Commercial Lead (Head of) - PBSA & Mixed-Use

Salary: £100,000 - £125,000 (DOE)
Location: London
Sector: Property Development | Construction | Living / PBSA
Contract: Permanent, Full Time

The Opportunity

An established, privately owned UK property developer is seeking an experienced Commercial Lead to join its London-based team.

This role will act as the Commercial lead across a growing portfolio of large-scale purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and mixed-use developments located across major UK cities.

Reporting directly to the Group Construction Director, the successful candidate will take ownership of commercial strategy, cost planning and procurement from early-stage feasibility through pre-construction, delivery and final account. You will work closely with the Acquisitions, Development and Construction teams to ensure projects remain commercially viable while delivering high-quality schemes.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially astute professional to influence major development projects and play a key role in a rapidly expanding developer environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the client-side commercial lead across multiple development projects nationwide

• Manage cost planning, benchmarking and commercial reporting across the development portfolio

• Provide cost input into development feasibility and viability assessments for new acquisitions

• Develop and implement procurement strategies for main contractors and specialist packages

• Support contractor procurement including PQQs, tender analysis, second-stage negotiations and contract documentation

• Manage and monitor project budgets through design, pre-construction and delivery stages

• Oversee change control, valuations, forecasts and cost risk management during construction

• Liaise with external quantity surveyors and cost consultants and manage their performance

• Provide cost, programme and cashflow information to support development appraisals and funder reporting

• Assist with negotiating commercial terms with contractors, consultants and suppliers

• Support drawdown processes and liaise with funders and monitoring surveyors

• Monitor contractor performance in relation to cost and commercial compliance

• Oversee post-Practical Completion commercial matters including final accounts, defects costs and retention release

About You

You are a commercially driven construction professional with strong cost management expertise and the confidence to operate within a client-side development environment.

Essential experience

• Background in quantity surveying or commercial management within construction

• Typically 5+ years' post-qualification experience in a developer, main contractor or consultancy environment

• Strong knowledge of JCT Design & Build contracts

• Experience in main contractor procurement, including PCSA and pre-construction phases

• Strong understanding of:

  • Construction cost planning and budget management

  • Procurement strategy and risk management

  • Cashflow forecasting and cost reporting

  • Building Safety Act and Golden Thread requirements

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

Desirable

• Chartered status (MRICS or equivalent)

• Experience working on PBSA, residential, hotel or mixed-use developments

• Exposure to schemes with construction values £25m+

• Experience supporting development viability assessments

• Knowledge of funder monitoring surveyor processes and development finance structures

Why Apply?

• Senior client-side role within a growing national developer

• Opportunity to influence commercial strategy across multiple large-scale schemes

• Exposure to projects in major UK cities with values typically between £30m and £90m

• Competitive salary and strong long-term career progression