Ashford, United Kingdom | Posted on 22/04/2026
Job Title: Head of Commercial and Project Delivery
Location: Ashford
Salary: £80,000 per annum
Role Summary for Head ofCommercial and Project Delivery
To provideclear commercial and project delivery leadership across all operationalactivities, with direct accountability for revenue delivery, gross marginperformance, and commercial discipline.
The roleensures that what is committed commercially is delivered operationally, drivingrobust governance, margin protection, risk mitigation, and consistentexecution. While the role sets standards and frameworks, it is also expected toactively intervene where delivery, revenue, or margin commitments are at risk,holding teams accountable for outcomes rather than activity.
Key Responsibilities for Headof Commercial and Project Delivery
- Lead and develop the operational project deliveryteam to deliver against agreed revenue and profit margin objectives, notsimply manage project activity.
- Hold Project Managers accountable for previouslystated forecasts, delivery commitments, and commercial assumptions, aswell as future projections.
- Set clear expectations for project progress, riskidentification, and resolution, intervening directly where commitments aremissed or risks are not actively mitigated.
- Drive backlog conversion with clear ownership,ensuring projects move from order intake to invoicing in line withcommercial expectations.
- Ensure revenue forecasting is evidence‑based,challenged where necessary, and owned by the Project Manager, notpassively reported.
- Champion process and system improvements thatdirectly enhance predictability, productivity, and profitability.
- Chair regular operations meetings with a clearfocus on delivery against commitment, margin performance, forecastaccuracy, and corrective actions, not status reporting.
- Own the commercial governance framework for allprojects, setting standards and ensuring consistent compliance.
- Ensure contractual reviews, negotiations,applications for payment, variation management, and final accountsettlements are carried out effectively and at the correct time.
- Oversee credit checks and cashflow management,ensuring exposure is actively managed and commercial risks are identifiedearly.
- Own gross margin performance across all projects,ensuring margin erosion is identified early and corrective action istaken.
- Challenge Project Managers and commercial inputswhere costs, scope, programme, or assumptions deviate from agreedpositions.
- Lead margin recovery actions, including variationstrategy, re‑programming, cost control, or commercial negotiation,escalating complex matters where required.
- Maintain ownership of commercial reporting andsystem integrity (including SIMPRO workflows), ensuring data reflectsdelivery reality rather than optimism.
- Provide strategic oversight of all siteactivities, ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety regulationsand company policy.
- Set and enforce standards for riskidentification, assessment, and mitigation on project sites.
- Ensure project teams implement robust H&Spractices and operate within agreed risk controls.
- Oversee the reporting, investigation, andresolution of site‑based risks, incidents, and near‑misses.
- Liaise with internal H&S specialists andexternal bodies where required to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, andproactive risk management across project delivery.
Requirements for Head ofCommercial and Project Delivery
- Proven experience leading and developing ProjectManagers, with a strong track record of driving team performance,accountability, and delivery against commercial outcomes rather than personallymanaging projects.
- Demonstrable ownership of revenue delivery and grossmargin performance, with the ability to forecast, challenge assumptions, andtake corrective action to protect financial outcomes.
- Strong commercial acumen within a construction orproject-based environment, including a solid understanding of contracts,variations, cost control, and revenue recognition principles.
- Experience operating at a strategic leadership level,setting frameworks, governance, and standards for project delivery whileintervening effectively when performance, risk, or financial commitments areoff track.
- Ability to bridge commercial and operationalfunctions, ensuring alignment between what is sold, contracted, and ultimatelydelivered, with a focus on cashflow, risk mitigation, and profitable execution.
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