Commercial Manager - Regional Civil Engineering | Highways & Infrastructure
The Opportunity
This is a rare chance to take full commercial ownership of a growing regional civil engineering business unit, delivering highways and infrastructure projects across the South. A Commercial Manager to oversee a £40m regional highways and infrastructure business working for clients including:
Local Authorities
Private Developers
Tier 1 Main Contractors
National Highways This isn’t a back-office oversight role. This is about shaping a business unit, setting standards, and leading from the front.
The Business
This regional civil engineering arm delivers a mix of:
Highways new build schemes
Public realm and urban infrastructure
Section works and framework packages
Maintenance and improvement works Projects range from reactive works through to major schemes exceeding £10m, with a growing pipeline of longer-term, higher-value contracts. The direction of travel is clear: structured growth, improved margins, stronger commercial control.
The Role
Lead Commercial Manager, you will own commercial performance across the Regional Civil Engineering portfolio. Managing a commercial team of 34 staff, you’ll work closely with delivery teams and clients, ensuring commercial discipline, governance and profitability across frameworks and standalone projects.
Key responsibilities include:
Full commercial leadership of highways & infrastructure projects
Driving revenue, margin and financial performance
Leading monthly CVR reviews and implementing corrective actions
Managing framework-level commercial consolidation
Strong NEC contract management, including Highways Term Service Agreements
Risk and opportunity management
Supporting bid strategy and pricing input
Supply chain engagement and performance improvement
Leading and developing a high-performing commercial team You will be highly visible within the business — influencing direction, strengthening standards and embedding accountability. Expect to spend 3 days per week in the office or on site, with hybrid flexibility where appropriate.
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a commercially astute leader from a civil engineering background, ideally with highways experience.
You’ll bring:
Proven commercial management experience within regional civil engineering
Experience managing highways & infrastructure frameworks
Strong NEC contract knowledge
Experience operating as Principal Contractor and/or self-delivery partner
Exposure to projects ranging from small reactive works to major infrastructure schemes
Strong leadership capability — developing teams and raising performance
Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or similar
RICS / CICES desirable but not essential You’ll be confident, analytical, composed under pressure and comfortable influencing at senior level.
What’s On Offer
Excellent Salary (based on experience)
Bonus <20%
Company car or car allowance
Private healthcare
Pension & life assurance
25 days annual leave plus birthday off
Hybrid working
Enhanced parental benefits
Genuine opportunity to shape and grow a business unit Why This Role?
If you’re a Commercial Leader who wants more than just managing numbers — if you want to influence direction, shape culture and drive performance across a growing regional highways business — this is a serious opportunity