At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy, procurement, and supplier management in a collaborative environment.
- Company: Established organisation with a stable business model and a people-focused culture.
- Benefits: Opportunity to shape strategy, competitive salary, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a welcoming team that values collaboration and offers genuine leadership opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on procurement and commercial performance while improving homes and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in commercial or procurement roles, ideally in construction or engineering.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Adaptive Search is partnering with an established and highly regarded organisation to appoint a Senior Commercial Manager to join its senior leadership team. This is a broad leadership role with particular emphasis on procurement, tendering, supply chain management and commercial performance. The successful candidate will take responsibility for the organisation’s Commercial, Procurement and Legal functions and play an important role in shaping its future strategy. The organisation operates an extremely stable, long-term business model, delivering significant ongoing programmes across the UK. Just as importantly, it offers a genuinely welcoming, collaborative and people-focused working environment, where relationships and culture are taken seriously.
The Role
Reporting into the senior leadership team, you will take ownership of the commercial function and develop a procurement strategy that delivers value, improves margins and strengthens relationships throughout the supply chain. Key responsibilities will include:
- Develop and deliver the organisation's overall commercial and procurement strategy
- Lead procurement activity across key categories, suppliers and contracts
- Oversee tendering, sourcing, supplier selection and commercial negotiations
- Develop strong strategic relationships with key suppliers and supply-chain partners
- Ensure competitive pricing and value are achieved across centrally purchased materials and services
- Identify opportunities to improve margin, revenue and overall commercial performance
- Work closely with operational and finance teams to improve procurement and ordering processes
- Lead and develop the Commercial, Procurement and Legal teams
- Provide senior oversight of contractual and commercial risk
- Ensure appropriate legal and contractual compliance across the organisation
- Support wider quality, compliance and accreditation requirements
- Build effective relationships across the senior leadership team and wider organisation
The original brief places particular emphasis on developing procurement strategy, managing key suppliers, protecting revenue and achieving market-leading pricing on centrally purchased materials.
About You
We are particularly interested in candidates who have developed their commercial expertise within an engineering, construction, building services, property services, infrastructure, utilities, energy, heating, insulation or installation-led environment. Ideally, you'll bring:
- Significant experience within a senior commercial or procurement position
- Strong knowledge of procurement strategy and best practice
- Experience of tendering, contract negotiation and supplier management
- A track record of managing complex supply chains and strategic supplier relationships
- Strong commercial judgement and an ability to identify opportunities for improved value and margin
- Experience operating within an installation, engineering, construction or service-delivery environment
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams
- The ability to operate strategically while remaining sufficiently close to the commercial detail
- Excellent stakeholder-management and communication skills
- A collaborative, pragmatic and people-focused leadership style
A professional procurement/commercial qualification such as CIPS would be advantageous but isn't essential. The formal specification requires senior commercial experience and identifies senior procurement-strategy experience and relevant professional qualifications as desirable.
Why Consider It?
There are a few things that make this opportunity particularly attractive. Stability – the organisation has an exceptionally stable business model, underpinned by significant long-term programmes and demand. Influence – this isn’t simply a role managing an established procurement process. You’ll have scope to shape commercial and procurement strategy and make measurable improvements. Breadth – you’ll have leadership responsibility across Commercial, Procurement and Legal, giving the position genuine Director-level scope. Culture – the working environment is welcoming, collaborative and values-led, with an emphasis on constructive leadership rather than hierarchy. Purpose – the organisation's work ultimately contributes to improving homes, energy efficiency and sustainability.
Senior Commercial Manager - Construction / Heating in Edinburgh employer: Adaptive Careers
At Adaptive Careers, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by offering a flexible part-time Credit Controller role in the vibrant city of Glasgow. Our supportive work culture fosters employee growth and development, providing opportunities to enhance your finance skills while working within a friendly team environment. With a commitment to work-life balance and a stable, long-term position, we ensure that our employees feel valued and empowered in their careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Manager - Construction / Heating in Edinburgh
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Adaptive Careers, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Senior Commercial Manager - Construction / Heating at Adaptive Careers.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Manager - Construction / Heating in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Adaptive Careers
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
