Commercial Director

Job Description

Location:

Solihull

As a board member, the Commercial Director plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the business, ensuring operational excellence, and driving sustainable, profitable growth. The Commercial Director will work in partnership with the Operations Director to lead all operational and commercial output across the business. The role has dual responsibility for commercial governance and pre-construction/business development, ensuring the organisation maintains high standards of compliance, risk management, and client service across all stages of the project lifecycle.

• Act as a core board member contributing to business strategy, performance management, and long-term growth plans.
• Provide commercial insight to inform market positioning, pricing strategy, bid selectivity, and investment decisions.
• Ensure compliance with Galliford Try governance, financial controls, and reporting structures.
• Drive continual improvement in commercial processes, reporting, contract management, and forecasting.
• Lead the commercial team across the full project lifecycle from tender stage to final account.
• Oversee all contractual negotiations, ensuring robust risk management and clear commercial positions.
• Ensure consistent application of NEC, JCT, and bespoke contract mechanisms across the business.
• Manage commercial reporting including WIP, CVRs, margin performance, revenue forecasting, and cash flow.
• Take ultimate responsibility for supply chain procurement strategy, contractual frameworks, and commercial performance.
• Support the Operations Director in managing project-level change, early warnings, compensation events, and cost control.
• Ensure contractual compliance with Building Safety Act requirements and support golden thread management.
• Pre-Construction, Work Winning & Business Development:
  Lead the pre-construction and estimating functions, ensuring high-quality, competitive bids aligned to capability and strategy.
• Work closely with the in-house design team to ensure technical compliance, buildability, and cost accuracy within tender solutions.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key clients, consultants, developers, and Tier-1/2 main contractors.
• Lead bid/no-bid strategy, pipeline development, and forward planning to achieve targeted turnover and margin.
• Oversee tender design coordination, early-stage risk reviews, value engineering proposals, and commercial submissions.

• Work jointly with the Operations Director to provide unified leadership across delivery teams.
• Support project commencement, ensuring commercial coverage, contract administration clarity, and supply chain engagement.
• Provide strategic oversight on projects, acting as escalation point for commercial or operational issues.
• Champion best practice in façade remediation, ensuring alignment between design, commercial targets, and site delivery.

• Take full ownership of business unit P&L, working closely with finance colleagues.
• Ensure accurate monthly reporting, risk identification, and mitigation strategies.
• Drive performance improvement initiatives to protect and enhance business margins.
• Support strategic resource planning, recruitment, and capability development across commercial teams.

• Lead, develop, and mentor the commercial, estimating, and pre-construction teams.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Champion Galliford Try’s values and commitment to safety, quality, and sustainability.
• Ensure strong succession planning and talent development.

• Proven senior commercial leadership experience within Tier 1 or specialist contractor environments.
• Strong background in façade remediation, cladding, building envelope, or specialist subcontracting.
• Extensive knowledge of NEC, JCT, and modern contract forms.
• Experience managing commercial teams on projects typically between £1m–£10m.
• Demonstrable experience in pre-construction, estimating, and work-winning.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Track record of delivering profitable…