Commercial Manager

Cognisant; Essex; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Strong forward pipeline of residential schemes

High-quality, design-led projects

Direct exposure to senior leadership

Job summary

A leading residential developer in the UK is looking for a Commercial Manager to oversee the commercial management of new residential projects. This role involves ensuring cost control, providing clear reporting, and collaborating with operational teams. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in commercial management, a proactive mindset, and strong communication skills. This opportunity provides exposure to senior leadership and a chance to influence project outcomes significantly.

Qualifications

• Proven commercial management experience within residential construction or development.
• Proactive, delivery-focused mindset.
• Strong understanding of package scope and risk allocation.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end commercial operations for residential new-build schemes.
• Present cost value reconciliation (CVR) reports and margin analysis.
• Procure and manage subcontract packages.
• Identify and close scope gaps and commercial risks.
• Challenge costs and proposals to secure best value.
• Provide timely reporting and commercial insight to leadership.

Skills

Commercial management experience

Subcontract procurement understanding

Cost analysis and management

Strong communication skills

Commercial acumen

Job description

I’m working exclusively with a residential developer to appoint a Commercial Manager as the business continues to strengthen its commercial and operational capability.

This is an opportunity to join a highly regarded developer with a strong reputation for quality, design excellence, and long-term delivery. The business delivers new-build residential schemes and consistently achieves premium sales values through design-led product and disciplined execution.

The role will work closely with the operational leadership team, reporting directly to the Commercial Director, and will play a pivotal role in tightening commercial control, improving margin visibility, and embedding best-practice commercial management across live projects.

The Role

As Commercial Manager, you will take a hands‑on position in the commercial management of residential projects, working closely with construction and operational teams to ensure robust cost control, clear reporting, and proactive risk management.

Key responsibilities include:

• End-to-end commercial management of residential new-build schemes.
• Producing, owning, and presenting cost value reconciliation (CVR) reports and margin analysis.
• Procuring, managing, and administering subcontract packages through to final account.
• Identifying, interrogating, and closing scope gaps and commercial risk.
• Challenging costs, assumptions, and proposals to secure best value without compromising quality.
• Working collaboratively with construction teams to resolve issues in a pragmatic, commercial manner.
• Providing accurate, timely reporting and clear commercial insight to senior leadership.

What They’re Looking For

• Proven commercial management experience within residential construction or development.
• A proactive, delivery-focused mindset — not a passive or purely administrative approach.
• Strong understanding of subcontract procurement, package scope, and risk allocation.
• Confidence interrogating costs, challenging proposals, and managing value.
• A clear and credible communicator, comfortable operating across disciplines and at senior level.
• Strong commercial acumen with a clear understanding of margins, numbers, and accountability.

Why This Opportunity?

This role offers the chance to join a respected developer at a stage where commercial leadership genuinely matters, offering:

• A strong and visible forward pipeline of residential schemes.
• High-quality, design-led projects that consistently outperform the market.
• Direct exposure to senior leadership with genuine influence over outcomes.
• A culture built on accountability, trust, and long-term thinking.
• The opportunity to make a tangible impact by strengthening the fundamentals of the commercial function.