Commercial Lead
Water & Environment
Sector Exposure: Water, Environment, Defence, Nuclear
Are you ready to lead commercial strategy across transformative infrastructure programmes? Our client is seeking a dynamic Commercial Lead to oversee high-value contracts in the Water & Environment sector, with opportunities to expand into Defence and Nuclear. This is your opportunity to shape delivery outcomes, drive commercial excellence, and influence the future of sustainable infrastructure.
If you're passionate about leading with purpose and delivering impact, we'd love to hear from you.
Your Role & Impact
You'll lead a team of commercial professionals across multi-million-pound contracts. You'll provide strategic oversight from procurement through to close-out, ensuring alignment with project timelines, budgets, and risk profiles. You'll also engage with senior stakeholders, regulators, and delivery partners to ensure commercial integrity and performance.
This role is ideal for a commercially astute leader with deep infrastructure experience and a passion for driving value, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Commercial Leadership
Build, lead and develop the commercial and cost management function into a high performing team
Support the work winning team to review and identify risks and accountabilities within tender packs and contractual terms
Prepare, develop and implement commercial solutions to support work winning
Lead commercial delivery across complex, multi-workstream programmes
Oversee contract execution, supplier performance, and risk mitigation
Ensure compliance with NEC3/4 and FIDIC contracts, UK law, and regulatory frameworks
Guide procurement strategy and contract preparation across all phasesProject & Cost Management
Support feasibility studies, benchmarking, and value management
Lead cost planning, estimating, and final cost plan presentation
Manage post-contract cost variances, valuations, and change control
Oversee final account negotiation and post-project evaluationStakeholder Engagement & Business Growth
Act as a trusted interface with clients, consultants, and delivery teams
Collaborate with senior leadership to shape client-focused bids
Provide commercial insight to strengthen proposal strategy
Maintain a robust database of lessons learned and bid outcomes
Drive continuous improvement across commercial processes and tools
Qualifications & Requirements
Strong financial modelling experience
Excellent client facing and supply chain facing skills
Expert commercial acumen and problem solving skills
Experience of managing teams
Enthusiasm and ability to inspire and motivate people
Extensive experience in water, environment, defence, or nuclear sectors
Strong knowledge of CDM regulations and risk management
NEC3/4 contract expertise (Options A, C, E essential)
Experience with ECI/ESI in design & build programmes
Valid CSCS card; Water Hygiene Card desirable
Line management experience and ability to mentor junior QSs
Willingness to work on-site a minimum of 3 days per weekRG Setsquare is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy