At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Vantage's cost and commercial strategy across global construction projects.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing company focused on robust commercial governance.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence at an executive level and drive significant change.
- Why this job: Shape the future of construction with strategic decision-making and impactful governance.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in senior commercial roles; degree in relevant field required.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 150000 € per year.
The Vice President, Cost & Commercial is accountable for defining and executing Vantage’s enterprise-wide cost and commercial strategy across the construction portfolio, with particular emphasis on contractual risk, change governance, and value protection across sites. This role exists to ensure that Vantage’s rapid growth is underpinned by robust contractual frameworks, disciplined commercial governance, and consistent decision-making, enabling the business to scale without compromising financial control, legal protection, or long-term operational value. The Vice President acts as the ultimate commercial authority for construction delivery, shaping how Vantage contracts, manages, and governs its sites globally.
Executive Role Summary
The Vice President, Cost & Commercial leads all cost and commercial management activities across the construction portfolio, setting the strategic direction for how Vantage structures contracts, manages change, allocates risk, and protects enterprise value throughout the full lifecycle of site delivery. This role goes well beyond individual project oversight. It owns the commercial operating model for construction, ensuring consistency across regions and partners, while guiding senior leaders through complex commercial decisions involving cost, schedule, risk, and contractual exposure. The Vice President is a key member of the Construction leadership team and a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders, Finance, Legal, Development, and Design Engineering.
Core Accountabilities
- Enterprise Commercial & Contractual Strategy
- Define and own Vantage’s construction commercial and contractual strategy across all sites, regions, and delivery models.
- Establish contract frameworks that:
- Appropriately allocate risk
- Enable controlled flexibility
- Protect Vantage’s long-term commercial and operational interests
- Ensure contracts, amendments, and commercial positions are consistent, defensible, and aligned with corporate risk appetite.
- Ensure that appropriate notices are issued across projects to customers and suppliers.
- Act as executive sponsor for complex commercial negotiations with General Contractors, consultants, and key suppliers.
- Contractual Governance, Risk & Change Control
- Hold ultimate accountability for contractual compliance and commercial governance across the construction portfolio.
- Ensure all construction contracts and practices comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements (e.g. HGCRA 1996 or equivalent local legislation).
- Own the change control philosophy and governance for construction, ensuring:
- Changes are rigorously evaluated
- Cost and time impacts are clearly quantified
- Decisions are made at the right level with full visibility of risk
- Provide executive oversight of disputes, claims, and escalations, setting strategy and approving resolution approaches.
- Portfolio Cost Control & Cashflow Stewardship
- Accountable for the integrity and quality of cost management outputs across all sites.
- Ensure forecasting, cashflow, and liability assessments are based on sound commercial and scheduling principles, including:
- Change impacts
- Delay and disruption exposure
- Contractual entitlements
- Partner with Finance to ensure alignment between project-level commercial positions and enterprise financial reporting.
- Commercial Operating Model, Systems & Standards
- Define and continuously evolve Vantage’s commercial operating model for construction.
- Ensure consistent use of approved systems, tools, templates, and documentation across all projects.
- Sponsor the development and adoption of DEC tools and commercial policies, ensuring they are fit for scale and complexity.
- Ensure strong integration between Construction, Finance, Legal, and Development & Engineering.
- Continuous Improvement & Strategic Change
- Lead portfolio-level audits and quality reviews of commercial management practices, focusing on:
- Compliance
- Consistency
- Risk mitigation
- Sponsor targeted improvement programmes as agreed with the SVP Delivery and executive leadership.
- Ensure lessons learned from site delivery and disputes are embedded into future contracting and governance approaches.
- Senior Leadership & Influence
- Act as a senior commercial authority and thought partner within the Construction leadership team.
- Set expectations for commercial rigour and contractual discipline at pre-start and executive governance forums.
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with internal leaders and external partners.
- Champion Vantage’s values of no ego, no arrogance, while bringing appropriate challenge and independent judgement to executive discussions.
- Leadership Expectations & Ways of Working
- The Vice President is expected to:
- Lead with clarity, confidence, and commercial judgement
- Balance risk management with delivery pragmatism
- Enable leaders rather than over-control programmes
- Coach and develop senior commercial talent
- Create a culture where contractual discipline is seen as an enabler, not a blocker
- Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Law, Engineering, or similar, or equivalent senior-level experience
- 10+ years’ experience in senior commercial leadership roles within complex construction or infrastructure environments
- Proven track record of:
- Managing contractual risk at scale
- Leading dispute strategy and resolution
- Designing and implementing commercial governance frameworks
- Experience operating at portfolio or enterprise level in a fast-growth environment
- Willingness to travel internationally as required.
Vice President, Cost and Commercial in London employer: Vantage Data Centers
Vantage is an exceptional employer that prioritises a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth. As the Vice President, Cost & Commercial, you will be at the forefront of shaping our enterprise-wide strategy in a dynamic construction environment, with ample opportunities for leadership development and cross-functional engagement. Our commitment to robust governance and value protection ensures that you will play a pivotal role in driving our rapid growth while enjoying a supportive work atmosphere that values your expertise and contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Vice President, Cost and Commercial in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their commercial strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be clear about your value proposition and how you can contribute to their growth. Tailor your message to highlight your experience in managing contractual risks and commercial governance.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Vice President, Cost and Commercial in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in commercial management and contractual governance. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Vice President, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership qualities. Use your application to share examples of how you've led teams or projects, especially in complex environments. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and guide others!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Make sure your points are easy to understand and get straight to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that convey your message without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vantage Data Centers
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand Vantage’s commercial and contractual strategy. Brush up on key concepts like risk allocation, change governance, and value protection. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the role but also genuinely interested in how it impacts the company's growth.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Vice President, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led teams through complex commercial decisions or negotiations. Highlight how you’ve built trust-based relationships with stakeholders and how you’ve fostered a culture of accountability and discipline.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making process. Think about potential challenges in contractual compliance or risk management and how you would address them. This will help you illustrate your strategic thinking and ability to navigate complex situations.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with Vantage’s values, especially the emphasis on 'no ego, no arrogance'. Be ready to discuss how you embody these values in your professional life. Showing that you can align with the company culture will make you a more attractive candidate for this senior role.
