Senior Commercial Manager, Dungiven in Londonderry County Borough

Expoert Construction are seeking an exceptional commercial professional to join our Client's senior leadership team and work directly alongside the Managing Director. Our Client have an established commercial function, including two Quantity Surveyors. They are looking for an experienced and commercially driven individual who can take ownership of the wider commercial operation, lead and develop the existing team and become a key figure in the future direction of the business.

This Client are an established specialist interiors contractor delivering drywall systems, partitions, ceilings, SFS, bespoke joinery and interior fit-out packages across Ireland and the UK. The business has grown considerably and they have ambitious plans for its next stage of development, including the need for stronger commercial leadership, greater accountability and an individual who can work directly with the Managing Director to help drive the company forward.

The Role

This is a senior, hands-on commercial leadership position with significant responsibility. You will take ownership of the commercial performance of the business, overseeing projects from tender and pre-construction through delivery, valuation and final account. You will lead and support our existing QS team while remaining close enough to the detail to know exactly how our projects are performing. As confidence and trust develop, the expectation is that you will take increasing responsibility for the commercial and wider day-to-day performance of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading, managing and developing the existing commercial/QS team
• Commercial oversight of all live projects
• Reviewing tenders, budgets, margins and contractual risk before projects are committed
• Ensuring projects are commercially set up correctly from the outset
• Maintaining tight control of project costs and forecast margins
• Monitoring labour performance against budgets and agreed productivity benchmarks
• Reviewing valuations and applications for payment
• Driving the identification, notification, valuation and recovery of variations
• Protecting the contractual and commercial position
• Monitoring subcontractor and supplier accounts
• Managing commercial negotiations with clients and main contractors
• Driving final account agreement and cash recovery
• Maintaining accurate project forecasts and cash-flow information
• Producing meaningful CVR, margin and commercial reporting
• Identifying under performing projects early and implementing corrective action
• Challenging Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors and operational staff where commercial performance is slipping
• Supporting procurement and commercial decision-making
• Developing and improving commercial systems, procedures and reporting
• Working directly with the Managing Director on risk, workload, resource allocation, future opportunities and company strategy
• Helping build a commercial structure capable of supporting the continued growth of the group.

Above all else, this position requires ownership and accountability. The successful individual will be expected to see issues, understand them, develop solutions and drive them through.

The Person

Experience within specialist subcontracting, drylining, partitions, ceilings, SFS, interior fit-out or another labour-intensive contracting environment would be particularly valuable. You may currently be operating as a:

• Commercial Director
• Commercial Manager
• Managing Quantity Surveyor
• Senior Quantity Surveyor

We are looking for someone who is:

• Commercially sharp with excellent financial judgement
• Contractually strong and capable of protecting the company's position
• Experienced in managing projects from tender through to final account
• Strong in variations, claims, valuations and commercial negotiations
• Comfortable managing and developing other Quantity Surveyors
• Highly organised and capable of maintaining control across multiple projects
• Strong on forecasting, cash, margin and cost control
• Capable of identifying commercial problems before they become serious
• Confident enough to challenge clients, colleagues and the Managing Director when necessary
• Able to have difficult conversations professionally
• Decisive and comfortable taking responsibility
• Calm and controlled under pressure
• Ambitious and motivated by results
• Interested in helping build a business rather than simply occupying a position

They value qualifications and experience, but commercial instinct, judgement, drive and character will ultimately determine the successful appointment.

What is on Offer:

For the right individual, our Client are prepared to offer a highly competitive senior-level salary and overall package, reflecting the responsibility of the position and the calibre of person we are seeking. The package can include:

• Highly competitive base salary
• Future Performance-related bonus once proven
• Company vehicle if required can be negotiated
• Pension and associated senior-level benefits
• Significant autonomy and decision-making authority
• Genuine opportunity for career progression as the business grows

For further details on this superb new role, please contact Kevin on or forward your CV using the link below.