Commercial Director

Job Title: Commercial Director / Head of Commercial

Location: Preston, Lancashire
Salary: 90,000 - 110,000 + Package
Job Type: Permanent

An established and growing building services engineering business based in Preston, operating across the North West and delivering a wide range of mechanical and electrical building services.

The business provides design, installation, service and maintenance solutions across areas including mechanical building services, heating, plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical installations. Its client base spans private-sector organisations, local authorities, NHS trusts and educational establishments, with a strong presence across complex and technically demanding environments.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Senior Leadership Team during a further period of growth and play a significant role in shaping the future commercial direction of the business.

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Director / Head of Commercial to provide strategic commercial leadership and tactical governance across the business.

Reporting into the senior leadership structure, you will take responsibility for shaping and delivering the commercial strategy, strengthening contract performance, protecting margins and managing commercial risk across the full contract lifecycle.

You will work closely with operational, estimating and finance teams while providing commercial leadership across bids, mobilisation, delivery, change, claims, final accounts and future pipeline.

The position will be primarily based from the Preston office and will include management responsibility for the central estimating team.

• Provide strategic commercial leadership across the business, supporting sustainable growth, profitability and strong contract performance.

• Oversee commercial performance and governance across operational divisions and the full contract lifecycle.

• Lead and guide the negotiation and commercial management of complex customer, supplier and subcontractor agreements.

• Ensure commercial risks are identified, managed and appropriately mitigated.

• Drive improvements in margin, cost efficiency and overall commercial performance.

• Provide senior commercial oversight of contract change, claims, disputes and other commercial risks.

• Work closely with estimating, operational and finance teams to maximise commercial opportunities.

• Develop and monitor commercial performance tools covering revenue, margin, cost, cash, risk and opportunities.

• Lead commercially on budgets, forecasting and departmental "work to win" budgets.

• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and senior internal stakeholders.

• Act as a trusted commercial adviser while providing constructive challenge to operational teams.

• Strengthen commercial capability through best practice, effective contract management, governance and continuous improvement.

• Assess and report commercial performance through the management cycle, escalating issues where required.

• Support operational leaders in improving efficiency and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Provide leadership and development to the commercial and estimating teams.

The successful candidate will have significant senior-level commercial experience within construction or the wider built environment, ideally gained within M&E, building services, Hard FM or another complex contracting environment.

You will ideally have:

• Strong commercial leadership experience at Commercial Director, Head of Commercial, Commercial Manager or similar level.

• Strong knowledge of commercial contracts and frameworks, particularly NEC and JCT.

• Practical experience within an M&E contracting environment.

• Experience managing complex customer, supplier and subcontractor agreements.

• Strong understanding of commercial risk, contract governance, change control, claims and dispute management.

• Proven experience managing margin, cost, cash and wider commercial performance.

• Experience across the full contract lifecycle from tender and mobilisation through to delivery, variations and final account.

• Strong understanding of M&E contracting and supply-chain arrangements.

• Public-sector experience would be advantageous.

• Proven experience leading, developing and influencing commercial teams.

• Excellent negotiation, analytical and relationship-building skills.

• The ability to operate effectively at senior stakeholder and project-delivery level.

• A relevant degree or professional qualification in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Procurement, Business, Finance or Law.

• Chartered status through RICS, CICES, CIOB, CIPS or a similar professional body would be advantageous.

• 90,000 - 110,000 salary

• Company car or car allowance

• Pension scheme

• Private healthcare

• Generous holiday entitlement

• Professional development and leadership training

• Flexible working arrangements

• Senior leadership position with genuine influence over commercial strategy

• Opportunity to shape the future direction of a growing business

If you're interested in this opportunity, then please get in touch today with our Commercial Specialist, Mark Harris.

Building Careers UK specialises in Construction and Property recruitment and serves as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers.

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Building Careers UK is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Please Note: Due to the high volume of applicants, only those shortlisted will be contacted.

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