Full job description

HEAD OF COMMERCIAL & PROJECT DELIVERY

Location: Kent / Southern Home Counties
Salary: Up to £85,000 + 10% bonus
Vacancy Reference: 5505


Are you an experienced commercial and project delivery leader ready to take ownership of project revenue, gross margin and forecasting performance within a highly respected specialist business?
We are working with a market-leading organisation providing high-security entrance and access control solutions across government, critical infrastructure and commercial environments.
This is a senior, business-critical role working directly with the Managing Director. Sitting between sales, project delivery, finance and operations, you will ensure that projects are delivered commercially and operationally in line with commitments, invoiced on time and protected from margin erosion.
You will lead Project Managers and suppliers, improve forecast accuracy, strengthen commercial controls and drive greater accountability across the delivery function.


Location: Candidates must be based in the Southern Home Counties or within sensible commuting distance of Central Kent. The preferred arrangement is 2–3 days per week in the office, with flexibility for an exceptional candidate.

Why This Role Stands Out

*Senior leadership position with ownership of project revenue, gross margin and forecasting.
*Direct influence over commercial performance after order intake.
*Lead Project Managers and suppliers against delivery, invoicing and margin targets.
*Improve accountability, reduce commercial leakage and protect EBITDA.
*Join a respected business delivering high-quality solutions in demanding environments.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Ownership & Margin Protection


*Own commercial performance after order intake, ensuring revenue and margin are actively managed.
*Protect EBITDA through strong commercial governance and timely intervention.
*Monitor project margins, identify erosion and implement corrective action.
*Oversee contract reviews, variations, payment applications and final accounts.
*Manage credit and cashflow risks.
*Lead margin recovery through variation strategies, cost control and commercial challenge.
*Maintain accurate commercial reporting and SIMPRO system workflows.


Forecasting & Project Control


*Own forecast accuracy, challenging and validating Project Manager assumptions.
*Hold Project Managers accountable for forecasts, delivery commitments and commercial performance.
*Drive backlog conversion from order intake through to invoicing.
*Ensure forecasts are evidence-based and reflect actual delivery conditions.
*Intervene where projects are delayed or commitments are at risk.
*Chair operations meetings focused on delivery, margins, forecast accuracy and corrective action.


Leadership & Supplier Management


*Lead, develop and improve the project delivery function.
*Set clear expectations for commercial discipline, accountability and delivery standards.
*Improve consistency and performance across the Project Management team.
*Hold teams accountable for outcomes while enabling effective decision-making.
*Manage supplier and subcontractor performance against quality, cost and programme commitments.
*Reduce routine escalation to the Managing Director by strengthening leadership below MD level.


Health & Safety & Cross-Functional Working


*Provide oversight of site risks, health and safety and delivery compliance.
*Ensure robust risk assessment, reporting and escalation processes.
*Work closely with the Head of Sales to improve handovers, pipeline realism and delivery readiness.
*Align sales commitments, project delivery and financial outcomes.
*Partner with finance while retaining ownership of operational and commercial delivery performance.

Skills & Experience

We are looking for someone with:


*Senior leadership experience in commercial, project delivery or operational roles within construction, engineered systems, security, access control or similar project-led sectors.
*Strong understanding of P&L, EBITDA, gross margin and commercial accountability.
*Proven experience leading Project Managers and delivery teams against revenue, invoicing and margin targets.
*Strong construction and project delivery knowledge.
*Experience managing change control, variations, forecasting and operational risk.
*Ability to align sales commitments with operational delivery.
*Strong leadership presence and confidence challenging performance and improving standards.
*Knowledge of UK construction, installation and Health & Safety frameworks.
*Excellent communication, organisation and commercial judgement.

Security Clearance

*Eligibility for SC clearance is essential and non-negotiable.
*DV clearance is preferable (typically requiring British citizenship and 5+ years’ UK residency).

The Opportunity

This is more than a traditional Head of Project Delivery role. You will take ownership of how the business converts sold work into delivered and invoiced revenue, protecting margins while improving accountability, forecasting and commercial control.
You will have a significant influence on business performance and the opportunity to shape a key function within an established global organisation.

Salary & Benefits

*Salary up to £85,000, depending on experience.
*10% bonus on achievement of the self-funding EBITDA target.
*Electric company car (Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX3 or similar) or competitive car allowance.
*5% employer pension contribution.
*Healthcare and life cover.
*25 days’ holiday.
*Company mobile and laptop.
*Retail discounts.
*Genuine career development and progression opportunities.
If you are a commercially strong leader who can drive project delivery, protect margins and improve business performance, we would love to hear from you.