Head of Commercial

Description

As the commercial leader, you will shape strategy, oversee contract negotiations, and ensure robust financial and commercial reporting across multiple workstreams. This is a senior leadership position, offering the opportunity to influence business direction and mentor a high-performing commercial team.

• Lead commercial governance across work winning, project delivery, and portfolio performance.
• Act as deputy to the Managing Director on commercial matters.
• Act as subject matter expert on contractual and commercial issues.
• Negotiate upstream and downstream contracts, ensuring optimal risk allocation.
• Oversee project reporting cycles, validating forecasts and ensuring accurate revenue recognition.
• Drive cash collection performance and enforce disciplined invoicing and certification processes.
• Support efficient project delivery, identifying risks and driving dispute avoidance strategies.
• Lead commercial input into tenders, ensuring robust contract reviews and risk assessments.
• Provide commercial insight to support strategic planning and business growth.

Requirements

Leadership & Behavioural Attributes

Murphy is unable to employ anyone who does not have the legal right to live and work in the UK

Murphy is seeking an experienced Head of Commercial to provide strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio of projects in the construction and infrastructure sector. Reporting to the Business Unit Managing Director, this role will be pivotal in driving commercial governance, ensuring disciplined processes, and supporting the delivery of sustainable growth.

• Hands-on leader, able to balance strategic oversight with detailed involvement.
• Ability to consolidate project performance into management accounts.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary commercial teams (30+ people).
• Strong knowledge of JCT and NEC contracts.
• Senior commercial leadership within UK construction or infrastructure.
• Knowledge of both main contractor and subcontractor delivery models.
• Engaging, credible, and inspirational leadership style.
• Comfortable operating at executive level with agility across diverse portfolios.
• Strong relationship builder across clients, supply chain, and internal teams.
• Proven track record managing portfolios or business units.
• Experience scaling up from SME environments.
• Expertise in contract negotiation, change control, procurement, and dispute resolution.
• Clear, authoritative communicator with evidence-led decision-making.
• Experience at business unit or workstream leadership level.
• Chartered MRICS or FRICS status.
• Diplomatic approach to dispute resolution while maintaining positive relationships.
• Background in Power, Civils, or related sectors.

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance