Head of Projects in Ashford

Location: Ashford

Salary: £80,000 per annum

Role Summary:

To provide clear commercial and project delivery leadership across all operational activities, with direct accountability for revenue delivery, gross margin performance, and commercial discipline. The role ensures that what is committed commercially is delivered operationally, driving robust governance, margin protection, risk mitigation, and consistent execution. While the role sets standards and frameworks, it is also expected to actively intervene where delivery, revenue, or margin commitments are at risk, holding teams accountable for outcomes rather than activity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the operational project delivery team to deliver against agreed revenue and profit margin objectives, not simply manage project activity.
• Hold Project Managers accountable for previously stated forecasts, delivery commitments, and commercial assumptions, as well as future projections.
• Set clear expectations for project progress, risk identification, and resolution, intervening directly where commitments are missed or risks are not actively mitigated.
• Drive backlog conversion with clear ownership, ensuring projects move from order intake to invoicing in line with commercial expectations.
• Ensure revenue forecasting is evidence-based, challenged where necessary, and owned by the Project Manager, not passively reported.
• Champion process and system improvements that directly enhance predictability, productivity, and profitability.
• Chair regular operations meetings with a clear focus on delivery against commitment, margin performance, forecast accuracy, and corrective actions, not status reporting.
• Own the commercial governance framework for all projects, setting standards and ensuring consistent compliance.
• Ensure contractual reviews, negotiations, applications for payment, variation management, and final account settlements are carried out effectively and at the correct time.
• Oversee credit checks and cashflow management, ensuring exposure is actively managed and commercial risks are identified early.
• Own gross margin performance across all projects, ensuring margin erosion is identified early and corrective action is taken.
• Challenge Project Managers and commercial inputs where costs, scope, programme, or assumptions deviate from agreed positions.
• Lead margin recovery actions, including variation strategy, re-programming, cost control, or commercial negotiation, escalating complex matters where required.
• Maintain ownership of commercial reporting and system integrity (including SIMPRO workflows), ensuring data reflects delivery reality rather than optimism.
• Provide strategic oversight of all site activities, ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety regulations and company policy.
• Set and enforce standards for risk identification, assessment, and mitigation on project sites.
• Ensure project teams implement robust H&S practices and operate within agreed risk controls.
• Oversee the reporting, investigation, and resolution of site-based risks, incidents, and near-misses.
• Liaise with internal H&S specialists and external bodies where required to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and proactive risk management across project delivery.

Requirements:

• Proven experience leading and developing Project Managers, with a strong track record of driving team performance, accountability, and delivery against commercial outcomes rather than personally managing projects.
• Demonstrable ownership of revenue delivery and gross margin performance, with the ability to forecast, challenge assumptions, and take corrective action to protect financial outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen within a construction or project-based environment, including a solid understanding of contracts, variations, cost control, and revenue recognition principles.
• Experience operating at a strategic leadership level, setting frameworks, governance, and standards for project delivery while intervening effectively when performance, risk, or financial commitments are off track.
• Ability to bridge commercial and operational functions, ensuring alignment between what is sold, contracted, and ultimately delivered, with a focus on cashflow, risk mitigation, and profitable execution.