Job No. BBUK19406

Balfour Beatty plc; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working with up to 40% remote

25 days annual leave (pro rata)

Pension and incentive plans

Family friendly policies

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc invites applications for a Senior Commercial Manager to strengthen the commercial leadership across major energy and construction projects in the UK. The role oversees financial performance, risk, and governance, with flexible location options including Derby and broader UK regions.

You will lead commercial teams, drive margin, and deliver robust CVR reporting while collaborating with senior stakeholders and procurement colleagues.

Qualifications

• Degree (BSc or MSc) in Quantity Surveying or equivalent.
• Chartered Membership with RICS, ICES or CIOB or working towards it.
• Proven experience delivering commercial outcomes on large infrastructure or construction projects.
• Strong leadership capability with a track record of developing teams.
• Excellent commercial awareness, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial management of major projects or portfolios.
• Manage costs, income, and financial performance to maximise margin and cash flow.
• Provide strategic commercial input and influence business decision-making.
• Oversee contract negotiation, procurement strategy, and supply chain performance.
• Identify and manage commercial risks, opportunities, and disputes.
• Lead monthly CVR reporting and present to senior stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with governance, processes, and digital/LEAN initiatives.
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing commercial teams.
• Support recruitment, development, and retention of talent.

Skills

Degree in Quantity Surveying

RICS/ICES/CIOB chartered

Commercial leadership

Negotiation & stakeholder mgmt

Project financial management

Education

BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying

Job description

About the role

As part of Balfour Beatty’s continued growth and the scale of our projects, we are looking to appoint a Senior Commercial Manager to strengthen our commercial leadership capability across the UK, with an established presence including our Head Office in Derby.

This is a key leadership role where you will take ownership of the commercial performance of major, complex infrastructure projects, playing a vital part in delivering some of the UK’s most significant energy and construction programmes.

The Role

As a Senior Commercial Manager, you will be responsible for the financial and commercial management of large-scale projects or portfolios from inception through to delivery.

You’ll be a key member of the senior leadership team, driving performance, managing risk, and ensuring strong commercial outcomes across your area of responsibility.

The role is broad, covering everything from contract negotiation and procurement to financial reporting and supply chain management.

This role offers flexibility in both location and working pattern, with opportunities available across the Midlands, North East, and wider UK, supported by Balfour Beatty’s hybrid working approach. Part-time working can also be considered.

What you'll be doing

• Lead the commercial management of major projects or portfolios
• Manage costs, income, and financial performance to maximise margin and cash flow
• Provide strategic commercial input and influence business decision-making
• Oversee contract negotiation, procurement strategy, and supply chain performance
• Identify and manage commercial risks, opportunities, and disputes
• Lead monthly CVR reporting and present to senior stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with governance, processes, and digital/LEAN initiatives
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing commercial teams
• Support recruitment, development, and retention of talent

Who we're looking for

Essential:

• Degree (BSc or MSc) in Quantity Surveying or equivalent
• Chartered Membership (or working towards) with RICS, ICES or CIOB
• Proven experience delivering commercial outcomes on large infrastructure or construction projects
• Strong leadership capability with a track record of developing teams
• Excellent commercial awareness, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills

Desirable:

• Experience working across multiple complex projects or programmes
• Strong understanding of contract law, procurement strategies, and dispute resolution
• Strategic mindset with the ability to see the bigger picture

This role offers flexibility in both location and working pattern, with opportunities across Derby, the South East, and wider UK locations, supported by Balfour Beatty’s flexible working approach and project portfolio requirements.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and on-going maintenance, our in-house experts, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support customers in the development of some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We’re making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we’ve got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier-free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We’re looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]