Commercial Manager

Commercial Manager – Regional Civil Engineering | Highways & Infrastructure

This is a rare chance to take full commercial ownership of a growing regional civil engineering business unit, delivering highways and infrastructure projects across the South. A Commercial Manager to oversee a £40m regional highways and infrastructure business working for clients including:

• Local Authorities
• Private Developers
• Tier 1 Main Contractors
• National Highways

This isn’t a back‑office oversight role. This is about shaping a business unit, setting standards, and leading from the front.

The Business

This regional civil engineering arm delivers a mix of:

• Highways new build schemes
• Public realm and urban infrastructure
• Section works and framework packages
• Maintenance and improvement works

Projects range from reactive works through to major schemes exceeding £10m, with a growing pipeline of longer‑term, higher‑value contracts. The direction of travel is clear: structured growth, improved margins, stronger commercial control.

The Role

Lead Commercial Manager, you will own commercial performance across the Regional Civil Engineering portfolio. Managing a commercial team of 34 staff, you’ll work closely with delivery teams and clients, ensuring commercial discipline, governance and profitability across frameworks and standalone projects.

Key responsibilities include:

• Full commercial leadership of highways & infrastructure projects
• Driving revenue, margin and financial performance
• Leading monthly CVR reviews and implementing corrective actions
• Managing framework-level commercial consolidationStrong NEC contract management, including Highways Term Service Agreements
• Risk and opportunity management
• Supporting bid strategy and pricing input
• Supply chain engagement and performance improvement
• Leading and developing a high‑performing commercial team

You will be highly visible within the business — influencing direction, strengthening standards and embedding accountability. Expect to spend 3 days per week in the office or on site, with hybrid flexibility where appropriate.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a commercially astute leader from a civil engineering background, ideally with highways experience.

You’ll bring:

• Proven commercial management experience within regional civil engineering
• Experience managing highways & infrastructure frameworks
• Strong NEC contract knowledge
• Experience operating as Principal Contractor and/or self‑delivery partner
• Exposure to projects ranging from small reactive works to major infrastructure schemes
• Strong leadership capability – developing teams and raising performance
• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or similar
• RICS / CICES desirable but not essential

You’ll be confident, analytical, composed under pressure and comfortable influencing at senior level.

What’s On Offer

• Excellent Salary (based on experience)
• Bonus up to 20%
• Company car or car allowance
• Private healthcare
• Pension & life assurance
• 25 days annual leave plus birthday off
• Hybrid working
• Enhanced parental benefits
• Genuine opportunity to shape and grow a business unit

Why This Role?

If you’re a Commercial Leader who wants more than just managing numbers — if you want to influence direction, shape culture and drive performance across a growing regional highways business — this is a serious opportunity.

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