Technical & Commercial Director

J P Hildreth Ltd is an award-winning engineering consultancy dedicated to delivering manufacturing excellence. We partner with global leaders in the food and pharmaceutical sectors to transform production processes through targeted investments, simulation modelling and intelligent design.

This is a rare opportunity for an outstanding professional with proven commercial expertise and hands-on technical leadership capabilities.

Joining at a pivotal time in JPH’s journey, this Director role will form part of the senior leadership team guiding the business through to independence day – the point at which deferred consideration is fully repaid and all profits are retained within the business – and beyond. You will help shape our transition into a larger, more complex and more profitable organisation, with the opportunity to directly influence strategy, growth and culture.

This is not just a leadership role - it is a chance to leave a lasting mark on an employee-owned business at a defining stage, where professional success is matched by meaningful financial reward.

Location: Hybrid working – minimum 3 days per week in our office in Chesham or at a client site – we prioritise collaboration.

• Define and execute JPH’s commercial strategy in alignment with growth objectives.
• Identify new market opportunities in pharma, food, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Lead negotiations, proposals, and contracts to secure high-value projects.
• Represent JPH at client meetings and events.

• Oversee pricing, profitability, and risk management across projects.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to inform decision-making.

• Collaborate with engineering and project management teams to ensure delivery meets client expectations and commercial targets.
• Create a culture of safety, quality, and efficiency through leadership, coaching, and team development.
• Foster collaboration and personal growth.

• Champion our values of integrity, simplicity, and clarity in all commercial activities.
• Ensure that employee ownership principles are embedded in decision making, profit-sharing, and stakeholder engagement.
• Contribute to Director-level discussions and governance as part of the employee-owned trust structure.

• A degree in a relevant engineering discipline is essential.

• 8+ years in engineering leadership.
• Experienced in financial reporting and commercial management in engineering projects.
• Experienced in managing engineering projects with a focus on solving complex engineering problems.
• Demonstrable expertise in project governance within manufacturing and engineering environments.
• Comprehensive knowledge of GMP and Health & Safety standards in the pharma and food manufacturing sectors.

• Strategic planning.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience in growing high-performance teams.
• Organisational development and driving organisational change.

At J P Hildreth we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We believe that a diverse team brings a wealth of perspectives and ideas, driving innovation and success. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. Our hiring practices ensure fairness and equality, and we strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our mission of delivering manufacturing excellence.

Our company is built on the principles of integrity, simplicity, and clarity. These core values shape our decisions, actions, and interactions with both our clients and each other.

• Integrity
  :
  We honour our commitments to ourselves and our clients whilst being ethical, transparent and trustworthy.
• Simplicity
  :
  We deliver simple, effective solutions that prioritise efficiency and accessibility for ourselves and our clients.
• Clar…