Head of Commercial in Cannock

About Us

Wernick Modular Hire is one of the UK's leading providers of modular buildings for hire. We deliver high-quality, building regulation-compliant space solutions for customers across education, healthcare, construction, infrastructure and commercial sectors.

Through our complete turnkey service, we provide everything from single modular buildings to large multi-storey facilities, supported by a national hire fleet, expert project delivery teams and our refurbishment and reconfiguration facility at Cannock.

Part of the Wernick Group, we are committed to safety, quality, customer service and continuous improvement.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Senior Leadership Team and take full ownership of commercial performance across our Modular Hire business. You will lead the commercial, contractual and estimating functions, and you will have a real voice in how the business plans, performs and grows.

Based at our Cannock site with responsibility for projects across the country, you will make sure every project is delivered safely, profitably and in line with its contract. You will turn commercial insight into clear decisions, protect the business from risk and build a team that delivers sustainable growth.

If you are a commercially sharp Quantity Surveyor who is ready to lead, influence and make a visible difference, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

You will lead commercial activity from first tender through to final account. Your key responsibilities will include:

• Commercial leadership: Lead and develop the commercial, estimating and contractual functions, and give clear commercial advice to the Senior Leadership Team.

• Strategy and growth: Support business growth and profitability through accurate forecasting, risk assessment and performance reporting.

• Contracts and risk: Lead the review, negotiation and administration of NEC and JCT contracts, and guide the business on claims, disputes and compliance.

• Project performance: Oversee cost control, cashflow, valuations and margin from tender to final account, and take corrective action when needed.

• Variations and final accounts: Lead the recovery of variations and change events, and agree final accounts on time.

• Governance: Set up and maintain effective commercial controls, governance and reporting.

• Continuous improvement: Improve commercial systems, processes and reporting, and drive consistent best practice across the business.

• Collaboration: Work closely with operational and project teams to achieve shared commercial objectives.

You will lead a skilled team and work with people across the business and the wider industry.

• Your team: Commercial Managers, the Head of Design, Estimators and Commercial Administrators.

• People development: Lead, mentor and develop your team, including recruitment, succession planning and performance management, and build a high-performance culture focused on accountability and delivery.

• Commercial capability: Build commercial competence and contract awareness throughout the organisation.

• Internal partners: Senior Leadership Team, Operations, Project Delivery, Finance, Procurement, Design and Factory Management teams.

• External partners: Clients, main contractors, consultants, quantity surveyors, legal advisors, framework providers and supply chain partners.

  Essential requirements for the role:

• A degree, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Quantity Surveying.

• Commercial leadership: Significant commercial management experience in construction, modular construction, offsite manufacturing or a similar project-based environment.

• Extensive experience of administering and managing NEC and JCT contracts.

• A proven record in final account preparation, negotiation and settlement.

• Proven experience of contract negotiation and dispute resolution.

• Proven experience of variation management, change control, cost control, forecasting and margin management.

• Proven experience of commercial risk management, cashflow forecasting and financial reporting.

• Proven experience of procurement and supply chain commercial management.

• A track record of leading and developing commercial teams.

Desirable requirements for the role:

• Professional membership of RICS, CIOB or equivalent.

• Continued professional development in commercial management, construction law or contract administration is desirable.

Your Future with the Wernick Group

At Wernick, you're more than an employee; you're a vital part of a team that’s building the future of construction. Join us in our journey of continuous innovation and commitment to quality, and let's be 'Altogether Stronger'.

• Competitive salary and bonus scheme

• Generous holiday allowance (rising with service)

• Option to buy, sell or carry over up to 5 days holiday

• Christmas Shutdown

• Early finish Friday (working hours 35 per week)

• Group pension scheme

• Annual Salary review – takes place each January (dependent on joining date)

• Long service awards

• Employee of the Month awards

• Customer service awards

• Life Assurance

• Personal Accident Insurance

• Free onsite parking

• Employee assistance programme

• Training and progression opportunities

• Family run and well established, secure company (trading 92 years)

• Open door policy

• Employee Referral scheme

• Benefits scheme (discounted retailers such as money off Apple, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, Currys, Argos, Tesco and restaurants including Harvester, Miller and Carter, Nandos and many more)

• Ideas portal (message the CEO) and awards for implemented suggestions

• Cycle to work scheme

• Annual paid volunteering day

• Healthcare cash plan

The company is unable to sponsor employment of international workers in this role. You will be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK.

Please note, this vacancy is subject to close earlier than the stated closing date dependent on application numbers

If you require any reasonable adjustments for your interview, please advise our recruitment team as soon as possible, there will be a pre-screening call, and 1st and 2nd interviews for this role.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:

Any unsolicited CV’s will be sent at the recruitment agency’s own risk and will be interpreted as ‘gifts’ and we have no liability to you for any fee or otherwise. We reserve the right to engage with candidates directly having not, in any way, entered into your terms and conditions for this vacancy. By submitting an unsolicited CV to us, or to any member of our staff, you accept these terms as the default position. If we require your assistance with any vacancy we will contact you.

What you will need