Highways Lead Commercial Manager

Lead Commercial Manager - Civil Engineering Shape a Growing Self-Delivery Business

Put your stamp on a growing highways self-delivery business
This is your opportunity to step into a senior, influential role where you will be doing far more than managing numbers. As Lead Commercial Manager, you will be shaping commercial strategy, leading a high-performing team and directly influencing the success of a growing self-delivery civil engineering business. If you enjoy autonomy, visibility and the chance to raise standards, this role puts you firmly in the driving seat.

About the company
My client is a well-established and highly respected UK civil engineering contractor operating across highways, public realm and transport infrastructure. Their Civil Engineering business is the self-delivery arm of the organisation, delivering new build, maintenance and VRS works through in-house teams. With a strong pipeline of work and ambitions to move into longer-term, higher-value projects, this is a business with momentum and clear direction.

The role and responsibilities

As Lead Commercial Manager, you will be owning and leading the commercial performance of the civil engineering self-delivery business. You will be working closely with delivery teams and clients, enabling sound decision-making and driving both revenue and margin across a diverse portfolio of work.
You will be doing the following as part of your role:
Leading commercial performance across frameworks and individual projects
Driving revenue and margin through proactive financial management, CVRs and early intervention
Setting and maintaining strong commercial governance, reporting, cash management and compliance
Consolidating framework-level performance data to provide clear insight and direction
Leading NEC contract management, including risk, opportunity and dispute resolution
Supporting bids and pricing strategies to mitigate risk and improve profitability
Strengthening supply chain performance through proactive and collaborative relationships
Building, developing and mentoring a high-performing commercial team through coaching and training
Identifying issues early, leading targeted interventions and embedding continuous improvement
You will typically be based in the Winchester office or on site, with flexibility to work from home depending on project needs.

Must-have skills and experience
To succeed as Lead Commercial Manager, you will bring:
Proven experience in a senior commercial management role within civil engineering
Strong highways and self-delivery experience (preferred)
Extensive knowledge of NEC contracts, including Highways Term Service Agreements
Experience operating as both Principal Contractor and Tier 2 self-delivery partner
A track record across a range of project values, from major projects to reactive works
Framework-level commercial consolidation and performance management experience
Excellent commercial acumen, resilience and negotiation skills
Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and leading teams through change
A degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
Professional membership such as RICS or CICES (desirable)

Salary and benefits
£110,000 - £130,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Company car or car allowance
Private healthcare
Pension and life assurance
25 days' annual leave plus your birthday off
Hybrid working where possible
Enhanced maternity and paternity benefits

Career development , location and working pattern
This Lead Commercial Manager position offers genuine long-term progression, giving you the opportunity to shape a growing self-delivery civil engineering business and develop your career alongside it. The role is permanent and full-time, based in Winchester, with flexible hybrid working and regular site involvement.

Interested in taking the next step?
If you are a commercially astute highways professional looking to lead, influence and leave a lasting impact on a self-delivery civil engineering business, this opportunity is well worth exploring.

FOOT

NOTE:

If you feel that you are right for this role technically, but the salary, location or seniority does not suit you…