Chief Operating Officer – Commercial Specialist

This is an exciting time to join the Defra Group, one of Government’s most complex and high-profile departments. We are responsible for improving England’s environment, countryside and rural economy, supporting the food and farming sectors and for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. Defra is also one of the lead departments in delivering a successful exit from the EU. Leaving the EU will fundamentally change the work we do and how we deliver it.  

Defra Group Commercial oversees circa £1.5-2bn of commercial activity per annum across a range of complex categories. The function covers the full range of commercial activities from strategy, procurement, contract management and management of complex Joint Ventures and other complex commercial arrangements across Defra and its Arm’s Length Bodies. The Chief Operating Officer will lead the Commercial Operations function for Defra Group Commercial (DgC), define and implement the future commercial strategy for Defra and its ALB’s; set out the overall DgC vision and Target Operating Model; and support the change journey to transform DgC into a world class commercial function.

As the DgC Chief Operating Officer you will have overall responsibility for the development of the Defra annual Commercial Strategy and Plan; securing buy in from senior stakeholders across the department and wider Defra family. The plan would include the DgC vision and a forward-looking commercial pipeline, creation of high-quality category strategies and implementing a best practice operating framework for the Defra group Commercial function across strategy, governance and assurance.

Candidates will need to demonstrate a significant and proven track record of development and implementation of overarching commercial and/or category strategies for large scale, complex commercial portfolios. You will have direct experience of the development and implementation of commercial step-change improvements and/or transformation programmes, including harmonising policies, processes and systems.  Additionally, candidates will also need to showcase significant leadership and stakeholder management expertise, including experience in presenting strategy papers to C-suite executives.

The deadline for all applications is noon Friday, 26th July.

For further information on the role or the application process, please visit: http://green-park-jobs.co.uk/defra

For any queries, please contact Ben Bond or Andrea Trainer at Green Park on 020 7399 3996.