Job Description

Overview

The Commercial Director for the Buildings & Places business is a key member of the business leadership team, responsible for driving commercial excellence, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, and delivering strategic business outcomes. This role will inspire and evolve our commercial, risk and procurement function, to support sustainable growth and client satisfaction. Job Location: Across UK hubs (London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol).

Your role

Commercial Strategy

• Collaborate with client-facing teams to identify and develop new business opportunities through innovative and commercially sound structures.
• Shape and operationalize commercial strategies that drive profitable growth, staying ahead of industry trends and regulatory changes.
• Influence regional and global commercial policies to align with evolving client needs and maximize value to the business.
• Maintain alignment with the company's purpose, values, and aspirations in all commercial activities.

People and Culture - Business partnering & stakeholder management

• Lead and grow a high-performing team of commercial, risk, and procurement professionals (currently 6 FTE), fostering innovation and talent development.
• Promote commercial acumen across the division through training, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.
• Build strong relationships with divisional leaders to anticipate and meet future commercial function demands.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior commercial stakeholders within our clients.

Commercial & Operational Management

• Lead commercial and risk governance for the Buildings & Places business as well as being the commercial lead for specific major projects and frameworks.
• Provide strategic guidance and hands-on support to secure new contracts, working closely with client-facing teams.
• Act as the relationship lead for key clients and supply chain partners, and as the point of escalation for significant issues and disputes.
• Own and manage the division's commercial risk profile, including the development and oversight of risk mitigation frameworks and supporting processes for both pre and post contract.
• Act as the primary liaison with Legal, focusing on contract approvals and commercial dispute resolution.
• Support other business units and regions as an objective reviewer for large and complex opportunities (Red Reviewer).
• Champion and optimize key commercial systems such as iGate and PAS.
• Support the Direct Procurement Function(s) in executing contracts and managing commercial engagements with partners and suppliers.

Innovation and Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in commercial practices, ensuring the business remains competitive and responsive to market changes.
• Embed excellence in commercial execution through proactive leadership, creating efficiencies through use of technology as well as offshore capability combined with collaboration from other functions.

About you

• Proven senior leadership experience, ideally within a growing consultancy, professional services, or delivery contractor business.
• Hands-on commercial leader.
• Experience managing commercial teams within multi-disciplinary project environments.
• Strong commercial acumen with expertise in risk management, governance, assurance, and compliance.
• Demonstrated success working with large public and public sector clients.
• Familiarity with NEC and other industry contracts is essential.
• Experience working in large organizations with robust governance frameworks.
• Skilled in business management, data-driven decision-making, and balancing internal risk with evolving client needs.
• Track record of operating across company boundaries, including Joint Ventures and complex stakeholder environments.
• Ability to lead both as a divisional senior leader and a subject matter expert in commercial strategy.
• Strategic and operational leadership with a clear vision aligned to industry best practices and regulatory trends.
• Collaborative and influential communicator with strong leadership, presentation, and persuasion skills.
• Passionate about people and culture, acting as an ally for inclusive and sustainable growth.
• Goal-oriented, persistent, and adaptable, with the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively.
• Proactive and innovative, advocating for pragmatic solutions and continuous improvement.
• Strong interpersonal skills, fostering positive relationships with senior leaders, clients, and stakeholders.
• Committed to client-first thinking and growing a sustainable, values-driven business.
• Degree in relevant related field or equivalent experience.
• Track record of senior operational leadership roles.
• Proven track record of delivering operational excellence and managing complex, cross-functional teams.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive - at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

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Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.