Head of Commercial in Reading

HM104: Head of Commercial

Location: Reading 3 days per week in office | Contract 12 Months

Salary: Competitive Day Rate | Inside IR35

Overview:

First Military Recruitment are currently seeking a Head of Commercial Policy & Governance on behalf of one of our clients.

The Head of Commercial Policy & Governance is responsible for defining and leading Commercial Policy, Governance & Assurance and Risk Management strategy, ensuring the Commercial Function operates with the highest standards of compliance, integrity and effectiveness. As a senior leadership role, the postholder provides strategic oversight of commercial governance frameworks, policies, assurance processes, trade and export controls and risk management, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives, regulatory requirements and government expectations.

The role acts as the primary interface with external governing bodies and regulatory stakeholders, including MOD and other government departments, building influential relationships that provide visibility of emerging policy and governance requirements while representing the company across external forums.

Leading a specialist team, the role ensures commercial policies, governance processes and management arrangements remain effective, proportionate and future-focused, safeguarding commercial obligations while enabling the successful delivery of strategic business outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Defines the Commercial Function’s Policy and Governance Strategy, aligning with wider company strategy and external governing body requirements and leads the team to ensure the Commercial Function’s compliance with internal and external policies.
• Accountable for managing and fostering effective relationships with external governing bodies providing visibility and influence of any change (i.e. MOD, DNO, CO) and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
• Leads the team to ensure effective commercial governance, assurance and compliance across commercial governance stages, owning and developing the Commercial Assurance Framework (CAF) and driving engagement with the Commercial Process & Tools Team to ensure processes are up to date and enable its digitisation within commercial systems.
• Leads the team to develop effective commercial policies, ensuring alignment with the wider business and external government departments and ensuring integration and alignment of policy with wider Commercial Strategy.
• Leads the team to manage effective assurance boards with high quality and compliant documents and action management.
• Leads the team to ensure internal and external audit compliance with company audit, and to manage effective internal commercial audit.
• Accountable for representing the Commercial Function externally across policy, governance and risk forums.
• Directs the delivery of Commercial’s risk management strategy.
• Custodian of company Trade and Export and Controls Framework and Management Arrangements with a view to maintaining compliance with UK & International Trade Controls, liaising with other government bodies as required to fulfil these obligations.
• Lead engagement with senior commercial leadership and external governing bodies to strengthen relationships, drive commercial standards, and represent the company with key stakeholders including MOD, DNO and DNE.
• Assure the accuracy and integrity of commercial governance, including commercial strategies, award recommendations and board governance submissions, ensuring high-quality outputs and effective secretariat management for the Commercial Assurance Review Board (CARB).
• Oversee the development, implementation and continuous improvement of commercial policies, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and regulatory requirements. Lead policy risk assessment and mitigation activities, integrating policy governance within wider enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Ensure comprehensive and accessible guidance documentation for policies, governance activities and risk management processes.
• Collaborate across stakeholders, legal, regulatory, audit, compliance and risk teams to ensure policies are effective, compliant and meet organisational needs.
• Provide expert oversight on UK and International Trade and Export Controls, escalating and mitigating associated risks while engaging with relevant government bodies.
• Establish and maintain robust compliance monitoring, audit and assessment processes, addressing gaps, violations and remediation activities as required.
• Drive delivery of the Commercial ESG Strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and external requirements, while supporting Delivery Towers to achieve Social Value targets.

Skills and Qualifications:

• DV clearance is required for this role however our clients are willing to take candidates with active SC clearance with a view to sponsoring them with Developed Vetting.
• Strong governance experience withing the public sector is essential.
• Qualifications in a relevant field are advantageous but experience in a similar role is essential.
• 8-10 years experience in a similar role in the public sector is essential.
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrable experience.
• Excellent stakeholder management.

Location: Reading 3 days per week in office | Contract 12 Months

Salary: Competitive Day Rate | Inside IR35