If you are interested in this role, submit your CV. You will then be directed by email to a secure portal to submit your full application.