Hello and welcome! I am

Thady Senior

I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.

about me

Interests & Activities

Food & Drink

I enjoy cooking, both for relaxation and the quality and taste of the dishes I create, often cooking for friends and family. I have attended cookery courses, including one run by a two Michelin starred chef (Martin Burge), and once won a Ready Steady Cook style competition as judged by Ollie Dabbous. As well as cooking I enjoy going to restaurants to savour the variety of food they offer and hopefully find inspiration and ideas for my own dishes. I’m sure I’d enjoy being a food critic! I’m adventurous and there’s virtually nothing that I wouldn’t try – although I do dislike peas, of all things!

Music

Music is a big part of my life; I started learning violin and piano when I was a young child. My grandfather ran The Kingdom Showband and managed various other bands over the years. I played as a member of the Ampleforth College Orchestra and was a founding member of the Ampleforth College Ceilidh Band. Although classically trained on the violin, I now focus predominately on folk music as this is where my passion lies and I do like to join in with a session. During my time at Trinity College Dublin I chaired the Traditional Irish Music Society. The 2020 COVID19 lockdown presented an opportune moment to pick up a new instrument so I am slowly learning to play guitar too!

Economics & Philosophy

My undergraduate degree from Trinity College Dublin was in Economics & Philosophy and these are two disciplines which continue to interest me. I have a critical and curious view of the world and enjoy logic, ethics and thinking about philosophical problems. Economics provides a complementary framework for modelling human behaviour; behavioural economics is of particular interest to me. I enjoy keeping myself refreshed on what’s going on in the world by reading The Economist.

Photography

I enjoy using both digital and film. I have won a few prizes and have even had some of my photos published. When I get a spare moment I like to go for a walk with a camera. I find it fascinating to be able to capture the world, especially when it’s in a way that the human eye doesn’t usually see it.

Sports

While I’m not a big fan of going to the gym, I do enjoy racquet sports, especially badminton. I also enjoy cycling and have dabbled in fencing.

Technology

I love technology, what it can do, how it works and thinking how I can integrate it into my work and lifestyle to facilitate efficient and enjoyable living; to make life easier. All of my software and coding skills are entirely self-taught and if I can’t do something I always turn to Google and forums to help figure it out.

Fun Facts

I’ve touched all 4 of Big Ben’s faces

I’ve never broken a bone (knowingly!)

I love tea and coffee (and whiskey!)

I’m definitely a night owl

Memberships

resume

EMPLOYMENT

Jan 2023 – Present

Head of Commercial Capability & Business Operations

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Civil Service {London, UK}

Leading a team responsible for the Commercial Directorate’s business operations and measuring, maintaining and developing commercial and contract management capability across the wider FCDO. Responsible for Commercial budget and the smooth running of critical business administration activities to enable efficient service delivery.

Jan 2021 – Jan 2023

Senior Strategic Relationship Manager

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Civil Service {London, UK}

Responsible for managing and maintaining the relationship between FCDO and a portfolio of its most critical supply partners to deliver an increase in value of those strategic relationships. Working closely with Commercial and other colleagues across Central Government departments to drive improvement and innovation. Improving the impact on poverty reduction for every UK pound spent by maximising ‘Value for Money’ and identifying strategic opportunities. Delivering better diplomatic and development outcomes through global commercial excellence.

Aug 2020 – Jan 2021

Head of COVID Commercial

Department for Education, Civil Service {London, UK}

Leading and coordinating all Commercial support in response to the COVID19 epidemic, working with policy and other colleagues to deliver Covid Response Unit priorities and actively manage risks. Responsible for overseeing all COVID Commercial activity as well as Winter Preparedness and EU Transition planning in support of all schools, children’s social care and other educational settings. Commercial lead on project teams including for PPE, face coverings, dedicated home to school transport and testing.

Mar 2020 – Aug 2020

Infection Prevention and Control – Commercial Lead

Department for Education, Civil Service {London, UK}

Supporting supply chain response to the COVID19 epidemic, acting as the Commercial Lead in DfE for Infection Prevention & Control (incorporating PPE, cleaning & testing). Identifying requirements across the department and all educational settings, working closely with stakeholders to ensure needs were correctly identified and met.

May 2019 – Mar 2020

Commercial and Supplier Management – Category Manager (Capital)

Department for Education, Civil Service {London, UK}

Working on mobilising the Capital Direct Sourcing Programme. Responsible for implementation of the category management strategy and the associated procurement activity and contract management. Working closely with colleagues in the Commercial Division, across Capital and with a range of external organisations to develop ‘Value for Money’ outcomes that tie into wider government priorities and support the division’s savings target.

Oct 2018 – Apr 2019

Healthcare & Education Sector – Commercial

ENGIE {London, UK}

Responsible for providing functional commercial leadership and support in delivering contractual obligations, ensuring all aspects of commercial management are properly effected across the sector. Client and contract management.

Oct 2017 – Sept 2018

Free Schools Capital – Technical Team

ESFA, Department for Education, Civil Service {London, UK}

Responsible for supplier performance and relationship management. Assisting the management of the technical team including workflow forecasting and planning.

Oct 2016 – Sept 2017

Commercial Continuous Improvement

Cabinet Office, Civil Service {London, UK}

Responsible for the Consultancy Spend Control and wider Commercial Spend Control reform. Promoting improved commercial standards across central government.

Oct 2016 – Apr 2019

Commercial Fast Streamer

Civil Service Fast Stream {London, UK}

I was fortunate enough to have a place on this top ranked graduate programme.

Mar 2012 – Sept 2016

Marketing Manager

Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants {Suffolk, UK}

Responsible for marketing strategy, charitable partnering and managing budget, procurement and relationship with key suppliers. Fed into long-term business strategy.

Feb 2013 – Nov 2014

Customer Relations Manager & Technical Assistant

OnlineGrinds.ie {Dublin, Ireland}

Responsible for managing customer relations, including during live-streamed classes, and moderating online forums. Supported website content and coding updates.

Jun 2010 – Mar 2012

IT & Special Projects Manager

Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants {Suffolk, UK}

Responsible for IT infrastructure and user support. Ran certain special marketing projects.

Jun – Sept 2011

Deeds & Admin Assistant

Greene & Greene Solicitors {Suffolk, UK}

Responsible for cataloguing archive storage. Assisting management and organisation of working files.

Jun – Aug 2009

IT Assistant

Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants {Suffolk, UK}

Assisting IT manager with server migration and networking. Produced some marketing material.

VOLUNTARY POSITIONS

2014 – 2019

School Governor

First Base Pupil Referral Unit, Bury St Edmunds {Suffolk, UK}

On the Management Committee of First Base PRU Bury St Edmunds. Lead Manager for pay.

2013 – 2014

Auditor (Chair)

Traditional Irish Music Society, Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Responsible for managing the society and its committee.

2013 – 2014

Auditor (Chair)

Quiz Society, Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Responsible for managing the society and its committee.

2013 – 2014

Design and Layout Editor & Webmaster

Icarus, Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Editor responsible for managing the design and layout of the publication. Managed the publication’s website design and content.

2013 – 2014

Design and Layout Editor & Webmaster

Journal of Literary Translation, Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Editor responsible for managing the design and layout of the publication. Managed the publication’s website design and content.

2013 – 2014

Design and Layout Editor

Trinity College Miscellany Magazine, Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Editor responsible for managing the design and layout of the publication.

2012 – 2013

Public Relations Officer

Traditional Irish Music Society, Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Responsible for managing the society’s public relations and marketing.

EDUCATION

2022

MA (Dubl)

Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Dublin Master of Arts commencement.

2016 – 2019

CIPS Advanced Practitioner

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply {London, UK}

Studied for professional commercial qualification as part of my on-going development and training on the Civil Service Commercial Fast Stream, achieving MCIPS status in 2019.

2010 – 2014

BA (Hons.) Economics & Philosophy

Trinity College Dublin {Dublin, Ireland}

Philosophy (major) and Economics (minor).

2005-2010

Secondary School (Academic Scholar)

Ampleforth College {North Yorkshire, UK}

Studied Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Physics for A-Level in addition to English Literature and Critical Thinking for AS-Level. Studied Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Christian Theology, English, Biology, Philosophy and Ethics, French, Latin, Spanish and Additional Maths FSMQ for GCSE.