Head of Commercial
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 the wider divisional strategy.
The hiring for this role is subject to contract award.
Key Accountabilities
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, completeness and robustness of price is achieved, and the company has a competitive and potentially rewarding submission.
Provides input into the key commercial deliverables, including modelling, sensitivity analysis, assumptions, financials, structures, risks, rewards, terms, innovative solutions and price.
Continue the company’s evolution in best practice contracts capabilities, educating Sector Managing Director’s, Contract Managers and functional department heads.
Seeks to resolve complex commercial and contractual issues through innovative arrangements that remain compliant with any applicable legal and contractual constraints.
Ensures 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.
Delivers 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.
Post signature manages all contract variation and amendment mechanisms, all relief, compensation, force majeure mechanisms and contractual correspondence including reservation of rights in any necessary circumstances.
Supports, manages, and advises on contractual disputes and litigation through to conclusion.
Create alignment with the procurement team in with regards to flow down of risk, terms, requirements from customer contracts into supply side facing strategic, complex and high value sub-contracts.
Builds strong relationships with key internal senior stakeholders. In particular, establishing excellent working relationships with the divisional executive team, the divisional senior finance team, the business development team and the operational team.
Builds strong relationships with key customers, in particular the commercial, contracts, legal and procurement functions of those customers.
Endeavours to ensure that proper commercial relationships are maintained with all customers with a view to preventing scope creep and adhering to the original agreement and its anticipated profit margins.
Managing the business’ commercial and contracts team to ensure career development and the best use of team skills and potential
Ensure procedures and key controls remain fit of purpose, reflect legislative and regulatory requirements and ensure team members plays 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.
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, aimed at addressing those risks.
Ensure team members take an active role in the bid lifecycle governance process including preparing appropriate documentation and processes.
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.
Ensures all legally binding documentation, from a customer facing perspective, is properly filed and recorded both electronically and in hard copy form.
Ability to demonstrate an understanding and adoption of the company’s values
Specific Requirements
A minimum of 10 years’ experience in commercial contracts role.
Manager that provides a professional service to the organisation.
Typically working across a large, complex and diverse business unit/division.
Extensive knowledge and experience of drafting, negotiating, agreeing and executing a wide range of commercial contracts / instruments including, confidentiality, teaming and JV type, framework, supply chain, sales agreements, etc. that represent a positive commercial outcome for the business.
Extensive knowledge and experience in commercial contracts support subjects such as bonds and guarantees, insurances,
Extensive knowledge and experience in risk identification and management and structuring commercial contractual paperwork to mitigate or minimise such identified risks / issues.
Advanced understanding of the key components of contracts, terms and conditions and the legislative environment that applies to and affects such commercial contracts.
Experience in terms of bidding, commercial dialogue, negotiating and being the commercial lead on large complex bids.
Staff management experience.
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:
Competitive monthly pay and allowances that are commensurate with the role and industry standards
Comprehensive medical insurance coverage and life insurance, so our employees can feel secure in their health and financial wellbeing
We recognize the importance of work-life balance, which is why we offer competitive leave benefits that exceed industry standards
We offer an annual airfare allowance to support our expat colleagues to stay in touch and visit their loved ones
We pride ourselves on providing a supportive work environment where we foster a positive Safety-First culture
We care deeply about our colleagues' wellbeing and offer access to wellbeing programs and platforms to support their physical, mental, and emotional health.
As a global organization, we offer a vast array of career paths for our employees to choose from. The scale and breadth of our organization provides our colleagues with opportunities for growth and variety in their career path, both regionally and globally.
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 is one that embraces diversity and fosters equity, respect, and belonging for every individual. We are committed to equal employment opportunities and creating an inclusive environment that proudly celebrates the perspectives and backgrounds that each of our employees bring to work every day.
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 is committed to ensuring the safety of all of its employees through its Zero Harm initiative. Please visit www.serco.com/careers for more information.