Head Of Commercial

Carrington West; Wealden; On-site; GBP 166,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is seeking a Head of Commercial in East Sussex to lead strategy and performance for major National Highways contracts. The role focuses on profitability, risk management, and client relationship strength across the supply chain, with NEC4 experience highly valued.

The successful candidate will drive procurement, governance, and commercial teams to deliver high-value infrastructure projects while ensuring regulatory and safety standards are met.

Qualifications

• This is a senior commercial leadership role requiring proven management of large-scale contracts and teams.
• Strong financial oversight and risk mitigation experience is essential.
• Experience with NEC4 contracts is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial strategy and performance across major highways contracts.
• Manage procurement, negotiations, contract governance, and commercial risk.
• Monitor financial performance, budgets, KPIs, and delivery outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, and delivery partners.
• Lead and support commercial teams to achieve business objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement, process optimisation, and contract profitability.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements.

Skills

Commercial leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

P&L management

NEC4 contracts

Job description

Head of Commercial

Location: East Sussex

Rate: £(Apply online only)/day Outside IR35 (DOE)

We are working with a leading infrastructure services organisation to appoint an experienced Head of Commercial to support the delivery of major National Highways contracts across the UK.

This is a senior commercial leadership role responsible for driving contract performance, improving profitability, managing risk, and strengthening relationships with clients, Local Delivery Partners (LDPs), and supply chain partners.

The successful candidate will provide strategic commercial direction across complex highways programmes, ensuring financial, operational, and customer objectives are achieved.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead commercial strategy and performance across major highways contracts.
• Manage procurement, negotiations, contract governance, and commercial risk.
• Monitor financial performance, budgets, KPIs, and delivery outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, and delivery partners.
• Lead and support commercial teams to achieve business objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement, process optimisation, and contract profitability.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements.

About You

You will be an experienced commercial leader with a strong background in highways, infrastructure, construction, or utilities environments.

Essential experience includes:

• Proven management of large-scale contracts and commercial teams.
• Strong financial and contractual oversight, including P&L management and risk mitigation.
• Experience managing subcontractors and complex supply chains.
• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• Experience working with NEC4 contracts is essential.

Desirable: Experience delivering National Highways programmes and/or RICS qualification.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially driven professional to influence major infrastructure projects, drive performance improvement, and play a key role in delivering critical highways services.