Head of Commercial

Working with the Commercial Director to make cost effective decisions and managing risk for the overall success of the business. Ensuring the ongoing development of the commercial teams and direct reports. To ensure the business remains profitable and compliant with legislation at all times.

(No agencies please)

Key responsibilities:

• Liaise with the client, their representatives and other 3rd parties on commercial issues, including the agreement of additional monies.
• Cost and value management for projects, ensuring appropriate procedures are in place.
• Financial reporting for projects.
• Record change and allocate responsibility. Evaluate/recover any change that is not Woodford’s risk/liability including recovery from 3rd parties.
• Risk and opportunity management for projects.
• Manage commercial team to ensure delivery of key responsibilities and develop their knowledge.
• Supervise the preparation of Cost Plans for complex projects, using a range of cost planning techniques and software.
• Interrogate and manage the suite of project cost reports from raw data and provides analysis that can inform key decisions.
• Prepare long term cash forecasts for complex projects, monitor results and interpret reasons for deviations.
• Proactively ensure own and other peoples objectives/activities are aligned to Woodford’s overall objectives.
• Review effectiveness of change procedures and develop improvements where necessary.
• Report risks associated with design liability and draft step-down clauses into Sub-Contractor/ Designer Agreements.
• Prepare and attend pre and post tender presentations to the Client and help lead negotiations to secure projects.
• Ensure a handover meeting is conducted with the Estimating Department in sufficient time to allow the pre-contract tasks to be completed effectively.
• Be fully conversant with the Contract Documentation and raise any anomalies that appear therein with the Commercial Director prior to the execution of the contract.
• Ensure the contractual position is fully understood and cascaded to the other members of the Project Team.
• Advise the Commercial Director of any contractual bonds or warranties required and the timescale for execution and submission.
• Oversee the pre-contract tasks i.e. re-measurement of the works from contract issue drawings, material take-offs etc. are completed to facilitate a smooth commencement of the project and declare any discrepancies found.
• Procurement of any sub-contractors required including the agreement of rates or lump sum costs and issuing of sub-contract orders which should satisfy statutory requirements.
• Ensure that sub-contractors are paid in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Sub-contract for works that are satisfactorily completed, remaining cognisant of the Company’s Accounts Department timescales for payment.
• Identify any potential project risks and maintain a Risk Register detailing the status and value of such risks and any action required or undertaken to mitigate.
• Set up the project reporting regime in line with Company Policy but specifically with regards to the commercial function (Cost / Value Reconciliation, Project Profit & Loss, Debtor Monitor, Turnover projections, Cashflow forecasts etc.) and ensure the timely issue of such reports to the Commercial Director.
• Monitor programme and record any delays to the Main Contractor / Client as soon as they become reasonably apparent.
• As soon as is practicable formulate and issue to the Main Contractor / Client details of any loss and expense incurred or anticipated in relation to any delay suffered demonstrating both the cause and effect of such delay.
• In conjunction with the Construction Team ensure that any additional or varied works are supported by a formal Site Instruction in line with the Terms and Conditions of Contract.
• Properly value all variations with reference to any Bills of Quantities and Contract Schedule of Rates or in the absence of these documents by measurement and the compilation of suitable commercial rates.
• Ensure all variation accounts are suitably detailed and submitted with any necessary supporting information / documentation and identify internally the likely rate of recovery.
• Ensure that all project valuations are submitted in line with the contracted valuation dates ensuring that all works including measured / contract works, variations, materials on site and any claims for prolongation, disruption, out of sequence working or non productive overtime.
• Monitor payment against each valuation and pay specific attention to the period for issue of the certificate and the final date for payment.
• Monitor retentions held and ensure they are released when due i.e. first moiety on Practical Completion, second moiety on completion of the defects liability period.
• Control project costs, including prelim cost, by implementing and maintaining the Company Procedures and accurately reflect any anomalies, utilising Navision.
• Upon Practical Completion of the Sub-Contract works submit the Final Account for the works to the Main Contractor / Client in a timely fashion ensuring that the first 50% moiety of retention monies is released.
• Attend the Project Review Meetings on completion.