Chemonics - Pricing and Commercial Director

Pricing and Commercial Director

2022

About Chemonics

International

Chemonics International is a major international development consultancy, with a 46-year history and a track record for delivering integrated solutions across multiple sectors and geographies to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals. With experience in over 150 countries and global network of over 5,000 technical specialists, Chemonics is recognised as one of the world’s leading partners for international development.

The UK Division of Chemonics International was established in 2019, and has quickly developed a strong and diverse portfolio of UK Aid-funded programmes. Chemonics UK works with government and development sector counterparts across three continents to deliver programmes in sectors including climate action, education, governance, peacebuilding, stabilisation, social cohesion, and research.

Chemonics UK is developing greater autonomy and identity within the Chemonics International group, and has ambitious growth plans for UK and European funded work, alongside the development of its own administrative and procedural functions.

The Role

Title:

Business Unit: Location: Reports to:

Salary:

Closing Date:

Pricing and Commercial Director

UK Division (UKD)

London Senior Financial Director, UKD

Competitive 30th October 2022

Job Summary

Main purpose of the role:

The Pricing and Commercial Director (CD) leads the commercial team and its activities to enable Chemonics International’s UK Division (UKD) to successfully bid on and win substantial future orders. The CD sets direction for our approach to the market, whilst understanding the trends of our customers and competitors.

AdvisingandleadingateamofCommercialBid Coordinators,theCDworkswiththeFinancial Directortoensureaclearandmonitored setofpricingstrategies.TheCDensureswe operatewithinariskframeworkforbiddingand commercialcompliancewithourclients,the largestbeingtheForeign,Commonwealth& DevelopmentOffice(FCDO).

Responsibilities

• Promotes a strong knowledge-culture of sound commercial bidding & business management practices aligned with corporate policies, procedures, best practices and client regulations and expectations.

• Participates in the following departmental and crossdepartmental functions:

• Programme design, pricing strategy, grant fund management mechanisms

• Commercial tender preparation: Guides proposal teams to prepare responsive commercial tenders that meet corporate standards, develops competitive bid pricing strategies, tailors standard budgeting practices to respond to client requirements, assesses potential partners’ financial and administrative capacity to select the appropriate subcontract mechanism.

• Financial management:

• Guides bids to be priced profitably within strategic guidelines; Has a solid understanding of company labour rates, cost structures for indirect and overhead costs and how they vary for differing contract types.

• Measures and monitors bid performance and conversion rates (in liaison with Business Development Director and team)

• Helps develop tools to continually improve the UKD’s commercial bid performance

• Leads a team of Bid Coordinators to professionally support and service the division’s bids (advisors, bid preparers, cost and spreadsheet reviewers).

• Provides advisory services to business development teams, proposal teams, PMUs, and other UKD staff in collaboration with the UKD Project Management & Risk Office on all aspects of commercial service delivery including commercial tender preparation, supporting the development of results-based payment mechanisms, interpretation of and compliance with Chemonics’ policies and procedures, contract requirements, client regulations, project and corporate budgeting, financial

Responsibilities

analysis and planning, risk mitigation, billing and invoicing, allowances and subcontractor responsibility determination, negotiation, and pricing. Proactively responds to requests for assistance, information and interpretation and provides direct support with complex issues in these areas.

• Helps develop a capacity-building program for commercial service delivery, through knowledge management, development and delivery of corporate trainings, dissemination of relevant information, on-thejob training and mentorship.

• Supports quality management in commercial service delivery by ensuring the commercial team’s reviews and applicable material on the GlobalQMS and DailyChem are useful and compliant with Chemonics’ policies and procedures as well as client regulations and expectations.

• Maintains, expands and applies technical knowledge in UK government contracting, finance and accounting, risk management, compliance and other related technical interests by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks and participating in professional societies and divisional practice networks.

• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff, communicating clear performance goals and standards, offering regular performance feedback and prompt resolution of problems, and providing time and opportunity to grow and develop in key competency areas; promotes staff development through coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional growth opportunities.

• Undertakes assignments on projects or special initiatives, both billable and non-billable.

• Actively supports business development activities and conducts key roles on proposal teams.

Candidate profile

Person specification

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

• Significant work experience with financial compliance, financial planning and analysis, risk management, contract pricing, and/or other functional areas, ideally in a government contracting context.

• Knowledge of the company’s main clients; extensive knowledge of FCDO regulations and procedures preferred.

• Knowledge of cost structure and policies, procedures and systems related to project and contract management, finance and accounting, and proposal development for international development funding agencies.

• Contractual and financial management experience with various contract and subcontract types, including, but not limited to, cost reimbursement, time-andmaterials, fixed price, framework/umbrella, and performance-based preferred.

• Ability to manage external relationships including vendors, banks and other financial institutions, and partner/consortium organizations.

• Ability to lead effective meetings and demonstrated presentation skills.

• Ability to solve complex technical, managerial or operational problems and evaluate options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience and knowledge.

• Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational and decisionmaking skills.

• Ability to travel and work abroad approximately 4-8 weeks per year.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, age, or other legally protected characteristics.

Selection will be on merit. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Competencies

Management and Leadership Competencies

Creates Strategic Vision

Ability to conceptualise in the long-term including outside one’s own area. Utilises perspective to identify and activate the appropriate strategy that positions Chemonics for success. Ensuring strategy is based on a thorough analysis of facts, figures, and qualitative aspects of Chemonics mission, values, and internal/external environment.

Drives Organisational Achievement

Steers the organisation in a direction that enables success based on defined vision and strategies. Demonstrates ability to deliver results within teams and to perform at a high level. Creates a culture where all managers and employees are fully accountable and focus on continuous improvements by defining challenging goals for themselves and for others, exceeding standards of excellence and ensuring effect.

Inspires Team

Eager to lead and empower their teams. Expresses’ ability to handle interpersonal interactions compassionately and empathetically. Ensures employees receive timely feedback and support from them, other managers, or through formal development programmes. Manages others in a manner that builds their confidence, motivation, and independent capabilities, management

Core Competencies

Works Inclusively and Collaboratively

Promotes and values a culture with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds who can work together to reach better outcomes. Builds and maintains relationships based on respect, honesty, and compassion to create a work environment that is collaborative and inclusive. Shares information and ideas openly, while recognising the importance of listening to and understanding the needs of others.

Competencies

Embraces Continuous Learning

Personally committed to developing themselves and, if relevant, their employees. Gives timely and balanced performance feedback and coaching to others, enabling continuous professional and personal development. Demonstrated eagerness to learn and apply new knowledge and skills to accomplish work activities and goals in improved and more effective ways.

Reinforces Transparency

Demonstrates openness across all job functions and responsibilities. Willing to explain decision making processes, outcomes and direction to others. Operates under an open-book policy, principled in performance and ethically sound. Honest in all interactions and transactions; remains steadfast when challenged.

Thinks Critically

Builds a logical approach to address problems or opportunities. Leverages their own knowledge and experience and proactively seeks input and information from key resources and stakeholders for thorough analysis. Willing to apply ingenuity and creativity into problem solving, offering novel ideas that challenge the status quo. Effectively translates findings to resolve issues in a way that yields a positive impact on key performance indicators and organisation objectives.

Drives Results

Goal oriented, innovative and passionate about finding ways to get things accomplished, even when faced with challenges. Drives with focus and proactivity to identify and accomplish goals and does so in a timely fashion. Demonstrates accountability, showing ownership and commitment towards achieving results.

Operates with Agility and Resiliency

Adapts quickly and positively to change and different approaches when needed. Demonstrates resilience and flexibility in undefined and consistently changing environments. Takes initiative through uncertainty or conflict by engaging and inspiring others to explore opportunities that will shape the future, even if opportunities come with risks in order to deal with important problems.

How to Apply

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter. Please provide a CV and cover letter in two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

Your CV and Cover Letter should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your LastName-Document Name-Date (mmyyyy) eg, PatJones-CV-092022-Chemonics or Pat-Jones-CoverLetter-092022-Chemonics.

Timeline

Closing Date: 30th October 2022

First stage interviews: TBC Final interviews: TBC

Selection Process

All candidates will be notified about the status of their applications. Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake an additional assessment prior to the final interview.

Equality Statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of Chemonics’ values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email chemonics-cd@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

About Oxford HR

Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.