Head of Commercial & Estimating
Location: South East Region (Defence Portfolio)
Package: Excellent salary + Car or Car Allowance + Discretionary Bonus + Private Healthcare + Excellent Benefits
About the Role
VINCI Facilities is seeking an experienced and commercially astute Head of Commercial & Estimating to lead the commercial, estimating, procurement governance and contractual oversight functions within one of our largest and most strategically important Defence business units.
This is a senior leadership role within a high-profile business unit responsible for delivering a significant programme of planned and reactive works across a secure Defence estate. With an annual programme of works currently valued at approximately £79m, this position plays a critical role in ensuring commercial excellence, robust governance, profitable growth and successful project delivery.
Reporting into the senior leadership team, you will lead a multidisciplinary commercial function of approximately 15 employees across estimating, pre-contract, commercial administration, payment functions and quantity surveying disciplines. You will be responsible for developing commercial strategies, overseeing tendering and estimating activities, managing contractual and commercial risk, and ensuring the business maintains strong supplier and stakeholder relationships.
This role would suit an established commercial leader with a strong construction background, ideally complemented by facilities management experience, who thrives in a hands-on environment and enjoys leading teams through complex, high-value programmes of work.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Commercial and Estimating functions across the Defence business unit, ensuring strong governance, contractual compliance and commercial best practice.
- Drive commercial performance, protect margins and manage contractual risk across a diverse portfolio of construction and facilities management contracts.
- Develop and implement commercial strategies that support business growth, operational excellence and long-term profitability.
- Lead the preparation of competitive and commercially robust tender submissions, overseeing pricing strategies, cost models and bid governance.
- Provide expert commercial guidance on a range of pricing and contract models, ensuring solutions balance competitiveness, risk and financial return.
- Oversee the identification, assessment and mitigation of commercial and contractual risks throughout the bid and project lifecycle.
- Partner with operational, legal, finance, procurement and supply chain teams to deliver successful contract outcomes and support mobilisation activities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, subcontractors and key stakeholders, representing the commercial function at senior level.
- Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing team of commercial professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Deliver insightful commercial reporting, performance analysis and strategic recommendations to support informed business decision-making.
About You
We are looking for a commercially driven leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach and has a proven track record of managing complex construction programmes and commercial functions.
Essential Experience
- Significant senior commercial management experience within construction, infrastructure, defence, building services or facilities management environments.
- Proven experience leading commercial and estimating teams within a multi-project environment.
- Strong understanding of contract governance, commercial governance and risk management.
- Experience supporting projects ranging from £500k to £25m+ in value, with oversight of multiple concurrent programmes.
- Demonstrable knowledge of procurement, supply chain management and contract administration.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience developing winning tender strategies and pricing solutions.
- Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
Technical Knowledge
- Contractual and commercial management principles.
- Construction estimating and cost planning.
- NEC, JCT and related contract forms.
- TUPE, pensions and employment-related cost considerations.
- Risk management and tender governance.
- Financial analysis and business planning.
- Procurement and supplier relationship management.
Personal Attributes
- Strong leader with excellent people management skills.
- Self-motivated and highly organised.
- Hands-on and willing to engage in operational detail when required.
- Strong problem solver with excellent analytical capability.
- Highly credible communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Collaborative and relationship-focused.
- Commercially focused with a strong drive for results.