Commercial Director

UK Staffing Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive bonus

25 days' holiday

Job summary

UK Staffing Group is recruiting a Commercial Director for a growing property and construction group in the North West. The role focuses on the construction arm, leading a commercial team and delivering costs, quality and programme targets.

Working with the MD and senior leadership, you will steer commercial strategy, procurement and tendering, while shaping long-term succession towards Managing Director within the construction business. Attractive bonus and growth prospects offered.

Job description

North West | Head Office & Site Locations

We are working exclusively with a successful and growing property and construction group to recruit a Commercial Director into a senior leadership position. This is a significant opportunity for an experienced commercial leader to take responsibility for the commercial function across the wider group, with the majority of the role focused on the construction arm of the business.

Working closely with the Managing Director, you will have a key role in driving commercial performance across projects, ensuring developments are delivered to the required standards for cost, quality and programme.

Importantly, this role forms part of the group's long-term succession planning, with a clear opportunity for the successful individual to progress towards becoming Managing Director of the construction business.

The Role

You will lead and develop the commercial team, providing strategic direction across quantity surveying, estimating, procurement, material purchasing and commercial management.

You will work closely with the Managing Director and wider senior leadership team, providing commercial insight and ensuring robust cost control and decision-making from land acquisition and development appraisal through to completion and final adoption.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the commercial function across the group, with primary responsibility for the construction business
• Working alongside the Managing Director to achieve commercial, cost, quality and programme targets
• Leading commercial cost appraisals and viability and feasibility assessments for potential acquisitions and development opportunities
• Providing accurate build cost assessments for potential acquisitions and acquired land
• Preparing, managing and monitoring site budgets and development costs
• Maintaining effective cost control throughout the development lifecycle and managing cost overruns within agreed tolerances
• Managing commercial reporting, including cost and cash flow against budget
• Leading the procurement of subcontractors, materials, goods and services
• Establishing and maintaining effective tendering and procurement processes
• Overseeing payments to subcontractors, consultants and suppliers in line with company policies and procedures
• Providing commercial input across technical, engineering and architectural considerations where these impact development viability, cost or profitability
• Supporting site development from acquisition through to completion
• Ensuring the commercial team is appropriately resourced, structured and effectively managed
• Setting clear objectives and responsibilities across the commercial function
• Coaching, developing and motivating Quantity Surveyors, Commercial Managers and wider technical/commercial teams
• Ensuring appropriate commercial reporting to the Managing Director, Finance Director and senior leadership team
• Working collaboratively across departments to ensure decisions are made in the best interests of the wider business
• Ensuring Health, Safety and Environmental requirements are appropriately managed and embedded across projects
• Supporting compliance with project and company HSE requirements throughout the development lifecycle

About You

We are looking for an established commercial leader with a proven track record at Commercial Director, Commercial Manager or equivalent senior leadership level within construction, housebuilding, residential development or a closely related environment.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant senior-level commercial experience within construction or property development
• Experience operating at Director or Board level, or clear readiness to step into that level
• Strong experience across quantity surveying, estimating, procurement and commercial management
• A strong understanding of development viability, feasibility, build costs and land acquisition
• Proven experience managing budgets, cost control and commercial performance across multiple projects
• Strong numerical and analytical capability, with the ability to interpret data and use it to support strategic decision-making
• Experience with commercial, project management, payment and valuation systems
• A strong understanding of how technical, engineering and architectural decisions can impact project profitability
• Experience leading, managing and developing commercial and technical teams
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex commercial information clearly and concisely
• Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to make decisions in a fast-moving environment
• A resilient, decisive and solutions-focused approach
• The ability to challenge constructively and influence at senior leadership level

Most importantly, you will be someone who takes ownership, thinks commercially and is motivated by the opportunity to have a genuine influence on the future direction of a business.

Leadership & Culture

The successful candidate will be expected to lead by example and demonstrate:

• Accountability: Take ownership of decisions, projects and results
• Commercial thinking: Make decisions in the best interests of the wider business
• Leadership: Develop, support and motivate people to achieve their potential
• Communication: Be clear, concise and open in communication
• Collaboration: Work positively across departments and encourage knowledge sharing
• Integrity: Operate with honesty, professionalism, respect and confidentiality
• Resilience: Remain focused and solutions-driven when dealing with pressure, complexity or adversity
• Continuous improvement: Identify root causes, implement improvements and learn from challenges
• Initiative: Be proactive, commercially minded and willing to make decisions
• Technical expertise: Continue to develop and apply commercial and technical knowledge to improve business performance

The Opportunity

This is much more than a traditional Commercial Director position.

You will be joining a business with ambitious plans and will have the opportunity to work closely with the existing Managing Director, helping shape commercial strategy and the continued growth of the construction business. For the right individual, there is a genuine long-term succession opportunity towards Managing Director, making this an excellent opportunity for an ambitious Commercial Director who is ready to take the next step in their career.

Package

• Competitive bonus
• 25 days' holiday
• Senior leadership position with significant commercial influence
• Long-term succession opportunity towards Managing Director

About UK Staffing Group

UK Staffing Group is a specialist recruitment consultancy focused on connecting exceptional candidates with businesses where they can make a genuine impact.

We take the time to understand both our clients and candidates, ensuring we introduce people based on experience, potential, values and long-term fit rather than simply matching keywords on a CV.

UK Staffing Group is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and creating an inclusive recruitment process. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected characteristic.