Commercial Manager / Commercial Director - M&E / Ductwork

The Role

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Commercial Manager / Commercial Director to join an established specialist contractor operating across London, the South East and wider UK.

This is a senior position within the business, taking overall responsibility for the commercial function and leading an existing team of six.

The role would suit either an established Commercial Director or a strong Commercial Manager looking to take the next step in their career and assume greater responsibility for a commercial department.

Based from the company's Romford office, the position will also involve regular visits to live projects, working closely with the operational teams to ensure projects are performing commercially from pre-construction through to final account.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage a commercial team of six

Take overall responsibility for the commercial performance of live projects

Support, mentor and develop Quantity Surveyors and members of the commercial team

Oversee project budgets, cost reporting and forecasting

Review CVRs and provide accurate commercial reporting to senior management

Manage contractual and commercial risk across projects

Oversee valuations, variations and change management

Manage subcontractor procurement, appointments and accounts

Oversee applications for payment and cash flow

Negotiate and agree final accounts

Review contracts and ensure contractual obligations are understood and managed

Work closely with Project Managers and operational teams to protect project margins

Attend commercial and client meetings

Visit live sites to review project performance and identify potential commercial risks

Support tendering, pre-construction and commercial strategy

Develop and improve commercial processes and controls across the business

Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors and supply-chain partners

About You

We are looking for an experienced commercial professional with a strong background within M&E, building services or specialist subcontracting.

Experience within ductwork, ventilation or HVAC would be particularly advantageous, although we would also consider candidates from the wider mechanical or M&E contracting market.

You will ideally have:

Previous experience as a Commercial Manager, Commercial Director or Senior Quantity Surveyor operating at a senior level

Experience managing and developing a commercial team

Strong understanding of subcontractor commercial management

Excellent knowledge of contracts, variations, valuations and final accounts

Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously

Strong financial reporting, forecasting and CVR experience

Good contractual and commercial awareness

Experience working closely with operational/project delivery teams

Strong negotiation and client-facing skills

The confidence to challenge commercially where required

The ability to operate strategically while remaining involved in the detail of live projects

The Opportunity

This is a key appointment within an established specialist contractor and offers the successful individual the opportunity to take genuine ownership of the commercial function.

You'll inherit an existing team of six, with the remit to lead, develop and strengthen the department while working closely with senior management on the continued growth and commercial performance of the business.

This is not a purely office-based position. You'll be based from Romford while regularly visiting projects and working directly with the operational teams to ensure the commercial and delivery sides of the business remain closely aligned.