Reporting into – Director of Procurement & Commercial
Contract – Permanent
Vacancy Type – Full time
Band – 5
Location – Southwark or Stratford, with 50% hybrid working
About the Role
As Head of Procurement & Commercial, you will be a key adviser and influencer at Director level, shaping commercial strategy, supplier partnerships and investment decisions. You will lead multiple embedded commercial teams, delivering end‑to‑end services across procurement, contract management, supplier relationship management and negotiation. You will drive strategic change and continuous improvement, embedding a strong commercial mindset and capability across the organisation.
You will guide the team’s strategic direction and personally intervene on the most complex commercial matters, ensuring clarity, strong challenge and disciplined decision‑making. You will be a visible leader strengthening commercial capability across TfL and driving long‑term, collaborative supplier partnerships that support an affordable, sustainable and world‑class transport network.
About You
You are an experienced senior commercial leader thriving in large-scale, complex environments. You bring credibility, judgement and presence to influence Executive stakeholders, navigate political interfaces and lead strategic supplier engagements at the highest level.
Your experience includes commercial leadership on major capital programmes with significant engineering and technological complexity. You have operated in transport, utilities, aviation, civil engineering or another highly regulated sector.
You combine strategic commercial acumen with the ability to engage with detail when necessary, balancing competing priorities, challenging assumptions and shaping decisions that drive long‑term value and performance.
You are an inclusive, people‑centred leader with a strong track record of developing capability, coaching senior professionals and creating a high‑performance culture. Your leadership style is defined by clarity, energy and confidence, particularly in complex or ambiguous situations.
Key strengths include first‑rate negotiation skills, proven partnership delivery expertise and deep knowledge of NEC contracts or public‑sector procurement environments. Ideally, you are a chartered professional (e.g. MRICS) or eligible for accreditation through experience or further learning.
Skills needed
* Proven leadership experience in delivering value through procurement and commercial activity on large‑scale infrastructure programmes within a regulated, safety‑critical organisation. (Essential)
* A proven track record of shaping and operating in a variety of partnering based delivery models. (Essential)
* Demonstrable expertise in procurement and contract management in a public‑sector or regulated environment, or extensive practical experience with NEC3 contracts. (Essential)
* Comprehensive knowledge of UK and EU legislation governing commercial and procurement activities, including compliance and governance requirements.
* Significant experience managing major contractual disputes, claims and settlements within an NEC environment. (Essential)
* Extensive experience in contracting, negotiation and change management. (Essential)
* Strong capability in developing and sustaining long‑term strategic supplier relationships.
* Degree‑level education or equivalent senior commercial experience.
* Corporate membership of RICS, or eligibility to achieve membership via experience or assessment.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.
Benefits
* Final salary pension scheme.
* Free travel for you on the TfL network.
* Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28‑day flexi ticket.
* 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays.
* Tax‑efficient cycle‑to‑work programme.
* Retail, health, leisure and travel offers.
* Discounted Eurostar travel.
* TfL employees can access electric vehicles through salary sacrifice.
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