Head of Commercial - Serco Plc

Make a difference every day.

We are a multinational organisation with a global team of 50,000 colleagues. In the Middle East we operate in the Transport, Defence & Advisory sectors, delivering services in Asset Management, Customer Experience, Fire & Rescue and Air Navigation Services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services to fulfil our purpose to impact a better future by "Bringing National Visions to Life".

Your Opportunity

Join Us in Transforming the Future of Emergency Services, Defence and Security in Abu Dhabi. Serco Middle East, in partnership with our local joint venture partner, is leading an ambitious transformation in Abu Dhabi to establish a National Champion in Emergency Services, Risk, Resilience, Training, and Defence and Security Advisory. We’re assembling a top-tier management team to drive this mission, setting strategies, building operational capabilities, and executing sustainable growth across these critical sectors.

This is a unique and exciting chance to join a newly-formed team at the forefront of transforming the emergency services landscape. If you have the relevant experience and are ready to play a key role in this high-impact initiative, we want to hear from you!

The Head of Commercial will be responsible for supporting the business by ensuring best practice commercial governance support is delivered to the division in a clear and consistent manner with innovative solutions to match the risks associated with the business. The successful individual will provide operational planning and execution by leading a team of commercial contracts professionals deployed across the business and in line with the wider divisional strategy.

Key Accountabilities

1. Manage and lead the commercial and contracts team and ensure the team are active participants of a process that monitors, reviews and challenges all commercial negotiations across the company to ensure key financial risks and opportunities have been identified and mitigated.
2. Provide input into the key commercial deliverables, including modelling, sensitivity analysis, assumptions, financials, structures, risks, rewards, terms, innovative solutions and price.
3. Continue the company’s evolution in best practice contracts capabilities, educating Sector Managing Directors, Contract Managers and functional department heads.
4. Resolve complex commercial and contractual issues through innovative arrangements that remain compliant with any applicable legal and contractual constraints.
5. Ensure that relevant risks are identified and subsequent allocation of that risk to the appropriate party is made in any commercial paperwork and any corresponding pricing considerations made.
6. Deliver a good industry practice standard contracts administration function (post signature) to the organisation to ensure that all post signature commercial transactions are properly negotiated and recorded.
7. Manage all contract variation and amendment mechanisms, all relief, compensation, force majeure mechanisms and contractual correspondence including reservation of rights in any necessary circumstances.
8. Support, manage, and advise on contractual disputes and litigation through to conclusion.
9. Create alignment with the procurement team regarding flow down of risk, terms, requirements from customer contracts into supply side facing strategic, complex and high value sub-contracts.
10. Build strong relationships with key internal senior stakeholders, particularly with the divisional executive team, the divisional senior finance team, the business development team and the operational team.
11. Build strong relationships with key customers, in particular the commercial, contracts, legal and procurement functions of those customers.
12. Maintain proper commercial relationships with all customers to prevent scope creep and adhere to the original agreement and its anticipated profit margins.
13. Manage the business’ commercial and contracts team to ensure career development and the best use of team skills and potential.
14. Ensure procedures and key controls remain fit for purpose, reflect legislative and regulatory requirements and ensure team members play a pivotal role at a detailed level on those commercial negotiations that are either material in terms of impact on financials, impact on strategy or level of complexity.
15. Ensure team members have an awareness of the key financial risks and opportunities facing the business for their specific sector/contract areas, and ensure innovative initiatives are developed to address those risks.
16. Ensure team members take an active role in the bid lifecycle governance process including preparing appropriate documentation and processes.
17. Support the optimum use of Company’s toolsets (e.g. CPM, CMA, Sharepoint) to improve/assist the business in managing and tracking all contractual obligations.
18. Ensure all legally binding documentation, from a customer facing perspective, is properly filed and recorded both electronically and in hard copy form.
19. Demonstrate an understanding and adoption of the company’s values.

Specific Requirements

1. A minimum of 10 years’ experience in a commercial contracts role.
2. Manager that provides a professional service to the organisation.
3. Experience working across a large, complex and diverse business unit/division.
4. Extensive knowledge and experience of drafting, negotiating, agreeing and executing a wide range of commercial contracts/instruments.
5. Extensive knowledge and experience in commercial contracts support subjects such as bonds and guarantees, insurances.
6. Extensive knowledge and experience in risk identification and management.
7. Advanced understanding of the key components of contracts, terms and conditions and the legislative environment that applies to such commercial contracts.
8. Experience in terms of bidding, commercial dialogue, negotiating and being the commercial lead on large complex bids.
9. Staff management experience.
10. Operational support experience.

What’s in it for you?

At Serco, our core values drive everything we do, and we believe in fairly compensating our colleagues for the value they bring to our organization. We are proud to offer a total reward package at Serco which includes:

1. Competitive monthly pay and allowances that are commensurate with the role and industry standards.
2. Comprehensive medical insurance coverage and life insurance.
3. Competitive leave benefits that exceed industry standards.
4. Annual airfare allowance to support our expat colleagues.
5. A supportive work environment with a positive Safety-First culture.
6. Access to wellbeing programs and platforms.
7. A vast array of career paths for our employees to choose from.

Join Us

At Serco, we believe there is a place here for everyone. A place where you can bring your authentic self to work every day. Our workplace culture embraces diversity and fosters equity, respect, and belonging for every individual. We are committed to equal employment opportunities and creating an inclusive environment.

Join Serco and be part of a values-driven organization that invests in the development and well-being of its employees and offers a rewarding and fulfilling career.

Serco is committed to Equal Employment Opportunities and ensuring the safety of all its employees through its Zero Harm initiative.