Head of Buildings Category and National Biosecurity Centre Programme

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 413725

**Salary**:

- £96,000 - £131,000
- GCO Pension, GCO Terms. Up to 20% performance-related-pay available on accreditation.

GBP

**Job grade**:

- SCS Pay Band 1
- Commercial Specialist

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- GCF - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

**Type of role**:

- Commercial

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Compressed hours

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Birmingham B3 1AQ, London SW1P 4DF, Reading RG1 8DQ,, Peterborough PE2 8YY, Weybridge KT15 3DH.

Travel to various locations required 4 to 8 days per month as team is based across multiple sites

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
In Defra, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have a lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. The Head of Buildings Category and Commercial Director for NBC Programme will lead provision of commercial support to Defra group and arm’s length bodies (ALB’s) such as Natural England and the Environment Agency with construction, infrastructure and facilities management requirements. The postholder will also be the senior commercial lead for the National Biosecurity Centre Programme which will provide essential research, surveillance and outbreak response in the UK.

Defra has an exciting ambition and strategy to deliver on four priority outcomes: the Environment (improving the environment through cleaner air and water, minimised waste and thriving plants and terrestrial and marine wildlife); Net Zero (reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in the agricultural, waste, peat and tree planting sectors to help deliver net zero); Floods and resilience (reducing likelihood and impact of flooding and coastal erosion on people, businesses, communities and the environment); Agriculture, food, fisheries, animal welfare and biosecurity (increasing the sustainability, productivity and resilience of agriculture, fishing, food and drink sectors, enhancing biosecurity and raising animal welfare standards).

The Buildings team, including Building Science, are responsible for c£350m spend per annum across multiple sub-categories including construction, construction related professional services, facilities management, utilities, estates management and sustainable power (EV charging, Solar PV etc.) The Defra and ALB estate is made up of offices, operational depots, fisheries, the Thames Barrier, high containment science laboratories, EU Exit border control posts (BCP’s) and Natural England visitor centers.

The National Biosecurity Centre (NBC) Programme National Biosecurity Centre Programme - Weybridge - GOV.UK.

**Job description**:
As Head of Buildings Category & NBC Commercial Director you will lead the commercial strategy, designing and implementing the commercial contracts, frameworks, outsourcing policies, and supplier relationships to deliver the desired commercial outcomes across the Defra estate and achieve the capital delivery of the NBC Science Hub, Enabling & Infrastructure sub-programmes.

You will develop effective strategic and operational approaches for ensuring effective commercial risk management across the function, but specifically in the construction contracts. You will improve delivery within designated sub-categories through rigorous and strong leadership across the profession that supports the business strategic outcomes.

You will hold a business-critical senior leadership role and will need to have the confidence to manage relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders, within Defra and other senior leaders across wider government, including the Government Commercial Function as well as the Cabinet Office, as well as ministerial engagement.

You will lead, motivate and direct a professional commercial team to develop and implement corporate initiatives to ensure business outcomes are met and to ensure continuous improvement in the field of commercial activity.

**Locations**

Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

**Person specification**:
You will be able to demonstrate strong leadership and will have the following capabilities and responsibilities:

- Lead, motivate and develop a professional commercial team to enable them to challenge and influence; deli