Commercial Manager

Wates Smartspace; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Annual bonus scheme

Private healthcare

Enhanced pension contribution

26 days holiday

Job summary

Wates Smartspace is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to lead the Planned Works portfolio, overseeing profitability, risk and governance across multiple social housing contracts. You will manage a team of surveyors and work closely with operational managers to deliver schemes such as replacements, refurbishments and retrofit projects.

The role requires senior leadership experience within social housing, with proven ability to drive value, manage subcontractors and maintain client

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing multiple social housing planned works contracts.
• Strong leadership with direct reports and team management responsibilities.
• Experience with JCT and NEC forms of contract is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial management of multiple social housing planned works contracts.
• Provide strategic oversight of profitability, forecasting, cash flow and cost control.
• Mentor and develop commercial teams including QS staff.
• Ensure robust contract administration and governance across projects.

Skills

Social Housing Planned Works

Contract leadership

Team management

Commercial forecasting

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

MRICS (desirable)

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Commercial Manager to join our growing Planned Works team, supporting the successful delivery of multiple Social Housing investment programmes.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the commercial performance of several contracts, managing commercial teams, and ensuring projects are delivered profitably, compliantly, and in line with client expectations. The successful candidate will have a proven background in Social Housing Planned Works and be confident leading commercial strategies across multiple projects and frameworks.

The Role

Reporting into the Regional Commercial Director, you will provide commercial leadership across a portfolio of planned maintenance and refurbishment contracts, including:

• Kitchen and bathroom replacement programmes
• Roofing and external fabric works
• Retrofit and decarbonisation projects
• Window and door replacement schemes
• Internal and external refurbishment works

You will be responsible for managing commercial teams and supporting operational delivery teams to achieve business objectives whilst maintaining robust commercial governance and risk management practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial management of multiple social housing planned works contracts.
• Provide strategic oversight of contract profitability, forecasting, cash flow and cost control.
• Manage and develop a team of Quantity Surveyors, Senior Quantity Surveyors and Assistant Surveyors.
• Ensure robust contract administration, risk management and commercial governance.
• Oversee subcontractor procurement, valuations, payments and final accounts.
• Drive value engineering initiatives and identify commercial opportunities across contracts.
• Work closely with Operational Managers, Project Managers and Clients to achieve programme objectives.
• Support contract mobilisation, delivery and close-out activities.
• Produce accurate financial reporting, CVRs and forecasts.
• Mentor and develop direct reports, creating high-performing commercial teams.
• Ensure contractual entitlements are protected and realised through effective contract management.

About You

We are looking for a commercially astute leader with a strong background in social housing and planned maintenance.

Essential

• Proven experience as a Commercial Manager or Senior Commercial Manager within Social Housing Planned Works
• Experience managing multiple contracts simultaneously
• Previous leadership experience with direct reports and team management responsibilities
• Strong knowledge of JCT and NEC forms of contract

  Desirable

  • Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline
  • MRICS or working towards chartership
  • Experience delivering retrofit and decarbonisation programmes
  • Knowledge of social housing frameworks and public sector procurement

  What We Offer

  • Competitive salary
  • Car allowance
  • Annual bonus scheme
  • Private healthcare
  • Enhanced pension contribution
  • 26 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Career progression and leadership development opportunities

  Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check(DBS)at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject toadditionalpre-employment checks.

  To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting