Commercial Lead

Dalkia Energy Services Ltd; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dalkia UK is seeking an experienced Commercial Lead to provide leadership across our project portfolio, reporting to the Commercial Director. You will mentor a team of Quantity Surveyors and steer commercial strategy to maximise value and minimise risk.

In this senior role you will review ITB documents, manage budgets and cash flow, negotiate contracts, and build strong relationships with clients and suppliers while maintaining rigorous financial governance.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial awareness and hands-on approach in high-pressure environments.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and persuasion skills.
• Strong analytical and evaluation ability with sound decision-making and time management.
• Proven leadership experience—a coach, developer, and motivator of a team.
• Accurate, highly organised and detail-focused.
• Proactive, positive approach with commitment to team and company success.

Responsibilities

• Act as commercial advisor to the Commercial Director on all project commercial and contractual matters.
• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of Senior, Project, and Assistant Quantity Surveyors, plus Commercial Administration staff.
• Advise Project Management teams on commercial risks and issues arising throughout the project lifecycle.
• Negotiate new contracts and contract amendments to form balanced, equitable relationships without undue risk.
• Maximise company profitability and revenue while mitigating and minimising expenditure.
• Maintain strong cash flow through robust tracking of applications, certifications, and invoices.
• Prepare monthly budgets, forecasts, cash flow and cost value reconciliation reports detailing P&L against forecast.
• Review ITB documents and conduct commercial viability and risk analysis including indemnification and liability considerations.
• Lead individual tender and project reviews, escalating to Tender Board Committee where value or risk exposure requires it.
• Overseeing strategic and operational risk reporting and controls across all projects.
• Lead contract negotiations and prepare documentation for legal review.
• Ensure subcontractors and suppliers are procured and pre-qualified in line with company procedure.
• Draft and issue Letters of Intent and contractual correspondence.
• Negotiate performance bonds, parent company guarantees, and insurance terms.
• Proactively manage claims from notification through to closure.
• Validate and negotiate final account applications and recommendations.
• Chair commercial review meetings with project teams, ensuring costs are fully reconciliable and audit-ready.
• Managing resourcing and identifying recruitment needs across the commercial team.
• Represent the company at internal and external progress and commercial meetings.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

Degree qualified

Job description

About Dalkia UK

At Dalkia, we're driven by a shared purpose: tackling climate change and building a better, more sustainable future. We bring together talented people who share knowledge, challenge each other and grow together.

Backed by EDF, Britain's biggest generator of low carbon electricity, we're a people-first culture. With 5,000+ employees and £600m+ turnover, we combine the strength of a major group with a great culture, innovative mindset and inclusive values making Dalkia a great place to work and grow your career.

Commercial Lead

We are looking for an experienced Commercial Lead to provide commercial and contracts leadership across our project portfolio, working closely with our Commercial Director and Senior Management team. This is a senior, high-impact role for a commercially astute leader who can balance strong financial governance with the ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team of Quantity Surveyors.

What you'll be doing:

• Acting as key commercial advisor to the Commercial Director on all project commercial and contractual matters
• Leading, managing, and mentoring a team of Senior, Project, and Assistant Quantity Surveyors, plus Commercial Administration staff, setting clear standards and objectives
• Advising Project Management teams on commercial risks and issues arising throughout the project lifecycle
• Negotiating new contracts and contract amendments to form balanced, equitable business relationships without undue risk to the company
• Maximising company entitlement to profitability and revenue while mitigating and minimising expenditure
• Maintaining strong cash flow through robust tracking of applications, certifications, and invoices
• Preparing monthly budgets, forecasts, cash flow, and cost value reconciliation reports detailing P&L against forecast
• Reviewing Invitation to Bid (ITB) documents and conducting commercial viability and risk analysis, including indemnification and liability considerations
• Leading individual tender and project reviews, escalating to Tender Board Committee where value or risk exposure requires it
• Overseeing strategic and operational risk reporting and controls across all projects
• Leading contract negotiations and preparing documentation for legal review
• Ensuring subcontractors and suppliers are procured and pre-qualified in line with company procedure
• Drafting and issuing Letters of Intent and contractual correspondence
• Negotiating performance bonds, parent company guarantees, and insurance terms
• Proactively managing claims from notification through to closure
• Validating and negotiating final account applications and recommendations
• Chairing commercial review meetings with project teams, ensuring costs are fully reconcilable and audit-ready
• Managing resourcing and identifying recruitment needs across the commercial team
• Representing the company at internal and external progress and commercial meetings

What we're looking for:

• Strong, up-to-date commercial awareness and a hands-on approach to high-pressure environments
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and persuasion skills
• Strong analytical and evaluation ability, with sound decision-making and time management
• Proven leadership experience — able to coach, develop, and motivate a team while acting as a role model
• Accurate, highly organised, and detail-focused
• A proactive, positive approach with a genuine commitment to team and company success

Qualifications:

• Degree qualified, or qualified through extensive relevant experience
• Proven experience setting up commercial management and reporting systems
• Strong track record in commercial leadership within M&E

Our Values

People First – It starts with health, safety and wellbeing

Better Together – A collaborative team

Trusted Partners – Dedicated to our clients' success

Taking Responsibility – Making a positive difference

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

We're committed to an inclusive and fair recruitment process. If you need any adjustments please let us know, in confidence, our team is here to support you.