Commercial Manager, Director Designate

Realm Projects is a service led interior fit out contractor with substantial in-house joinery manufacturing capability combining traditional craftsmanship with the latest technology. It has a twenty-five year track record of delivering technically challenging projects to tight timescales and budgets in a collaborative and non-confrontational manner.

The company is currently owned and managed by its two founding directors, who remain actively involved in the day-to-day management of the company and its key projects. As part of an ongoing restructuring, it is seeking to strengthen its management team to allow the founders to step back. The company has a very good credit rating and is financially stable with a strong balance sheet. It is not burdened with debt and owns/controls all key assets including the factory premises.

Turnover is split broadly 50:50 between joinery manufacturing and contracting. Project values range from a few hundred pounds up to £3.5m on large museum and commercial fit out works. Manufacturing supplies joinery for Realm’s interior fit out projects and also supplies only to other clients and contractors. The fit out side works in the retail, commercial office, museum and leisure sectors under both design and build and traditional JCT forms of contract.

Based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, the company operates nationally and internationally from its own purpose-built 65,000 sq. ft offices and fully equipped workshop. It currently employs 80 staff, with 23 in technical, financial administrative, commercial and project management roles, and the balance working on the shop floor.

The commercial management role is currently shared between the two founding directors. The commercial team comprises a QS, three full-time estimators and two buyers.

The role of the commercial manager, which is primarily an office-based role, will include:

• Commercial Project Management: Oversee projects from inception to completion, ensuring they meet financial and operational goals.
• Contract Negotiation: Negotiate contracts with clients and suppliers to secure favourable terms and conditions.
• Financial Management: Manage budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting to ensure profitability and sustainability of projects.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks in projects and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Team Leadership: Lead and develop the team, ensuring effective communication and collaboration among team members, including mentoring junior members of staff.
• Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients to foster business growth and repeat business.

Required Skills & Background

• Educational Background: A degree in commercial management or quantity surveying is preferred. Membership of a relevant professional body, for example MRICS, is an advantage but not essential.
• Experience: Interior fit out experience is essential, along with an understanding of general building alterations and shell preparation works, as well as the joinery manufacturing process and bespoke joinery installation.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess project viability and financial performance.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with clients, stakeholders, and team members.
• Leadership Skills: Ability to lead teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Opportunity

The role is a director designate role with an opportunity to partake in a significant profit share scheme on completion of a six-month probationary period.

Salary Expectations

Subject to negotiation and directly linked to experience and ability, but expected to be a basic package in the region of £90k with profit share.