Commercial Manager

Do you have proven experience as a Commercial Manager within the UK residential contracting market?

Wates are looking to appoint an experienced Commercial Manager to join our Residential business, based out of Basingstoke. The role will operate across the Southern region, providing commercial leadership and support to multiple project teams from pre‑construction through delivery and defects.

You will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of residential projects at varying stages, managing and developing commercial teams on site, and ensuring robust commercial governance, compliance, and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.

The role will require regular travel to sites across the South to provide hands‑on support, challenge, and leadership to the commercial function.

As a Commercial Manager, you will:

• Lead and manage multiple commercial teams across a range of residential projects.
• Provide commercial support from bid stage / pre‑construction, through contract delivery, final accounts, and defects period.
• Maintain high standards of commercial governance, compliance, and reporting.
• Support project teams with cost planning, procurement strategies, risk management, and change control.
• Act as a key interface with internal stakeholders, clients, consultants, and the wider supply chain.
• Ensure timely and accurate commercial reporting, cost forecasting, and performance management.
• Promote best practice, consistency, and continuous improvement across the commercial teams.

About you:

• Proven experience in a Commercial Manager role within the UK residential contracting market.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and developing commercial teams across multiple projects.
• Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle, from pre‑construction through to completion and defects.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders, with clear and effective reporting capabilities.
• Excellent knowledge of commercial governance, compliance, and contractual best practice.
• Willing and able to travel regularly across sites in the Southern region.
• A proactive, collaborative leader with a hands‑on approach.

Our commitments: 

Wates is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.  We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement, as we value transferable skills and assess all applications fairly.

We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work.  As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme.  Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at recruitment@wates.co.uk