Commercial Director

Commercial Director Energy & Infrastructure Central London or Leeds (Hybrid Working) Up to £140,000 Permanent Role

Robert Half is partnering with a rapidly growing energy and decarbonisation business operating across complex infrastructure, engineering and building services projects throughout the UK.

The business works extensively across the public sector, including healthcare, universities and other complex live environments, and is entering an important period of growth and transformation.

This is a senior leadership opportunity reporting directly to the Managing Director and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team. You'll lead the Commercial, Procurement and Document Control functions, while playing a key role in strengthening commercial capability, improving processes and governance, and supporting the continued growth of the business.

About the Position

As Commercial Director, you'll lead a sizeable team, with four direct reports, and act as a key commercial partner to the wider leadership team.

The business has grown quickly, and the processes and structures across the Commercial function now need to develop in line with the scale and complexity of the projects being delivered. This role will therefore have a strong transformation and process improvement focus, with the opportunity to build a more mature, consistent and commercially controlled function.

Day-to-day, you'll:

• Lead and develop the Commercial, Procurement and Document Control teams, creating greater accountability, consistency and capability across the function.
  Partner closely with Operations as a trusted commercial adviser throughout the project lifecycle.
  Own commercial, contractual and supply-chain risk across a complex project portfolio.
  Lead the transformation of commercial processes, governance, controls and ways of working.
  Improve project profitability, forecasting accuracy and cash generation.
  Lead major client and supplier negotiations, including complex contractual arrangements.
  Provide commercial guidance across NEC4, JCT and bespoke contracts.
  Oversee commercial disputes, claims and contractual risk where required.
  Develop a strategic procurement function, strengthening supplier relationships and delivering greater value from the supply chain.
  Work closely with Finance and systems teams to improve commercial reporting, processes and ERP integration.
  Build the commercial structures, processes and accountability required to support the next stage of business growth.

What We're Looking For

• Significant senior commercial experience within construction or building services.
  Strong principal contractor experience, ideally from a Tier 1 construction or M&E environment.
  Strong knowledge of NEC4 and JCT contracts.
  Proven experience managing commercial, contractual, operational and supply-chain risk.
  Demonstrable experience of transformation and process improvement within a growing or changing organisation.
  A track record of improving commercial performance, governance, processes and accountability.
  Experience leading and developing commercial teams.
  A hands-on, commercially sharp approach, with the confidence to challenge the business and make decisions.
  Strong understanding of the commercial and operational complexities of project-led businesses.
  Comfortable operating in a lean environment where you are expected to build, improve and deliver rather than rely on a large support structure.

Here's What's Waiting for You

• Up to £140,000 base salary.
  Hybrid working from either London or Leeds.
  Approximately three days per week in the office.
  Direct exposure to the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team.
  Leadership responsibility for a large team across Commercial, Procurement and Document Control.
  Genuine ownership of the commercial transformation agenda.
  The opportunity to shape processes, governance and commercial capability within a growing business.
  Exposure to significant public-sector energy and infrastructure projects.

Why This Role Could Be Your Next Move

This is far more than a traditional Commercial Director role.The business has grown rapidly, and the next stage of its development requires stronger commercial foundations, more consistent processes and greater accountability across the function.

You'll have the opportunity to build that capability rather than simply inherit an established structure. Working closely with Operations and the wider leadership team, you'll shape how the Commercial function operates, improve commercial governance and help the business respond effectively to the increasing scale and complexity of its projects.

For an experienced Commercial Director, Head of Commercial or Senior Commercial Manager ready to step up, this offers the opportunity to combine strategic influence with genuine hands-on responsibility and make a tangible impact on the commercial maturity of a growing energy and infrastructure business.

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