About this role
Job summary
The New Hospital Programme is more than building hospitals, it's a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of healthcare in England. We're delivering over 40 new hospitals that will be modern, sustainable and built around the needs of patients and staff. We're looking for people who care about purpose, who thrive in complex environments and who want to help deliver change at scale for future generations.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an experienced Senior Commercial Lead to play a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the NHP programme. This leadership position will oversee contract negotiations and post-contract commercial management across a range of complex and high-value projects, including professional services, hospital schemes, and major capital developments.
We are looking for someone with:
Significant experience in commercial and contract management within complex programmes. Strong negotiation, influencing and stakeholder management skills. A track record of delivering commercial value, operational efficiencies and risk mitigation. Experience developing and implementing strategic commercial approaches. Proven leadership experience, including line management and team development.
About us
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
In March 2025,the Government announcedthat NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.
Job description Job responsibilities
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
For more information on the NHP programme
Please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date due to the high volume of applications received. Due to ongoing organisational change and developments, aspects of this role may be subject to change.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that NHS England is currently undergoing a consultation process to finalise its structure, which may impact this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to degree level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist areas
Desirable
Supported by professional qualifications e.g. MRICS, MCIPS, IACCM, CMCP, NEC4 ECC PM
Experience Essential
Evidence of a minimum of 10 years' experience in commercial management, ideally within a complex construction or infrastructure environment Demonstrable experience of working in a large infrastructure programme with complex governance structures, interfacing with project managers, planners, risk managers and project controls teams Demonstrable experience leading commercial resources, agreeing objectives, managing performance and development to ensure staff have the necessary skills and support to deliver in their roles. Experience of working in an integrated project team involving supplier partnering organisations. Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals.
Desirable
Extensive experience in a variety of Procurement and Contracting models and specifically in Construction and Professional Services NEC based contracting environments, using a range of reimbursement models.
Skills Essential
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups. Be able to persuade board and senior managers of the respective merits of different options, innovation and new market opportunities Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be several courses of action Demonstrable ability to deliver at pace in a complex environment
Employer details Employer name NHS England
Address Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)