VolkerHighways is a market leader in the delivery of highways and street lighting term maintenance contracts. We build strong collaborative relationships with our clients to drive improvements and efficiency in all our activities.
We have the capability to deliver major surfacing and public realm infrastructure projects. Our specialist in-house traffic management division provides expert advice and support across the industry, whilst assisting with our own, in-house contracts.
Working closely with the Commercial Director, the Commercial Manager has overall responsibility for the commercial performance of projects and frameworks across Luton and West Berkshire, providing leadership and assurance across work winning, pre‑construction and delivery. The role ensures robust commercial control, risk management and profitable outcomes while developing teams and maintaining strong client and supply‑chain relationships.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead all commercial and contractual aspects of projects and frameworks, ensuring effective cost control, forecasting, change management, cash flow, WIP and profitability
- Provide commercial leadership across work winning, tenders and bids, including contractual risk review, pricing strategy and TUPE considerations
- Oversee pre‑construction activities, ensuring contracts align with tender submissions, commercial strategies are agreed and teams are fully briefed
- Maintain accurate reporting in line with Group systems, governance and financial reporting requirements
- Carry out regular commercial health checks, ensuring compliance with contracts, notifications and internal policies
- Ensure projects are cash positive and risks, disputes and opportunities are proactively managed
- Build and maintain strong client, supplier and subcontractor relationships to maximise commercial opportunities
- Lead, develop and resource commercial teams, including mentoring, succession planning and performance management
- Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, collaboration, inclusion and right‑first‑time delivery
- Support business improvement, continuous development and external representation of VolkerHighways
About you
You will be an experienced commercial professional with a strong track record of delivering successful Highways Maintenance contracts.
- Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying or similar, with extensive post‑qualification experience in a commercial role
- Proven expertise in commercial and contractual management on Highway Maintenance frameworks, including risk, change control, reporting and forecasting
- Strong problem‑solver, able to manage complex or ambiguous issues through effective relationship building
- Confident decision‑maker who leads by example and supports, coaches and develops others
- Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to drive improvement and change
- Clear communicator with the desire to make a positive impact on projects, teams and the wider business
If your past experience doesn’t match perfectly with every requirement of the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for us.
Why work with us?
VolkerHighways is under the umbrella of VolkerWessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure.
By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within VolkerWessels UK, VolkerHighways are able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients.
We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees.
We offer a range of benefits, including:
- Competitive salary
- Company car or car allowance options
- Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday
- Option to buy additional annual leave
- Private medical care
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts
- Training and development opportunities-comprehensive skills-based training
- Family friendly polices including enhanced maternity benefit
- Flexible working opportunities
- Employee Assistance programme
- Mental health, physical health, and financial support
- 24/7 Virtual GP service
Fairness, inclusion and respect
We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect. So, our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, VolkerWessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive.
If you need support with your application, please contact us at careers@volkerwessels.co.uk
Additional information
Note for Recruitment Agencies:
Our preference is to hire directly, and we will reach out to our Preferred Supplier List (PSL) agencies if this particular role qualifies for release.
We kindly request that you refrain from sending speculative CVs. In the event of speculative CV submissions, no fees will be applicable, and we kindly ask that all inquiries to be directed to careers@volkerwessels.co.uk
VolkerWessels UK is committed to maintaining healthy, safe and productive working conditions for its entire staff and therefore a drugs & alcohol screening is mandatory for all.
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