Wates Group
Commercial Manager
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About the Role
WPS are looking for an experienced Commercial Manager to lead the commercial delivery of multiple major social housing planned works contracts. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving commercial performance, managing risk, maximising profitability, and leading a team of Quantity Surveyors across a diverse portfolio of refurbishment, retrofit and external works projects.
Working closely with Operational Directors, Contracts Managers and Clients, you will play a key role in ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and profitably while maintaining excellent customer and stakeholder relationships.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the commercial management of three large-scale planned maintenance and refurbishment contracts.
- Manage, mentor and develop a team of Quantity Surveyors and commercial professionals.
- Ensure robust cost management, forecasting, budgeting and financial reporting across all contracts.
- Drive profitability through effective procurement, subcontractor management and value engineering.
- Oversee valuations, variations, change control and final account negotiations.
- Identify and mitigate commercial risks while ensuring contractual compliance.
- Support operational teams to deliver works on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.
- Build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders and supply chain partners.
- Provide strategic commercial leadership and contribute to business growth opportunities.
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Contract Scope
Projects Will Include a Mix Of
- Social housing planned maintenance programmes
- Retrofit and decarbonisation works
- External Wall Insulation (EWI)
- Roofing and building envelope improvements
- Windows and doors replacement programmes
- Fire safety and compliance works
- External and communal refurbishment projects
- Major regeneration and refurbishment schemes
About You
We are keen to speak with commercially focused leaders who have experience within:
- Social Housing Planned Maintenance
- Refurbishment & Regeneration
- Decarbonisation / Retrofit Programmes
- Planned Works Frameworks
We would also welcome applications from candidates with strong experience in:
- Residential Construction
- Large Scale Housing Developments
- Multi-site Refurbishment Programmes
Essential Experience
- Proven experience in a Commercial Manager or Senior Commercial role.
- Experience managing multiple contracts and a commercial team.
- Strong contractual knowledge, ideally JCT, NEC or partnering contracts.
- Excellent commercial acumen with a track record of improving margin and performance.
- Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills.
- Ability to operate strategically whilst maintaining attention to detail.
Desirable
- Social housing planned works experience.
- Retrofit, PAS 2035 or decarbonisation project exposure.
- Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or similar.
- MRICS or working towards professional accreditation.
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Why Join Us?
- Lead a sizeable portfolio of high-profile social housing contracts.
- Opportunity to shape and develop a growing commercial team.
- Exposure to major refurbishment, retrofit and sustainability programmes.
- Long-term career progression within a successful and expanding organisation.
- Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus and comprehensive benefits package.
If you are a commercially astute leader looking for your next challenge and have a passion for delivering successful refurbishment and retrofit programmes, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Commitments
WPS is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement, as we value transferable skills and assess all applications fairly.
We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work. As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme. Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at wpsrecruitment@wates.co.uk.
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