Commercial Director – Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
About Barhale
Who are Barhale?
Barhale is a business founded on family values, having been established by our Chairman, Dennis Curran, in 1980. We are one of the largest privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure specialists in the UK, with over 40 years of experience in providing design, civil engineering and maintenance services working across multiple sectors, including:
- Water
- Transport
- Built environment
- Energy
We operate as a tier one partner for blue chip, regulated and private clients, working as part of large frameworks, joint ventures and alliances, as well as on individual standalone projects, developing long-term relationships based on delivering to the Barhale values which have been integral to our business since their inception in 1985.
Our direct delivery model is at the core of everything we do, as we believe that people are our greatest asset. Therefore, we robustly source, train and retain all our own frontline delivery teams as well as management and support services. We employ over 1,200 employees nationwide.
We possess a range of specialist skills to support our civil engineering and infrastructure activities, including:
- Tunnelling
- MEICA
- Temporary and permanent design
- Steel-fabrication
- Signs (design and fabrication)
- Health & safety equipment and products, including PPE
Company Website:
Company Showcase Video:
Why join Barhale?
- As Gold Investors in People, we are committed to a high standard of people practices, creating an inclusive environment and ensuring cultural alignment to business strategy, ethos and philosophies.
- Job security, long-term secured work through various frameworks and large infrastructure schemes
- A broad range of civil engineering, mechanical and electrical schemes across some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects and clients
- Strong career progression as demonstrated by our track record in promoting from within, as we believe this is a key driver of our success
Commercial Director
The Role
We’re the @one Alliance – a ground-breaking collaboration between Anglian Water and seven industry-leading partners: Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska and SWECO. Together we’re delivering one of the UK’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure investment programmes.
The Commercial Director provides strategic and operational leadership across all commercial activities, ensuring effective commercial management, robust contract administration, and high-performing supply chain delivery. The role is accountable for establishing and maintaining commercial frameworks that deliver value, manage risk, and support successful programme and project outcomes.
As the Commercial Director, you will be responsible for developing and executing commercial strategic plans to drive outperformance.
Be accountable for the commercial performance for @one. Build strong partner relationships to drive collaboration and integration. Utilise these to achieve better value as an alliance.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
- Provide visible and effective leadership across commercial, procurement, estimating and contract management functions.
- Set the strategic direction for commercial activities aligned with organisational objectives.
- Build, lead, and develop high-performing commercial teams, embedding a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Act as a senior advisor to executive leadership on commercial matters, enabling informed decision-making.
- Promote organisational values and drive consistency of commercial practices across programmes and projects.
- Ensure appropriate governance, assurance, and reporting frameworks are in place and operating effectively
- Build strong relationships with the Anglian Water Commercial Director and team.
Delivery
- Ensure effective contract management and administration across all tiers (including contractor and subcontractor levels).
- Lead change management processes, ensuring contractual changes are managed and documented effectively.
- Provide assurance that contractual obligations are met and that contractual risks are effectively managed.
- Establish and maintain robust commercial governance frameworks, ensuring clear decision-making structures and authorities.
- Lead the production of accurate, timely, and insightful commercial and financial reporting for executive and board-level stakeholders.
- Ensure transparent performance reporting, including cost, value, risk, and forecast positions.
- Provide assurance over the integrity of commercial data, reporting systems, and controls.
- Support governance forums, boards, and committees with high-quality analysis and recommendations.
- Ensure compliance with internal governance standards, external regulations, and audit requirements
Commercial Awareness
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve commercial strategies that optimise value, manage risk, and ensure financial viability.
- Lead cost management activities including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and value engineering.
- Ensure robust financial and commercial reporting, including performance tracking and variance analysis.
- Oversee commercial risk and opportunity management, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, and organisational requirements in all commercial activities.
- Oversee the development, negotiation, and implementation of contracts and commercial agreements.
- Proactively manage and resolve commercial issues, disputes, and claims to achieve optimal outcomes.
Stakeholder & Communications
- Lead supply chain strategy, including sourcing, procurement, and supplier relationship management.
- Ensure effective procurement practices that deliver value for money and align with programme requirements.
- Oversee supply chain performance, including quality, cost, delivery, and compliance.
- Ensure resilient and sustainable supply chain practices are embedded across all activities.
- Oversee supply chain performance, including quality, cost, delivery, and compliance.
Innovation
- Establish and maintain standardised contract management processes, tools, and controls.
- Promote innovation and continuous improvement within the supply chain.
- Drive continuous improvement in reporting, data quality, and commercial insights to support strategic decisions.
- Drive continuous improvement and efficiency initiatives across commercial operations
- Build and maintain collaborative, high-performing relationships with suppliers, contractors, and partners at Board and Operational levels.
Diversity and Inclusion
- Champion an inclusive, respectful, and ethical working environment where all colleagues and stakeholders feel valued and supported.
- Encourage diverse viewpoints, foster openness, and celebrate contributions across the organisation.
- Embed diversity and inclusion principles into ways of working, leading initiatives that shape culture and inspire inclusion as a shared value.
- Promote continuous learning and improvement, applying lessons learned and frameworks such as PAS 2080 to enhance solutions, processes, and sustainability.
People Development
- Provide values-led leadership, cultivating a positive, inclusive culture where diversity is embraced and colleagues feel recognised and heard.
- Take ownership of your own development while actively supporting others, identifying strengths, development needs, and career aspirations.
- Drive team wellbeing and performance, encouraging constructive challenge, innovation and accountability.
- Develop talent and succession plans, ensuring effective resource planning and capability building to reduce organisational risk.
- Consistently model organisational values and behaviours in all actions and decisions.
About you
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent) in a relevant subject i.e. Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Finance, Engineering or equivalent experience
- Extensive senior-level commercial leadership experience at a strategic level managing complex infrastructure development and delivery at the £multi-million project/programme level
- Direct project financing experience, including setting up and executing the funding of large (relevant scale) deal transactions
- Experience of working within a regulatory environment to design, negotiate and deliver infrastructure delivery models
- Commercial leadership of large (relevant scale) design and build contractor management
- Experienced and inspirational leader of multi-discipline, multi-organisation blended delivery teams
- Extensive experience of managing multiple stakeholder groups both internally and externally
- Highly skilled in the use of standard forms of contract and developing commercial strategies, particularly NEC
- Professionally qualified and experienced – for example within a relevant recognised procurement, commercial, finance, legal or engineering and/or project management institution
- Able to operate with gravitas and credibility at an executive level, partnering with external stakeholders and uniting different stakeholders to lead cross functional teams to deliver a significant infrastructure programme
Desirable
- Experience in water sector
Caring and investing in you
Our values have been embedded at Barhale for over 40 years, and they are our guiding principles regarding how we care and invest in people. Our values are our commitment to being a people-centric company.
As a Gold Investors in People company and a Sunday Times 100 Best Company to Work For, we are committed to investing in people. We are passionate about creating a working environment where people are supported throughout their careers, where people can enjoy security and be part of a company that cares about them.
From the moment you join us, your well-being and career aspirations will be supported by.
- Competitive salary
- Company Pension
- Life Assurance
- Private Medical
- 25 days of annual leave in addition to 8 public bank holidays and loyalty days
- 8 hours volunteering
- Employee Assistance Programme to support your mental, physiological and financial wellbeing
- Flexible benefits via salary sacrifice
- Company car/green car scheme/car allowance/Van (dependent on position)
- Leadership & management training and coaching
- Regular line management engagement and appraisal to support your career progression
- Development supported by internal and externally delivered training
- Continuous service awards
Would you like to know more?
Please contact our Recruitment team via careers@barhale.co.uk
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