COMPANY OVERVIEW
Our client is an established international contractor with a long-standing reputation for delivering technically demanding building projects across the European market. Their work is concentrated in the sectors where complexity, compliance and programme certainty matter most — pharmaceutical and life sciences facilities, data centres and mission critical environments, and advanced industrial and manufacturing complexes.
This is a business that has grown on the strength of repeat client relationships rather than one-off wins. They are trusted by international end users and blue-chip developers to deliver high-value schemes where the engineering content is significant and the tolerance for commercial drift is low. That reputation has translated into a consistently strong order book and a project pipeline that continues to expand across multiple European territories.
Their commercial function is treated as a core delivery discipline rather than a back-office support service. Commercial leads sit close to operations, contribute to procurement and contract strategy from the outset, and carry genuine authority over how projects are set up and run. The senior team is experienced, accessible and open to input from people who have seen how things are done elsewhere.
Continued growth across the region has created the need for an additional senior commercial appointment. This is a role created by expansion rather than by replacement, and the person appointed will have scope to shape how the commercial function operates across a growing regional portfolio.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PROJECTS
You will take commercial ownership across a portfolio of major projects in Central and Northern Europe, working from a base in Poznań with regular travel to project locations and client offices across the region. The portfolio spans high-specification process and manufacturing facilities, mission critical developments and large-scale industrial builds — typically multi-year, multi-package schemes with substantial mechanical and electrical content.
The working culture is straightforward and delivery-focused. Teams are multidisciplinary and international, and communication across engineering, procurement, site and commercial functions is direct rather than layered through process. English is the working language of the wider business, and you will be operating alongside colleagues and supply chain partners from a number of European markets.
The role carries real breadth. You will be involved from tender and contract negotiation through procurement strategy, subcontract packaging, cost and change control, and final account settlement — with visibility of the full commercial position rather than a narrow slice of it. There is significant exposure to senior client stakeholders and to the strategic decisions that determine whether a project performs.
For someone who has built a career on complex building projects and wants a wider regional remit, this is a step up in scope, influence and visibility within a business that is actively growing.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Take overall commercial responsibility for a portfolio of major projects across Central and Northern Europe
- Lead contract negotiation, procurement strategy and subcontract packaging on high-value, technically complex schemes
- Own cost planning, forecasting, valuations and cash flow management across the regional portfolio
- Manage variation, change control and claims processes, protecting commercial position while maintaining client relationships
- Identify, quantify and mitigate commercial risk from tender stage through to final account
- Provide accurate commercial reporting to senior management and support board-level decision making on project performance
- Support bid and tender activity, contributing commercial input to pricing strategy on new opportunities
- Build and develop the commercial team, mentoring quantity surveyors and commercial staff across project locations
- Work closely with operations, engineering and procurement leadership to align commercial and delivery strategy
WHAT YOU NEED
- Substantial commercial experience gained with a medium to large-scale main contractor, ideally progressing through senior quantity surveying into commercial management
- Demonstrable track record on high-value, complex building projects — pharma, life sciences, data centre, industrial or comparable technically demanding sectors is beneficial but not essential
- Strong command of contract administration and forms of contract used on international projects, including FIDIC or equivalent
- Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management or a related discipline
- Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and lead commercial teams across dispersed locations
- Commercially sharp with strong negotiation, reporting and stakeholder management skills
- Fluent English; additional European languages useful but not required
- Willingness to travel regularly across the Central and Northern European region
WHAT YOU'LL GET IN RETURN
A package of €150,000 plus benefits, reflecting the seniority and regional scope of the role. Beyond the headline figure, this is a genuine commercial leadership appointment with a growing international contractor — a broad multi-project remit, direct access to senior decision makers, and the influence to shape how the commercial function operates across the region.
The forward pipeline is strong and the business is expanding across multiple European territories, which creates a realistic and near-term route towards commercial director level for the right person. Relocation support is available where required for candidates moving into the region.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please send an updated CV via the Apply Now button, or contact us directly for a confidential discussion. All approaches are handled in strict confidence and no details are shared with any third party without your prior consent.
Patrick | GEDON Executive
patrick@gedonexecutive.com | +44 7366433676