Head of Commercial

Head of Commercial

Location: Bedfordshire (with hybrid working)
Reporting to: Assistant Director of Development

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially astute Head of Commercial to lead procurement, commercial and risk management activity across our Development directorate.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for ensuring our new homes are compliant, delivered efficiently, and to the highest standards. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping specifications, managing risk at precontract stage and providing expert commercial and contractual advice throughout the development lifecycle.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading on procurement, commercial strategy and risk management for new development projects

• Owning and maintaining Employer’s Requirements, Design Briefs and specifications across all tenure types

• Chairing and leading the Specification Review Group, ensuring continuous improvement driven by lessons learnt and customer feedback

• Providing build cost budgets, procurement advice and value engineering input to support new business opportunities

• Ensuring all contractual documentation, due diligence and risk mitigation is in place before contracts are entered into

• Leading and managing the Employer’s Agent Framework, including performance management and allocation of work

• Leading on compliance with H&S and CDM, providing expert advice and guidance to the development team

• Supporting our delivery teams with commercial advice and dispute avoidance

• Monitoring construction cost trends, benchmarking and value for money

• Contributing to budget setting, financial control and audits within the Commercial and Technical function

What we’re looking for

You’ll bring strong leadership skills, commercial expertise and the confidence to influence at senior level.

Essential:

• Proven experience providing commercial, procurement, risk and technical advice on residential development schemes

• Strong background in contract administration (ideally JCT Design & Build) at senior QS or Commercial Manager level

• Expertise in preparing, negotiating and reviewing building contracts and professional appointments

• Excellent knowledge of construction legislation, including CDM Regulations

• Experience of leading teams and managing people

• Strong analytical, negotiating and communication skills

• Professional membership (e.g. RICS, CIOB, RIBA) or equivalent experience

• Chartered Quantity Surveyor or equivalent qualification

• Commitment to ongoing CPD

Desirable:

• Experience within the affordable housing sector

• Knowledge of planning legislation and sustainable construction

• Understanding of Homes England funding and development appraisal models

Why join bpha?

At bpha, we’re committed to building quality homes and thriving communities. You’ll be joining an organisation that values collaboration, innovation and professional growth, where your expertise will genuinely shape how we deliver our development programme.

How to apply

If you’re ready to make a real impact and lead commercial excellence across our development programme, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note that applications will be reviewed as received, bpha reserves the right to close applications prior to the advertised end date. We recommend early applications to avoid disappointment.