M&E Commercial Director

M&E Commercial Director

Commercial Director – Data Centre Campus £120,000–140,000 + car or allowance + bonus + PMI | M&E Design & Build | Hyperscale / AI Data Centres

We’re recruiting a Commercial Director to lead the commercial function on a flagship data centre campus – a multi-phase, high-density site delivering hyperscale/AI‑ready facilities. You’ll own commercial strategy from pre‑con through delivery and final account, protecting margin and managing risk across major M&E and fit‑out packages while working closely with project leadership, client teams and a specialist supply chain.

• A clear commercial strategy for a multi-£10m, multi‑phase data centre programme.
• Robust contracts and subcontracts with balanced risk/reward and clear deliverables.
• Accurate CVRs, forecasting and cashflow that give the board and client confidence.
• Effective change management, claims and risk control to protect margin and programme.
• Strong client and supply‑chain relationships built on transparency and consistency.
• A capable commercial team aligned to best‑practice processes and project outcomes.

• Own commercial governance: procedures, reporting and approvals across the campus.
• Shape commercial input to bids and new phases – pricing strategies, contractual positions and risk registers.
• Lead contract and subcontract negotiation (typically NEC/JCT), ensuring scope clarity and fair risk allocation.
• Build and manage budgets for M&E plant, power, cooling, civils and commissioning packages.
• Oversee change control – capture, value and agree variations, EWNs and compensation events.
• Lead monthly CVRs, cashflow and forecast reviews with clear risk/opportunity commentary.
• Direct procurement strategies for major packages; negotiate terms and framework agreements.
• Maintain strong commercial records to avoid disputes and support entitlement where needed.
• Act as senior commercial point‑of‑contact for client and internal stakeholders.
• Line‑manage QSs/commercial managers – objectives, mentoring, appraisals and development.

• Commercial management of large, M&E‑intensive or data centre / mission‑critical projects.
• NEC and JCT contracts (or similar), including target cost, lump sum and pain/gain mechanisms.
• Data‑centre cost drivers: power distribution, resilience, cooling, generators, UPS, security and controls.
• Change control, claims, risk management and value engineering on high‑capex schemes.
• CVR methodology, cashflow forecasting and P&L management at project/programme level.

• Senior commercial role (Commercial Director / Head of Commercial / Senior Commercial Manager) for a main or M&E contractor.
• Leading commercial delivery on major projects or programmes (£50m+ total value).
• Negotiating main contracts and high‑value subcontracts, including strategic supplier deals.
• Demonstrable success in managing change, protecting margin and closing out final accounts.
• Confident operator with client‑side commercial/procurement teams and internal boards.
• Track record of building and developing high‑performing commercial teams.

Interested? Send your CV in confidence and we’ll run you through the campus, role structure and progression in detail.