Head of Commercial

Lanes Group is a leading nationwide utility services provider with over 4,500 dedicated employees. Our diverse subsidiaries drive our success across various sectors, contributing to a remarkable turnover of over £500 million. We are committed to excellence and innovation, ensuring we provide industry leading services to our clients and stakeholders.

Purpose of the role:

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Head of Commercial to lead commercial performance across our Severn Trent Contract.

As a Senior Leader, you will be responsible for setting the commercial strategy, driving financial performance and ensuring robust governance across contracts, programmes and operational activities. Working closely with Severn Trent and internal stakeholders, you will provide strategic commercial leadership to maximise value, manage risk and support the successful delivery of business objectives.

You will be responsible for protecting commercial entitlement, enhancing profitability, strengthening client relationships and embedding commercial best practice across the portfolio.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will play a critical role in supporting the successful delivery of Severn Trent’s investment programmes, fostering collaborative client relationships and developing commercial capability across the organisation. You will lead and mentor commercial teams, driving a culture of commercial excellence, accountability and continuous improvement.

Location: Sheffield/Derby

Key Responsibilities: 

Commercial Leadership and Strategy

• Lead the commercial strategy across the Severn Trent Framework(s), ensuring alignment with client objectives, contractual requirements and business goals.
• Drive commercial performance, profitability and sustainable business growth.
• Support the successful delivery of AMP investment programmes through effective commercial leadership and governance.
• Develop and implement commercial processes, controls and governance standards.
• Support strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting and investment decisions.
• Identify opportunities to drive efficiency, value creation and continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Provide commercial leadership and direction to operational, delivery and finance teams.
• Promote a culture of accountability, commercial awareness and continuous improvement.

Commercial Governance and Performance

• Establish and maintain robust commercial governance across all areas of delivery.
• Lead commercial reviews, CVRs and performance meetings.
• Ensure accurate reporting of revenue, costs, margin, cash flow, risk and opportunities.
• Drive commercial compliance, audit readiness and contractual best practice.
• Monitor commercial performance against budgets, forecasts and strategic targets.
• Identify trends and implement improvement initiatives to enhance commercial outcomes.
• Support business-wide commercial risk management and governance initiatives.

Contract and Risk Management

• Provide senior leadership on NEC3 and NEC4 contract management and administration.
• Ensure contractual obligations, entitlements and risks are effectively managed across the portfolio.
• Oversee change management, Compensation Events, Early Warnings and commercial negotiations.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution through proactive contract management.
• Drive best practice in commercial governance, record keeping and contract administration.
• Support procurement strategies, subcontract management and supply chain performance.
• Provide strategic guidance on complex commercial matters and contractual issues.

Financial Leadership

• Lead the commercial management of profitability, cash performance and financial risk.
• Oversee forecasting, budgeting, revenue recognition and cost management activities.
• Drive cash recovery, margin improvement and value creation initiatives.
• Provide strategic commercial analysis to support business and operational decision-making.
• Support growth opportunities, framework development and mobilisation activities.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve commercial performance and long-term value.

Client and Stakeholder Management

• Act as the senior commercial representative for Lanes Group on our Severn Trent Frameworks.
• Develop and maintain strong strategic relationships with Severn Trent commercial, programme and operational stakeholders.
• Lead commercial negotiations, performance reviews and commercial governance meetings.
• Support collaborative working and long-term partnership objectives.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex commercial matters where required.
• Work closely with Operations, Delivery, Finance, Procurement and Senior Leadership teams.
• Influence and challenge stakeholders to achieve positive commercial outcomes while maintaining strong client relationships.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing commercial function.
• Provide leadership and support to Commercial Managers, Quantity Surveyors and Assistant Quantity Surveyors.
• Set clear objectives, performance expectations and development plans.
• Support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Promote professional development and continuous learning across the team.
• Drive commercial excellence, accountability and best practice.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and results-focused culture.

Skills and Experience Required

Essential

• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline & experience
• Significant experience in a senior commercial leadership role within utilities, infrastructure, civil engineering or major contracting environments.
• Extensive knowledge and practical application of NEC3 and NEC4 contracts.
• Proven experience leading commercial teams and managing large contract portfolios.
• Strong understanding of commercial governance, contractual risk and financial management.
• Demonstrable experience delivering commercial performance, margin improvement and business growth.
• Experience managing senior client relationships and commercial negotiations.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including forecasting, cash flow and business planning.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Experience working within Severn Trent/Wastewater frameworks or similar regulated utility environments.
• Knowledge of AMP programmes and the UK water regulatory environment.
• RICS qualified or equivalent professional qualification
• Experience working within long-term framework agreements and collaborative delivery models.
• Experience supporting business development, bids and strategic growth initiatives.
• Experience leading commercial transformation or process improvement programmes.
• Advanced commercial reporting, analytics and business intelligence capability.

Living the Company Values: 

By embedding our companies core values and purpose into each role, ensures that every employee, regardless of their role or level, understands how their individual development and contributions align with our purpose of ‘improving today for a better tomorrow’.

Each role and value has an alignment to set proficiency levels and expectations, this role holder is expected to:

• Leading:  Acts as a role model, shaping the learning agenda and influencing change.
• Agile:  Anticipates learning needs, adjusts quickly to changing operational contexts.

• Nurturing: Supports the development of others through coaching and structured development plans.
• Engaging: Inspires and motivates learners, builds trust and credibility
• Safe & Secure: Ensures all learning is aligned to safety and compliance standards.

Your Contribution to the company:

• Strive to be always positive and constructive
• Adhere to all company policies
• Straight talking about the facts of the situation – open discussions are the best way to find solutions
• Help others through communicating clearly
• Deliver on commitments
• Ensure that any ideas that may enhance the productivity or systems of the company are brought to the attention of Senior Management, or your colleagues
• Deliver our Company Values understanding that by working together in unity we are ‘Stronger Together’

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

At Lanes Group, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We believe that our differences make us stronger and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. Join us in our commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse world.