Commercial Manager

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS); United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading professional institution is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to support its WPS business unit in the UK. This hybrid role involves strong leadership in commercial activities, ensuring compliance and governance, and developing high-performing teams. The successful candidate will engage with customers, drive sustainability initiatives, and influence decision-making. This opportunity allows you to make a significant impact within the organization and shape operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience managing governance and compliance.
• Ability to deliver complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy on operational delivery and customer engagement.
• Ensure compliance with legislation and deliver robust financial performance.
• Lead talented commercial teams and implement training programmes.
• Build strong relationships with customers to secure repeat business.
• Drive sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives.

Skills

Advanced knowledge of contract conditions

Strong financial and commercial acumen

Excellent leadership and communication skills

Stakeholder management

Ability to influence at senior level

Job description

Commercial Manager - WPS Business Unit

Location: Finsbury Park (Hybrid Working)

We are looking for an experienced Commercial Manager to join our WPS business unit. This is a pivotal role providing strong leadership, governance, and commercial excellence across all activities – both pre‑ and post‑contract – for a portfolio of projects or a single large project.

You will play a key part in work winning and operational delivery, ensuring commercial success while developing high‑performing teams and fostering strong relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, consultants, and the supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy:
  • Active member of the Business Leadership Team, driving strategy on operational delivery, customer engagement, commercial excellence, and repeat business.
  • Champion change initiatives and contribute to business unit objectives.
• Commercial Excellence:
  • Ensure compliance with legislation, regulations, and group policies across all contracts.
  • Deliver robust financial performance, including profit plans, cash management, and risk mitigation.
  • Provide accurate and timely commercial reporting to clients and senior management.
• People Development:
  • Lead and develop talented commercial teams, implementing training programmes to encourage high performance and retention.
  • Support succession planning and career development across the business unit.
• Customer Engagement:
  • Build strong relationships with customers, influencing decision‑making and promoting the Wates brand.
  • Identify market opportunities and develop strategies to secure repeat business.
• Corporate Responsibility:
  • Drive sustainability and CR initiatives, sharing best practice and leading workshops.

About You

• Advanced knowledge of contract conditions, subcontracts, consultant appointments, and bidding policies.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen with experience managing governance and compliance.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to deliver complex projects and influence at senior level.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact within a leading organisation, shaping commercial strategy and driving operational excellence.

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 offences. Certain roles may also be subject to additional pre‑employment checks.

One of the Recruitment Team will then be in contact to advise of next steps.

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK's leading family‑owned development, building and property maintenance companies. Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, reimagining places for people to thrive and our three promises:

Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.

Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.

Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in, and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer. We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.