Head of Contract Advisory Services

About the job

National Highways is offering an exciting opportunity to become our next Head of Contract Advisory Services, leading the teams who develop our contracts, commercial models and approach to managing contractual issues and disputes.

In this influential role, you'll provide strategic commercial leadership, ensure our documentation supports challenge free procurements, and work with Procurement, Commercial and Legal colleagues to embed best practice, strengthen mobilisation, and address emerging contractual issues early to secure strong commercial outcomes.

This role can be based in any of our main procurement offices in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bedford, Guildford or Bristol.

You will:

• Shape contract and procurement strategies across works, services and supply contracts, ensuring alignment of commercial, procurement and contractual approaches.
• Develop commercial assessment models that minimise ambiguity and drive value for money in procurements and subsequent contracts.
• Act as a trusted expert on contract administration, especially NEC contracts, bringing insight that strengthens and improves contract performance and oversee the mobilisation, training and handover of newly awarded contracts and frameworks to support successful delivery of contact outcomes from day one.
• Guide early intervention and resolution of complex contractual issues, providing expert advice, supporting the preparation of dispute and settlement papers, and managing adjudication, arbitration or litigation where required.
•  Chair the National Highways Dispute Resolution Board and lead the development of resolution papers, including authorising settlement mandates and steering commercial negotiations to avoid potential disputes.
• Analyse dispute data to spot trends and address issues proactively; manage the central dispute case tracker and actively contribute to peer review resolution meetings.

About You

• Demonstrable experience in delivering procurement and commercial services at a senior level in an infrastructure environment, including contract management.
• Professional qualified, CIPS, RICS, ICE or equivalent, ideally with a second qualification in a related legal topic.
• A track record of delivering successful commercial outcomes, linked to the ability to develop constructive working relationships within and across teams and suppliers.
• Experience in leading commercial/contract teams with the ability to inspire, motivate and lead a diverse team to perform at their best.
• Expert knowledge of all applicable standard form contracts with particular emphasis on NEC forms of contract.
• Proven expertise in dispute resolution adjudication, litigation and / or arbitration.

About Us

Delivery is a huge collective exercise, with collaboration between Business Services Directorate (BSD) and every other part of the business. Getting it right means success for us all. Our remit in BSD is very broad - and there is a lot to do.

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.

Business Services plays a crucial role in supporting the efficient operation and growth of the strategic road network. We provide a wide range of essential services across the organisation, ensuring that all functions run smoothly and effectively. We work behind the scenes to support the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and services, ensuring that National Highways meets its commitments to safety, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.

Our key areas of focus include procurement, finance, human resources, IT, and strategic planning. We ensure the company operates efficiently, delivers projects on time and within budget, and meets the needs of stakeholders. By offering expert advice, managing resources, and driving operational excellence, we support National Highways in achieving its mission of maintaining and improving the road network across the country.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.