At Believ, formerly known as Liberty Charge, we believe sustainable transport should be accessible to everyone. We’re a Charge Point Operator (CPO) on a mission to create the UK’s most reliable electric vehicle charging network that doesn’t cost the earth and leaves no one behind.We work closely with local authorities and businesses to deliver reliable, high quality charging networks at pace, at scale and at zero cost.We offer all the advantages of being a scale-up business, but with the added security and long-term backing from well-known parents - Liberty Global (who also own our delivery partner, Virgin Media O2) and Zouk Capital (who manage the Government’s Charging Investment Infrastructure Fund).You’ll be joining this exciting journey at the start of our scale-up phase, and work with us to hit the ambitious targets our shareholders have set. You’ll become part of a passionate and supportive team in a fast-paced, dynamic and result-driven environment.**About the role**We’re seeking an experienced Head of Commercial Contract Performance to lead our end‐to‐end commercial contracting function. Reporting to the Public Sector Director, this role spans both pre‐award (bids, commercial strategy, contract clarifications) and post‐award (contract management, compliance, risk, and change management) responsibilities. You will help shape commercial positions, lead contract discussions with our Business Development team, manage risks, and ensure our Local Authority (LA) partnerships are set up for long‐term commercial success. You’ll also provide day‐to‐day leadership for the commercial contracts function as it grows.**Contract Management*** Own the post‐award performance framework, ensuring all obligations, SLAs, KPIs and risks are proactively monitored, managed and escalated where required* Guide the pre-award Contract Specialists to navigate complex commercial terms including advising on change of control mechanisms, remediation rights, payment processes, and termination & compensation clauses, to ensure contracts are fit for purpose and aligned to the company strategy during the bid stage* Support the Business Development Team and Contract Specialists to progress post-award contract discussions with LA clients* Collaborate with the legal team during contract completion* Under an established business playbook and delegated authority levels, provide commercial context and business rationale to support the legal team's contract analysis**Team Management*** Line manage the Contract Specialists and oversee the Contract Performance function, championing the highest standards of contract compliance* Lead performance reviews, coaching and ongoing development for team members* Grow the team structure as Believ scales, ensuring capacity aligns with contract portfolio growth**Stakeholder Management*** Effectively manage client expectations regarding contract preparation and anticipated signature timeframes, and manage escalations to senior stakeholders as required* Educate clients on commercial realities of infrastructure delivery* Internal ownership of contractual obligations, driving accountability across business functions (but without assuming operational delivery responsibility)* Coordinate with internal teams (commercial, legal, operations, finance, compliance) to ensure alignment on obligations and risk management* Manage internal stakeholders with differing priorities and expectations; including the ability to challenge diplomatically, influence decisions, and reach agreement on commercial positions when needed**Process Management*** Conduct thorough contract handovers post-signature to Operations to commence the deployment of projects* Brief Account Management teams on key contract obligations following signature* Maintain detailed records of contract discussions and decisions* Oversee and maintain the Contract Lifetime Management system to ensure that all obligations, KPIs and SLAs are met, and risks are proactively managed and escalated as required* Assist the Account Managers (who own the client relationship) to support their success, ensuring contractual accuracy and governance* Oversee commercial matters in contract variations post-signature* Support development and implementation of standardised commercial approaches that reduce completion cycle times* Support development of contract management best practices including identifying recurring risk patterns across contracts, and implementing preventative process improvements* Leverage industry expertise to advise leadership on strategy and contract process improvements**Success Measures*** Achieve contract signatures within agreed timescales* Maintain contract pipeline momentum with minimal delays attributable to commercial department* Secure commercial terms that align with company risk appetite and strategic objectives, guided by the Commercial Finance Team* Successfully navigate risks to protect against unreasonable liability exposure while maintaining competitive positioning* Achieve contract terms that support long-term project viability and profitability targets* Successfully support bid processes that result in contract award rates and contract signatures meeting or exceeding business targets* Maintain contract performance over time, demonstrated through reduced issues, increased compliance, and stronger internal ownership of obligations**About you**At Believ, we are building a culture that attracts and retains the best talent. We are a dedicated and high-performing team, accustomed to working at pace in an ever-evolving industry. The successful candidate will be as passionate as us about cutting carbon emissions and providing cleaner air for all; making a tangible impact on the UK’s net zero journey. You’ll enjoy solving complex commercial challenges, and have the following attributes and skills:**Essential Experience*** Deep understanding of public sector procurement processes and regulations, buying frameworks, and decision-making structures* Experience with Local Authority procurement processes including understanding of long-term public concession contracts and their commercial implications, knowledge of contract law, public contract regulatory requirements, and industry-specific legal considerations* Minimum 3 years of complex contract management experience, preferably with contract values £5m+* Strong commercial contract knowledge including liability, indemnity, termination, and change control mechanisms - with ability to support legal team analysis (rather than lead legal interpretation)* Ability to manage multiple concurrent open contract discussions with competing priorities, along with ongoing contract compliance* Proven ability to build relationships and manage expectations with senior public sector stakeholders, including EV Officers, Councillors, Cabinet Members, Directors, and their legal teams**Desirable Qualifications / Experience*** Background in EV, utilities, telecoms, infrastructure or construction* Experience of reviewing commercial contracts and identifying risks across a range of commercial and legal matters* Familiarity with working with Government funding schemes and public procurement processes* Proven experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder contract discussions, ideally in public sector procurement or infrastructure projects, with a track record of closing high-value deals over extended timeframes (6-12 months)**Skills****Core Competencies*** Strong business sense with ability to balance risk and commercial opportunity while supporting legal team's wider contract analysis* Meticulous approach to contract terms and their implications. Capable of interpreting legal jargon and translating it into business-friendly language to make informed decisions* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to explain complex commercial concepts to both legal teams and clients*
#J-18808-Ljbffr