John Sisk & Son

Regional Commercial Director

Location UK-City of London-London
ID 2025-1976
Category
Commercial
Position Type
Full Time

Overview

 

The Regional Commercial Director for Healthcare will play a pivotal role in ensuring the financial and contractual success of a portfolio of complex infrastructure and healthcare projects. Operating across both pre-construction and live delivery, the role combines strategic oversight with hands-on commercial management.

You will oversee commercial governance for multiple projects, lead and mentor commercial teams, and personally manage high-value or strategically critical work packages. This is a leadership position for someone who thrives on balancing commercial rigour with collaboration, guiding teams through the unique challenges of NEC-based contracts and complex, live-environment delivery.

Experience within the healthcare sector is beneficial but not essential — success in this role relies on your ability to apply strong commercial discipline, contractual acumen, and sound judgement in technically demanding and regulated environments.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio & Leadership

  • Lead the commercial management of a portfolio of live and pre-construction projects, ensuring accurate cost forecasting, governance, and contract compliance.
  • Manage, coach, and develop a team of Senior Quantity Surveyors, Quantity Surveyors and Assistant Managers, promoting a proactive and solutions-focused culture.
  • Provide commercial leadership during bid, contract negotiation, and delivery phases, aligning commercial strategy with project objectives and business targets.
  • Interface with senior management to report financial performance, risk exposure, and opportunities across the portfolio.

Pre-Construction & Bidding

  • Support bid teams in developing robust cost plans and contract strategies for framework and competitive tenders.
  • Lead risk reviews, commercial assessments, and contract appraisals, ensuring alignment with NEC provisions and corporate governance.
  • Contribute to the development of pricing, value engineering, and procurement strategies that balance competitiveness and deliverability.
  • Prepare bid-stage commercial narratives and participate in client presentations when required.

Project Delivery & Controls

  • Take ownership of live project commercial delivery, from contract award to final account.
  • Manage change control, compensation events, and early warnings in accordance with NEC processes, maintaining a clear audit trail and evidence base.
  • Oversee procurement of subcontract packages, negotiation of terms, and management of supply chain performance.
  • Validate and authorise valuations, applications for payment, and cost reports in line with company procedures.
  • Collaborate with the planning and operations teams to ensure programme, cost, and risk data remain fully aligned.
  • Support dispute avoidance and resolution through structured evidence and clear communication.

Governance & Reporting

  • Maintain accurate and timely project forecasts, cash flows, and cost-to-complete assessments.
  • Lead monthly commercial reviews and internal reporting, ensuring clarity of position and action plans.
  • Ensure all commercial documentation is compliant with internal audit standards and external contractual requirements.
  • Identify opportunities for margin enhancement through effective risk management, procurement strategy, and value improvement.

Experience

Key Competencies

  • The Commercial Manager will demonstrate a balance of strategic oversight and detailed commercial control. They will ensure that every project within their remit is commercially robust — protecting value, managing risk, and driving performance from concept to completion.
  • Leadership is central to the role: guiding teams of surveyors and cost managers, embedding governance, and cultivating a proactive, accountable culture across the business.
  • Technically, they will bring deep expertise in NEC contract management — confident in handling early warnings, change control, and compensation events. They will build clear audit trails and maintain cost forecasts that inform project and client decisions, while ensuring cashflow discipline and commercial integrity.
  • Commercial judgement will underpin every decision. The individual will interpret contracts pragmatically yet firmly, balancing entitlement with long-term relationship value and risk mitigation. They will advise project and client leadership on strategy, entitlement, and negotiation in a way that builds trust and credibility.
  • They will remain hands-on — reviewing valuations, interrogating forecasts, leading subcontract procurement, and resolving issues with precision and composure. Analytical rigour will drive their approach: using data to identify cost trends, forecast pressures, and support informed decision-making.
  • Collaboration will define their working style. They will partner seamlessly with planning, design, and delivery teams, aligning commercial objectives with operational realities and supporting a transparent, solution-oriented culture.
  • Adaptability will be essential. Whether working on a hospital redevelopment, a data centre fit-out, or a major enabling works package, they will apply consistent commercial discipline while navigating each project’s unique technical and contractual complexities.

 

Performance Indicators

  • Delivery of accurate and timely cost forecasts, CVRs, and cash flows.
  • Successful management of contract change and entitlement under NEC.
  • Positive client and supply-chain relationships built on trust and transparency.
  • Development and performance of direct reports.
  • Achievement of project and portfolio margin targets.
  • Compliance with internal governance and external audit standards.

 

Summary

This is a strategic yet hands-on role for a commercially astute professional who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments. Whether drawn from healthcare, life sciences, or other major infrastructure sectors, the Commercial Manager will bring the contract knowledge, leadership, and commercial discipline to deliver certainty of outcome — protecting both value and reputation across the portfolio.

Qualifications

Experience & Qualifications

  • Extensive commercial management experience (typically 8+ years) within major infrastructure or building projects, ideally in a Tier 1 or large main contractor environment.
  • Proven ability to manage NEC-based contracts, including early warnings, compensation events, and programme-linked valuations.
  • Experience delivering projects in complex, regulated or live environments — healthcare, life sciences, aviation, defence, or similar.
  • Strong background in pre-construction commercial input, including bid-stage planning, cost planning, and risk appraisal.
  • Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline; professional membership (RICS or equivalent) preferred.
  • Excellent stakeholder communication skills, with the confidence to present commercial positions clearly and persuasively.
  • Proficiency in industry-standard tools (e.g. SYPRO, CEMAR, Excel, Power BI) and familiarity with integrated project reporting systems.

Additional Information

  • Competitive salary
  • 26 days annual leave plus additional company days
  • Pension and benefits
  • Unlimited learning and development opportunities
  • Much more

Our People and Recruitment Commitment

At Sisk Group our people are at the heart of our success. We offer the chance to work with purpose, build a career with no limits and be part of a great team.

 

All vacancies are managed directly by our Internal Recruitment Team. Unsolicited contact or speculative CVs from unapproved agencies will not be accepted and no introductory fees will apply.

 

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or any other protected characteristic. Reasonable adjustments are available during the recruitment process.

 

We know the confidence gap and imposter phenomenon can stop talented candidates applying. You do not need to meet every criterion – your skills and potential matter. Don’t hold back we want to hear from you.

 

All recruitment materials comply with legal and regulatory requirements including the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the Equality Acts UK and Ireland

 

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