At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial management and drive strategic opportunities into executable contracts.
- Company: Join Ameresco, a leader in energy solutions focused on sustainability and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative team dedicated to operational excellence and profitability.
- Why this job: Shape the future of energy while enhancing your leadership skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior commercial roles, especially in energy or infrastructure sectors.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading energy solutions provider dedicated to helping customers reduce costs, enhance resilience, and decarbonize to net zero in the global energy transition. We are a trusted, full-service partner to public sector and government entities, K-12 schools, higher education, utilities, and healthcare customers across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe. At Ameresco, we show the way by developing, constructing and operating tailored smart energy efficiency solutions, distributed energy resources, and infrastructure upgrades that drive cost savings, resilience, decarbonization, and innovation. Our comprehensive portfolio is built to address the challenges of today and adapt the future, ensuring long-term sustainability and success for our customers.
Position Overview: Ameresco UK is seeking a commercially exceptional and strategically minded Commercial Director to lead the commercial management backbone of the UK business and ensure that strategic opportunities are converted into disciplined, bankable, and executable contracts. The role will be central to protecting margin, strengthening cash and risk positions, improving bid quality, and ensuring that opportunities are structured on a robust and value-accretive basis from qualification through delivery.
The role will work in close partnership with the Commercial and Sales Director, supporting the delivery of the UK growth strategy by ensuring that opportunities are commercially sound, appropriately risked, properly approved, and ready for execution. Final accountability for market strategy, pipeline generation, and revenue targets sits with the Commercial and Sales Director, while the Commercial Director is accountable for commercial governance, contract structuring, pricing discipline, risk allocation, procurement alignment, and value protection across major bids and projects.
This is a senior leadership role for a proven commercial executive who can operate credibly with customers, partners, suppliers, advisers, and internal stakeholders, while also building the processes, controls, and governance required for consistent performance. The successful candidate will align commercial ambition with contractual rigour, procurement discipline, financial logic, and delivery capability.
The role will lead the commercial management function across bid management, contract management, commercial modelling, approvals, governance, and commercial support to procurement and delivery. It will act as the commercial gatekeeper for material opportunities, ensuring that no major pursuit or project progresses without appropriate validation of margin, risk, contractual position, delivery assumptions, and handover readiness.
The Commercial Director will also work closely with the Project Director and wider delivery leadership to reduce margin leakage after award, improve change control and claims discipline, strengthen back-to-back supplier and subcontractor positions, and support smoother mobilisation into execution. The Commercial Director will play a pivotal role in helping Ameresco UK become an organisation that is operationally excellent, focused on growth and profitability, underpinned by a culture of commercial performance.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead the commercial management backbone of the UK business across bid management, contract management, commercial modelling, approvals, and governance
- Provide commercial leadership from opportunity qualification through bid, negotiation, contract award, mobilisation, and change control
- Strengthen alignment between sales, technical, delivery, operations, finance, legal, and procurement so that opportunities are structured on a deliverable, profitable, and low-regret basis
- Own commercial governance, including pricing discipline, contractual risk allocation, bid support, approvals, and handover into delivery
- Improve bid quality, contract discipline, supplier and subcontractor commercial alignment, and post-award value protection across the UK portfolio
- Embed a culture of commercial performance with clear accountability, strong controls, and focus on margin, cash, and risk-adjusted profitability
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Leadership and Strategy: Define and lead the UK commercial framework in support of the agreed growth strategy and broader business plan
- Translate business priorities into clear commercial frameworks, approval gates, delegated authorities, and value protection mechanisms
- Support leadership in portfolio prioritisation, deal structuring, and investment case assessment
- Sales Enablement and Commercial Support: Support execution of the UK sales strategy by providing commercial input into planning, opportunity selection, and deal shaping
- Ensure material opportunities are progressed with appropriate commercial oversight before commitment
- Support prioritisation of major opportunities against commercial, delivery, cash, and margin criteria
- Commercial Management: Lead the commercial management function across modelling, bid management, contract management, governance, and commercial support to procurement and delivery
- Establish clear accountabilities, performance measures, and governance across the function
- Ensure effective handoffs between origination, bid, negotiation, contract award, delivery, and operations
- Drive consistency in commercial processes, templates, reporting, dashboards, and controls
- Commercial Accountability: Own commercial approval gates and ensure material opportunities do not progress without validation
- Enforce pricing discipline, margin thresholds, risk treatment, and approval requirements
- Act as commercial gatekeeper on major pursuits and contracts, with authority to challenge, reshape, defer, or recommend against opportunities that do not meet agreed criteria
- Protect cash through robust payment mechanisms, milestone structures, and contractual safeguards
- Reduce margin erosion between contract award and delivery through stronger contract discipline, supply chain alignment, and change control
- Support dispute avoidance, claims strategy, and commercial recovery on underperforming projects
- Bids, Contracts, Risk, and Supply Chain: Oversee commercial input into major pursuits, including pricing strategy, contractual positions, negotiation strategy, and internal approvals
- Lead review of customer contracts, frameworks, partner agreements, subcontract terms, and key supplier arrangements
- Ensure bids are robust, executable, and aligned with delivery capability, procurement strategy, and target margin
- Work with procurement and technical teams to improve supplier engagement, subcontract terms, and cost competitiveness
- Ensure commercial and contractual positions are appropriately back-to-backed through the supply chain
- Cross-Functional Alignment and Leadership: Partner closely with the Commercial and Sales Director so that origination and customer strategy are translated into executable commercial structures
- Work with technical, engineering, delivery, finance, legal, and procurement teams to ensure scope, assumptions, programme, and risk are fully understood
- Support the Managing Director and leadership team with commercial insight on major decisions, opportunities, and exposures
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing commercial team, building capability in modelling, contracting, bid governance, negotiation, and value protection
- Perform other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, law, engineering, quantity surveying, finance, or a related field, or equivalent commercial leadership experience
- Strong track record in senior commercial leadership within energy, infrastructure, renewables, utilities, or adjacent sectors
- Proven experience negotiating complex contracts and managing commercial risk in multi-stakeholder environments
- Demonstrable experience leading teams across bid, contract, procurement, or project commercial functions
- Full legal right to work in the UK
Experience Required:
- Significant experience in a senior commercial leadership role
- Strong understanding of the UK energy transition market and the commercial models used across decarbonisation and infrastructure projects
- Experience in one or more of the following: solar, BESS, heat decarbonisation, energy efficiency, CHP, microgrids, city-scale infrastructure, or funded energy solutions
- Strong commercial acumen, including pricing, contracting, procurement, risk management, margin optimisation, and cash protection
- Experience implementing structured commercial governance, approval processes, and cross-functional controls
- Evidence of building and leading high-performing teams through growth and change
Personal Attributes: The successful candidate will be an energetic, credible, and commercially sharp leader with the ability to move between strategy and execution. They will be highly collaborative, disciplined, and confident operating at both executive and operational levels. They should demonstrate:
- Strong leadership presence and personal accountability
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
- Pragmatic and disciplined approach to growth
- Confidence in challenging assumptions and driving clarity, resilience and pace in a dynamic commercial environment
- Strong bias for action, delivery, and measurable results
- Commitment to teamwork and cross-functional alignment.
Director of Commercial Management in Bristol employer: Ameresco
At Ameresco, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through comprehensive training programmes and leadership development opportunities, ensuring that our team members thrive in their careers while contributing to meaningful projects in the energy sector. With a focus on sustainability and resilience, working in vibrant locations like London, Bristol, and Leeds offers not only a dynamic work environment but also the chance to make a significant impact in the global energy transition.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Commercial Management in Bristol
✨Get Involved with Industry Events
The energy and utilities sector is always buzzing with events, trade shows, and networking opportunities. We should hit up conferences and exhibitions like Energy UK or Utility Week Live—these are prime spots to mingle with industry professionals and even snag some insider info on job openings!
✨Join Energy-focused Online Communities
Let's tap into online platforms and forums like LinkedIn groups or Reddit communities specifically for energy and utilities. Not only can we showcase our knowledge, but we can also stay updated on company announcements or job leads from people already in the know.
✨Consider Industry Certifications
Pushing ahead with certifications like the NEBOSH National Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health (if you’re into safety) can give us a leg up in this competitive field. It not only builds our credibility but also shows employers that we’re serious about our career in energy and utilities.
✨Apply ThroughAmeresco's Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through Ameresco's website for the full-time Director of Commercial Management role. Many companies prioritise candidates who show initiative by going straight to the source. Make sure we tailor our application to highlight our passion for the energy sector!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Commercial Management in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Energy Knowledge:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure you highlight any knowledge or experience related to the energy-utilities sector. Whether it’s coursework, internships, or projects that showcase your understanding of energy management, sustainability, or regulatory frameworks, we want to see that passion and expertise shine through.
Quantify Your Achievements:In our field, numbers speak volumes! Don’t just tell us about your previous roles; quantify your achievements where possible. For instance, mention how you improved energy efficiency by a percentage or contributed to cost savings. This makes your application more compelling and shows us just how impactful you can be.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Ameresco. Tailor it to reflect how your values align with our mission in the energy sector. Share why you're excited about this specific role and how you envision contributing to our goals.
Demonstrate Your Team Spirit:Collaboration is key in the energy-utilities industry. In your application, emphasise any team projects or experiences where you worked effectively with others, especially on sustainability initiatives or technical projects. We're looking for someone who can mesh well with our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ameresco
✨Show Your Passion for Renewable Energy
In the energy-utilities sector, it’s vital to demonstrate your enthusiasm for sustainable practices and innovations. Share experiences where you've worked on or studied renewable energy projects, whether that’s through coursework, past internships, or personal initiatives. Let us see how your passion aligns with the ethos of Ameresco.
✨Brush Up on Industry Regulations
Being familiar with industry standards and regulations is crucial in energy-utilities interviews. Make sure to know the basics of relevant policies and frameworks, like the Energy Act or environmental legislation. This will not only show you’ve done your homework but will also prepare you for potential technical questions about compliance during your interview.
✨Highlight Teamwork and Project Management Skills
Most roles in the energy sector involve collaboration with diverse teams. Be ready to discuss examples where you’ve successfully worked in teams or led projects, especially those involving energy initiatives. This is particularly important for a full-time position, as employers want to see you bring a collaborative spirit to Ameresco.
✨Prepare for Technical Assessments
Expect some technical questions or even practical assessments during your interview, especially about energy efficiency methodologies or basic engineering principles relevant to the role. It’s a good idea to brush up on key concepts and be prepared to explain them clearly, as this will demonstrate your technical proficiency and readiness to jump into your new role.
