Commercial Director

The Vacancy

Wates Construction is seeking a dynamic and experienced Commercial Director to lead our commercial strategy for our London region. This pivotal role is an excellent opportunity to shape the future of our business, manage risk and profitability, and drive exceptional performance in collaboration with a talented regional team.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the MD of London and sitting on the London Construction Board, you will lead the commercial function ensuring compliance with national standards and delivering long-term value to our stakeholders.

As Commercial Director, your responsibilities will include:

1. Strategic Leadership: Collaborate with the Managing Director to define the regional business plan, align on objectives, and deliver the Group's commercial strategy.
2. Risk and Profitability Management: Identify and mitigate risks across the project lifecycle, ensuring optimal profitability across the portfolio.
3. Governance and Compliance: Act as a custodian of the Wates governance process, ensuring regional teams adhere to group policies and standards.
4. Team Development: Lead and develop high-performing commercial teams, fostering growth and embedding industry best practices.
5. Client and Supply Chain Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and supply chain partners, ensuring alignment with our standards of excellence.
6. Dispute Resolution: Proactively manage and resolve complex project disputes to maintain positive relationships and project outcomes.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We need a commercially astute leader with a track record of operating at a strategic level in the construction sector. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

1. Experience: Extensive experience in commercial management, including contract negotiation, bid leadership, and procurement processes.
2. Qualifications: Ideally educated to degree level in a commercial discipline or equivalent, with RICS or similar professional accreditation preferred.
3. Skills: Exceptional negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, combined with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
4. Leadership: A proven ability to develop and inspire teams, alongside a commitment to delivering on company values and industry-leading safety and wellbeing standards.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Wates, we reward excellence and provide opportunities for growth. In return for your expertise and dedication, we offer:

1. Competitive salary & profit share.
2. Car allowance or company car scheme.
3. Flexible working arrangements.
4. Travel expenses to regional sites (subject to HMRC rates).
5. Extensive benefits including private medical insurance, 8% employer pension contribution, wellness programs, and 26 days of annual leave (+ your birthday off and bank holidays).
6. Industry-leading family leave policies, including 26 weeks fully paid maternity leave and 12 weeks fully paid paternity leave.
7. Comprehensive learning and development programs to support career progression.

Join us in shaping the future of construction. Apply today to lead, innovate, and drive success as a Commercial Director at Wates Construction.

Basic Check: Successful candidates will undergo a Basic DBS Check at the offer stage. Individual assessments will be made for applicants with disclosed convictions, and no applicant will be unfairly discriminated against.

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK's leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies. Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, 'reimagining places for people to thrive' and our three promises:

1. Thriving places - working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
2. Thriving planet - protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
3. Thriving people - creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in, and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer. We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.