At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy and governance for a growing building services engineering business.
- Company: Established building services company with a strong presence in the North West.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, company car, pension, private healthcare, and flexible working.
- Other info: Join a senior leadership team and drive sustainable growth and profitability.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a dynamic business and influence its commercial direction.
- Qualifications: Senior-level commercial experience in construction or built environment, ideally M&E.
An established and growing building services engineering business based in Preston, operating across the North West and delivering a wide range of mechanical and electrical building services. The business provides design, installation, service and maintenance solutions across areas including mechanical building services, heating, plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical installations. Its client base spans private-sector organisations, local authorities, NHS trusts and educational establishments, with a strong presence across complex and technically demanding environments.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Senior Leadership Team during a further period of growth and play a significant role in shaping the future commercial direction of the business.
We are seeking an experienced Commercial Director / Head of Commercial to provide strategic commercial leadership and tactical governance across the business. Reporting into the senior leadership structure, you will take responsibility for shaping and delivering the commercial strategy, strengthening contract performance, protecting margins and managing commercial risk across the full contract lifecycle. You will work closely with operational, estimating and finance teams while providing commercial leadership across bids, mobilisation, delivery, change, claims, final accounts and future pipeline. The position will be primarily based from the Preston office and will include management responsibility for the central estimating team.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic commercial leadership across the business, supporting sustainable growth, profitability and strong contract performance.
- Oversee commercial performance and governance across operational divisions and the full contract lifecycle.
- Lead and guide the negotiation and commercial management of complex customer, supplier and subcontractor agreements.
- Ensure commercial risks are identified, managed and appropriately mitigated.
- Drive improvements in margin, cost efficiency and overall commercial performance.
- Provide senior commercial oversight of contract change, claims, disputes and other commercial risks.
- Work closely with estimating, operational and finance teams to maximise commercial opportunities.
- Develop and monitor commercial performance tools covering revenue, margin, cost, cash, risk and opportunities.
- Lead commercially on budgets, forecasting and departmental "work to win" budgets.
- Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and senior internal stakeholders.
- Act as a trusted commercial adviser while providing constructive challenge to operational teams.
- Strengthen commercial capability through best practice, effective contract management, governance and continuous improvement.
- Assess and report commercial performance through the management cycle, escalating issues where required.
- Support operational leaders in improving efficiency and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Provide leadership and development to the commercial and estimating teams.
The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will have significant senior-level commercial experience within construction or the wider built environment, ideally gained within M&E, building services, Hard FM or another complex contracting environment. You will ideally have:
- Strong commercial leadership experience at Commercial Director, Head of Commercial, Commercial Manager or similar level.
- Strong knowledge of commercial contracts and frameworks, particularly NEC and JCT.
- Practical experience within an M&E contracting environment.
- Experience managing complex customer, supplier and subcontractor agreements.
- Strong understanding of commercial risk, contract governance, change control, claims and dispute management.
- Proven experience managing margin, cost, cash and wider commercial performance.
- Experience across the full contract lifecycle from tender and mobilisation through to delivery, variations and final account.
- Strong understanding of M&E contracting and supply-chain arrangements.
- Public-sector experience would be advantageous.
- Proven experience leading, developing and influencing commercial teams.
- Excellent negotiation, analytical and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to operate effectively at senior stakeholder and project-delivery level.
- A relevant degree or professional qualification in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Procurement, Business, Finance or Law.
- Chartered status through RICS, CICES, CIOB, CIPS or a similar professional body would be advantageous.
What's on Offer
£90,000 - £110,000 salary, company car or car allowance, pension scheme, private healthcare, generous holiday entitlement, professional development and leadership training, flexible working arrangements, senior leadership position with genuine influence over commercial strategy, opportunity to shape the future direction of a growing business.
If you're interested in this opportunity, then please get in touch today with our Commercial Specialist, Mark Harris.
Commercial Director in Preston employer: Building Careers Uk
As a leading construction and civil engineering contractor in Huyton, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel. With competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, we are committed to supporting your professional growth through ongoing training and development opportunities, ensuring you thrive in your role as a Senior Estimator. Join us to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality residential developments and infrastructure projects while enjoying the stability of a strong pipeline of work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Director in Preston
✨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 Building Careers Uk, 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 Commercial Director at Building Careers Uk.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Director in Preston
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 Building Careers Uk
✨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!
