Senior Commercial Contract Specialist

Believ: ABOUT US

At Believ, formerly known as Liberty Charge, we believe sustainable transport should be accessible to everyone. We’re a Charge Point Operator (CPO) on a mission to create the UK’s most reliable electric vehicle charging network that doesn’t cost the earth and leaves no one behind.

We work closely with local authorities and businesses to deliver reliable, high quality charging networks at pace, at scale and at zero cost.

We offer all the advantages of being a scale-up business, but with the added security and long-term backing from well-known parents - Liberty Global (who also own our delivery partner, Virgin Media O2) and Zouk Capital (who manage the Government’s Charging Investment Infrastructure Fund).

You’ll be joining this exciting journey at the start of our scale-up phase, and work with us to hit the ambitious targets our shareholders have set. You’ll become part of a passionate and supportive team in a fast-paced, dynamic and result-driven environment.

About the role

We're seeking an experienced Senior Commercial Contract Specialist to join our team, specialising in high-value (£5m+) Public Sector contracts. Reporting to the Public Sector Director, this is a critical role supporting our mission to accelerate the UK's transition to net zero through strategic partnerships with Local Authorities (LAs).

The successful candidate will be part of the Commercial team securing high-value, long-term complex concession contracts with LAs across the UK.

Working closely with our legal team, you’ll address commercial matters as part of the contract completion process.

You’ll have a good understanding of both the commercial realities of major concession contracts and the unique elements of public sector procurement; with strong legal awareness to support collaborative contract completion.

Contract Management

• Support the Business Development Managers to progress post-award contract discussions with LA clients
• Collaborate with the legal team during contract completion
• Guide the pre-award team to navigate complex commercial terms including advising on change of control mechanisms, remediation rights, payment processes, and termination & compensation clauses, to ensure contracts are fit for purpose and aligned to the company strategy during the bid stage
• Assess the suitability of the required liability, indemnity, and insurance provisions appropriate for long-term concession projects
• Under an established business playbook and delegated authority levels, provide commercial context and business rationale to support the legal team's contract analysis

Stakeholder Management

• Build relationships at multiple levels within LAs including EV Officers, Councillors, Cabinet Members, Directors, and their legal teams
• Effectively manage client expectations regarding contract preparation and anticipated signature timeframes
• Educate clients on commercial realities of infrastructure delivery
• Manage escalations to senior stakeholders as required
• Coordinate with internal teams (commercial, legal, operations, finance) to ensure alignment
• Manage internal stakeholders with differing priorities and expectations; including the ability to challenge diplomatically, influence decisions, and reach agreement on commercial positions when needed

Success Measures

• Achieve contract signatures within agreed timescales post-award
• Maintain contract pipeline momentum with minimal delays attributable to commercial department
• Secure commercial terms that align with company risk appetite and strategic objectives
• Successfully negotiate risk allocation that protects against unreasonable liability exposure while maintaining competitive positioning
• Achieve contract terms that support long-term project viability and profitability targets
• Successfully support bid processes that result in contract award rates and contract signatures meeting or exceeding business targets

Process Management

• Conduct thorough contract handovers post-signature to Operations to commence the deployment of projects, using digital systems including CRM, Microsoft Office Suite and AI tools
• Brief account management teams on key contract obligations following signature
• Maintain detailed records of contract discussions and decisions
• Develop and implement standardised commercial approaches that reduce completion cycle times
• Support development of contract management best practices
• Provide clear, actionable commercial guidance that enables legal team efficiency and decision-making
• Leverage industry expertise to advise leadership on strategy and contract process improvements

About you

At Believ, we are building a culture that attracts and retains the best talent. We are a dedicated and high-performing team, accustomed to working at pace in an ever-evolving industry. The successful candidate will be as passionate as us about cutting carbon emissions and providing cleaner air for all; making a tangible impact on the UK’s net zero journey. You’ll enjoy solving complex commercial challenges, and have the following attributes and skills:

Essential Experience

• Public Sector Procurement: Deep understanding of public sector procurement processes and regulations, buying frameworks, and decision-making structures
• Commercial Contract Management: Minimum 3 years of complex contract management experience, preferably with contract values £5m+
• Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to build relationships and manage expectations with senior public sector stakeholders
• Contract Law Understanding: Strong commercial contract knowledge including liability, indemnity, termination, and change control mechanisms - with ability to support legal team analysis (rather than lead legal interpretation)
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple concurrent contract discussions with competing priorities

Desirable Qualifications / Experience

• EV sector knowledge
• Infrastructure, utilities, telecoms, construction, or concession sector background
• Experience with Local Authority procurement processes including understanding of long-term public concession contracts and their commercial implications, knowledge of contract law, public contract regulatory requirements, and industry-specific legal considerations
• Experience of reviewing commercial contracts and identifying risks across a range of commercial and legal matters.
• Familiarity with working with Government funding schemes and public procurement processes
• Proven experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder contract discussions, ideally in public sector procurement or infrastructure projects, with a track record of closing high-value deals over extended timeframes (6-12 months)

Skills

Core Competencies

• Commercial Acumen: Strong business sense with ability to balance risk and commercial opportunity while supporting legal team's wider contract analysis
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to contract terms and their implications. Capable of interpreting legal jargon and translating it into business-friendly language to make informed decisions
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to explain complex commercial concepts to both legal teams and clients
• Collaborative: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, especially legal, finance, and business development, to achieve mutually beneficial contract terms

Soft Skills

• Diplomacy: Skilled at managing difficult conversations and finding mutually acceptable solutions
• Resilience: Comfortable with up to 12-month contract completion cycles and managing client expectations. Ability to remain calm under pressure and stay focused on securing the best terms for the organisation
• Integrity: Strong sense of ethics and professional integrity, ensuring that contracts are completed fairly and comply with legal and company standards. Team-oriented with a strong sense of responsibility and ownership

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus scheme
• 25 days’ annual leave, plus the usual 8 UK Bank Holidays and the option to purchase up to 5 additional days per year*
• Access to wellbeing and mental health benefits such as the Calm app, personal medical insurance, critical illness cover, dental, optical & travel insurance, income protection and life assurance
• Pension contribution matched up to 10%
• Access to our car benefit scheme and cycle to work scheme
• Access to our online learning platform to continue to develop and grow your career with us.
• 24 hours a year Volunteer Time Off to support causes that are important to you
• Virgin Media / O2 discounts and offers
• Access to VIP Arena Suites at the O2 Arena (London) and First Direct Arena (Leeds)
• Enhanced parental leave policies

* This perk can only be availed for the following calendar year by employees who started before 1st December

Location

The business is currently based in our office in Southwark. The position is full time, hybrid with 3 days (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) based in the office. Believ is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our people.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.