Job Description
Commercial Director/Head of Commercial.
Residential Development.
Hertfordshire & Essex.
I’m working exclusively with a design-led residential developer to appoint a Head of Commercial / Commercial Director.
This board-level role offers full ownership of the commercial function within a growing developer-builder delivering sustainable, multi-phase residential schemes across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Essex. The business, renowned for its design quality, is entering a significant growth phase. This appointment will sit at the heart of that evolution, embedding commercial discipline, safeguarding margins, and strengthening financial governance as the platform scales.
The Role
As the commercial lead, you will take strategic and operational responsibility for all commercial activity across live and future developments.
Operating as part of the senior leadership team, you will balance board-level thinking with hands-on oversight across projects.
Key responsibilities include:
* Setting and driving commercial strategy aligned to business growth objectives.
* Overseeing appraisals, viability modelling and cost benchmarking across multi-phase schemes.
* Leading budgeting, forecasting and long-term cashflow planning.
* Protecting and enhancing gross margins through disciplined procurement and value engineering.
* Implementing scalable procurement frameworks, including timber frame / MMC-led delivery models.
* Negotiating major trade and infrastructure packages and defining contract strategy.
* Providing governance across CVRs, cost-to-complete reporting and risk management.
* Ensuring alignment between Commercial, Construction, Technical and Land functions.
* Developing and mentoring a growing commercial team.
* Supporting lender reporting and enhancing institutional credibility.
What They’re Looking For
* Proven Commercial Director or Head of Commercial experience within a residential developer or housebuilder.
* Strong track record delivering multi-phase residential developments.
* Demonstrable expertise in margin protection and financial control.
* Experience with timber frame or MMC procurement advantageous.
* Commercially astute with strong financial literacy and analytical capability.
* Comfortable operating at board level within a lean, entrepreneurial environment.
* Strategic in outlook, but willing to remain hands-on where required.
Why This Opportunity?
This is a rare opportunity to join a residential developer at a genuine inflection point, offering:
* A board-level platform with meaningful influence over business direction.
* Long-term growth potential as the business scales toward institutional maturity.