At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy and ensure profitability across all business areas.
- Company: Join Willmott Dixon, a leading contractor with over 170 years of history.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible benefits, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that values accountability, governance, and excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving business growth and innovation.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in construction or engineering sectors required.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
Commercial Director
We are seeking a Commercial Director to provide strategic leadership across all commercial aspects of the business, overseeing profitability, risk management, contract performance, supply chain relationships, and commercial controls.
They work closely with board members and senior leaders to ensure informed decision-making, strong governance, and the successful delivery of business objectives.
We’re looking for a leader who can bring clarity, focus and direction in a fast-moving environment.
You will be able to cut through complexity, make sound commercial decisions and turn strategy into action.
Comfortable operating at pace, you will communicate with clarity and consistency, maintain perspective under pressure, and address challenges early to ensure there are no surprises.
You will set high standards for yourself and others, balancing short-term priorities with long-term business outcomes while driving the delivery of commercially robust, deliverable bids, protecting project margins, and ensuring effective management of pre-construction programmes and key milestones.
Just as importantly, you will be committed to building strong teams and helping people succeed.
You will optimise capability and capacity across your function, create an environment where individuals feel supported, challenged and accountable, and provide honest feedback that encourages growth.
With a natural curiosity and continuous improvement mindset, you will seek better ways of working, embrace innovation and encourage others to do the same.
Above all, you will lead with integrity, provide constructive challenge and effective governance to improve decision-making, and make choices that support sustainable growth and long-term business performance across the wider business.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic commercial leadership across all areas of the business, ensuring strong commercial control, accurate reporting, and effective performance management.
- Protect and enhance project profitability by maintaining active involvement throughout the bidding, pre-construction, and delivery phases.
- Challenge and influence Board-level decisions through the provision of commercial insight, data analysis, and industry expertise to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
- Lead the identification, assessment, and management of commercial risks and opportunities, ensuring appropriate mitigation measures are implemented and reported on a regular basis.
- Oversee business performance against budgets and forecasts, ensuring early identification of issues and delivering transparent, real-time commercial reporting.
- Ensure the business maintains the appropriate pre-construction capability, capacity, and resource structure to support current and future workloads.
- Develop and implement strategies that optimise commercial performance, improve operational efficiency, and support sustainable business growth.
- Monitor and assess the performance, capability, and financial stability of key supply chain partners, taking proactive action to manage risk and strengthen relationships.
- Promote a culture of accountability, governance, and commercial excellence across our business.
- Work collaboratively with operational, finance, and pre-construction teams to ensure projects are commercially robust, deliverable, and aligned with business objectives.
Essential and Desirable Criteria
Essential Criteria
- Senior commercial leadership experience within the construction, engineering, infrastructure, or built environment sectors.
- Professional membership of RICS or MCIOB.
- Proven track record of delivering and protecting project and business margins.
- Strong commercial, contractual, and financial management expertise.
- Experience leading commercial teams and developing high-performing individuals.
- Demonstrable experience influencing and challenging executive leadership teams and boards.
- Strong understanding of risk management, governance, and commercial controls.
- Experience managing complex projects and portfolios from bid stage through to final account.
- Proven ability to develop and implement commercial strategies that support business growth and profitability.
- Strong knowledge of procurement, contract administration, and supply chain management.
- Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to analyse complex commercial data and provide clear recommendations to support decision-making.
- Degree qualified in a relevant discipline or equivalent industry experience.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience within a Tier 1 or Tier 2 contractor environment.
- Experience driving business transformation, change management, or continuous improvement initiatives.
Personal Qualities
- Commercially astute with a strong focus on profitability, value creation, and business performance.
- Strategic thinker who can balance short-term priorities with long-term business objectives.
- Influential leader capable of engaging, challenging, and inspiring stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong decision-maker who can assess complex information, manage risk, and make sound commercial judgements.
- Results-driven with a track record of delivering successful commercial outcomes.
- Analytical and detail-oriented while maintaining a broad business perspective.
- Additional Information
We reward our people with a competitive package and flexible benefits designed to suit different lifestyles and priorities.
These include a pension scheme, private medical cover for you and a partner, life assurance, an incentive bonus, a car scheme, and a motoring expenditure allowance (MEA).
Colleagues can also access low-carbon and electric vehicles through the Willmott Dixon car-leasing scheme.
We provide an inclusive and flexible working environment where people can thrive and support agile working wherever possible.
We are a proud member of the Disability Confident Scheme.
About Us
Willmott Dixon Construction is a £1.1bn privately owned contractor with more than 170 years of history.
Guided by our purpose beyond profit, we deliver brilliant buildings that transform lives, strengthen communities and enhance the environment for future generations.
We operate across further and higher education, commercial, health, development-led, science and technology, blue-light, leisure and residential sectors.
Our solutions-led approach combines competitive value with technical insight, helping us become a trusted partner to our customers.
Commercial Director in Weybridge employer: Willmott Dixon
Willmott Dixon is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment that prioritises employee development and well-being. As a Principal Surveyor, you will benefit from a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, alongside opportunities for career advancement and training in the vibrant North London and East region. Our family ethos fosters strong relationships within teams and with clients, ensuring a fulfilling and rewarding experience in your role.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Director in Weybridge
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Willmott Dixon, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Commercial Director at Willmott Dixon.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Director in Weybridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Willmott Dixon
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
