Head of Commercial

Salary: £96,000 – £120,000 per year

Purpose of the Role:

We are seeking an executive level canddiate who can manage all commercial delivery activities on a portfolio of various multidisciplinary light rail projects within the Urban Business Division as directed, from inception through to final account and close out, to deliver maximum commercial results.

About Us:

This company provides the opportunity to not only establish yourself within one of the rail industry’s biggest and most prestigious, multi-disciplined contractors, providing you with a springboard that can take your career to new heights. They’re always looking for passionate people to join their business and with several bases across the UK, there are plenty of opportunities to join our vibrant, creative, and diverse teams.

Key Success Measures:

Safety & Ethics – Support the implementation of the Business Conduct Guidelines, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) strategy, associated actions and resulting initiatives, to deliver continuous improvement in all areas.

Excellence – Ensure work is carried out with a continuous view to profitability and efficiency and look after our shareholders by guaranteeing that they see value for money and a profitable business. Quality is key to competitiveness. Take responsibility for delivering on time and on budget a high quality product or service, which we can take pride in.

Key Areas of Responsibility & Accountability:

Raise commercial awareness within the business.

Provide commercial management support to the bid management team to ensure a consistent approach is maintained and delivered through the tender process, including the correct allocation and utilisation of commercial resources within the tendering and estimating team.

Embed and ensure practical compliance with the pre-contract approval processes consistent with governance.

Manage the Risk & Opportunities and ensure the Commercial function delivers contractual solutions and strategies that balance these risks and opportunities.

Manage the Subcontract Procurement process from inception to award for each major subcontract package to ensure that the best commercial position is achieved using a uniform approach to subcontract terms and conditions whilst maintaining strong relationships with our supplier base. 

Manage the Tender Handover process post contract award to provide a seamless transfer to the business unit delivery teams.

Deliver effective management information on commercial (including pre-contract) activity including analysis of trends and challenges.

Embed commercial focus and best practice across the whole commercial team

Deliver effective performance management and development of reports and organisation of resources.

Lead to ensure commercial processes and procedures are performed by appropriate and competent resources.

Ensure a support and challenge regime is implemented across all commercial functions. (Ask questions).

Establish and articulate the process and procedures to be followed post-contract for the adoption of rigorous contractual, cost and procurement controls to be handed over upon Contract Award.

Drive a programme of continuous improvement to ensure all relevant contract process and procedures are robust and fit for purpose; amend and abridge where commercially prudent to do so, through support, challenge and empowerment.

Establish a robust Project Reviews protocol that provides and maintains a uniform approach to how projects are analysed and reviewed, allowing us to react so that the right level of resource input is focused where most required. The Reviews will focus on Project Planning & Forecasting and Cost Control, with a focus on Variation Approval and Application Certification to ensure better cash flow. 

Ensure accurate cash flow profiling is delivered on each tender with an appropriate impact analysis on the business in conjunction with finance based upon agreed tender price and programme.

To support and where necessary lead, key negotiations with prospective partners, contractors and sub-contractors and build client relationships to promote effective ways of working.

Engender collaborative working across all functions and encourage cross business working and sharing of lessons learnt.

Person Specification:

Working in a finance or commercial function within the engineering or construction sector having hands on experience working for contractors in a Senior Management role on large civils or infrastructure projects.

• Degree in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
• Minimum 15 years Commercial Management experience with a proven track record in major projects.
• Good IT and Microsoft Package skills – Word and Excel.
• Experience of working with Costs systems.
• Driving license.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Accomplished in establishing strong working relationships with colleagues and good internal working relationships.
• Strong understanding of all rail and civil disciplines and interface management.
• Commercial management experience on multidiscipline rail projects in excess of £50 million in value.
• Strong experience / knowledge of negotiation.
• Detailed knowledge of contract procedures and administration including NEC, ICE, MF/1 and JCT, as well as bespoke Rail Industry (NR) forms of contract.
• Ideally experience of working for a contractor in a client facing environment.

A sample of benefits:

• Season ticket loan
• Cash plan – Healthshield
• Employee forums- your voice matters
• Company Pension
• Life Assurance/Death in Service
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Long Service Awards
• Managers – development programmes to fit with all levels of Leadership*
• Manager Company Car/Car Allowance*
• Private Medical Insurance*

in confidence and we will comeback to you with a full job description.

Specialist Recruitment Services UK Ltd is committed to equal opportunities and abides by the REC code of professional practice.