Commercial Manager.

Essex.

Residential Development.

I’m working exclusively with a residential developer to appoint a Commercial Manager as the business continues to strengthen its commercial and operational capability.

This is an opportunity to join a highly regarded developer with a strong reputation for quality, design excellence, and long-term delivery. The business delivers new-build residential schemes and consistently achieves premium sales values through design-led product and disciplined execution.

The role will work closely with the operational leadership team, reporting directly to the Commercial Director, and will play a pivotal role in tightening commercial control, improving margin visibility, and embedding best-practice commercial management across live projects.

The Role

As Commercial Manager, you will take a hands-on position in the commercial management of residential projects, working closely with construction and operational teams to ensure robust cost control, clear reporting, and proactive risk management.

Key responsibilities include:

• End-to-end commercial management of residential new-build schemes.
• Producing, owning, and presenting cost value reconciliation (CVR) reports and margin analysis.
• Procuring, managing, and administering subcontract packages through to final account.
• Identifying, interrogating, and closing scope gaps and commercial risk.
• Challenging costs, assumptions, and proposals to secure best value without compromising quality.
• Working collaboratively with construction teams to resolve issues in a pragmatic, commercial manner.
• Providing accurate, timely reporting and clear commercial insight to senior leadership.

What They’re Looking For

• Proven commercial management experience within residential construction or development.
• A proactive, delivery-focused mindset — not a passive or purely administrative approach.
• Strong understanding of subcontract procurement, package scope, and risk allocation.
• Confidence interrogating costs, challenging proposals, and managing value.
• A clear and credible communicator, comfortable operating across disciplines and at senior level.
• Strong commercial acumen with a clear understanding of margins, numbers, and accountability.

Why This Opportunity?

This role offers the chance to join a respected developer at a stage where commercial leadership genuinely matters, offering:

• A strong and visible forward pipeline of residential schemes.
• High-quality, design-led projects that consistently outperform the market.
• Direct exposure to senior leadership with genuine influence over outcomes.
• A culture built on accountability, trust, and long-term thinking.
• The opportunity to make a tangible impact by strengthening the fundamentals of the commercial function.

Contact

Dan Petrie

dan.petrie@cognisantsearch.com

07487 795148