Commercial Leader

Laing O'Rourke group; Bristol; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm is looking for a Senior Commercial Manager to oversee the commercial function in a key healthcare infrastructure project in Bristol. This role involves shaping the commercial strategy, managing forecasts, budgets, and cost reporting, and leading the commercial team. Ideal candidates will have experience in senior commercial roles in construction and a degree in Quantity Surveying or related fields. This position offers career progression opportunities within the firm.

Qualifications

• Experienced in a senior commercial role within major construction or infrastructure environments.
• Comfortable working with NEC or similar contract forms.
• Professional membership (e.g., RICS) is advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Shape and oversee the commercial strategy for the Bristol Hospital project.
• Lead accurate forecasting, budgeting, cost management and reporting.
• Support identification and management of commercial risks and opportunities.
• Provide supportive leadership to the commercial team.
• Build and maintain positive client and stakeholder relationships.
• Ensure alignment with commercial governance and policies.
• Contribute to supply chain engagement strategies.

Skills

Commercial strategy management

Communication skills

Relationship building

Problem-solving skills

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management

Job description

Senior Commercial Manager — Bristol Hospital

Location: Bristol
Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time

What Does The Role Look Like?

Laing O'Rourke is seeking an experienced and collaborative Senior Commercial Manager to guide the commercial function on the flagship Bristol Hospital project — one of the region's most important healthcare infrastructure programmes. This is an opportunity to play a key role in delivering a complex, multi‑disciplinary project that will benefit local communities for years to come.

Is There Future Career Progression?

This position also offers a clear development pathway: Successful delivery of the Bristol Hospital project to a high standard will place the post‑holder in a strong position for promotion to Commercial Leader within the business.

What Are The Key Responsibilities?

• Shape and oversee the commercial strategy for the Bristol Hospital project, ensuring alignment with contract requirements, programme objectives and commercial targets.
• Lead accurate forecasting, budgeting, cost management and reporting across all work packages.
• Support the identification and management of commercial risks and opportunities, including change control, claims and contract matters.
• Provide thoughtful, supportive leadership to the commercial team, encouraging a collaborative and inclusive working environment.
• Build and maintain positive client and stakeholder relationships, acting as a trusted and approachable commercial partner.
• Ensure alignment with Laing O'Rourke's commercial governance, policies and procedures.
• Contribute to supply chain engagement strategies, tender assessments and procurement decisions.

What Experience Are We Seeking?

• Experienced in a senior commercial role within major construction or infrastructure environments.
• Comfortable working with NEC or similar contract forms.
• Strong communication, relationship‑building and problem‑solving skills.
• Able to bring clarity to complex commercial situations and support informed, balanced decision‑making.
• Committed to nurturing and developing others within the team.
• Degree‑qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Professional membership (e.g., RICS) is advantageous but not essential.

About Us:

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [e-mail]