M&E Commercial Director

Company Overview

Our client is a renowned international contractor specialising in delivering highly complex mechanical and electrical packages for clients with demanding requirements within the built environment. Operating at the core of critical infrastructure, their work demands precision, reliability, and consistent high performance.

The company has built a reputation for engineering excellence and dependable project delivery, becoming a trusted partner to blue-chip end users and main contractors, particularly in the data centre, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Many client relationships are long-term, spanning multiple programmes, and backed by a proven track record of on-time, on-budget delivery meeting rigorous technical standards.

There is strong, continuous demand across mission-critical and high-tech sectors, generating a solid project pipeline across Europe. To support this growth phase, the business is expanding its senior leadership team by hiring a Commercial Director who can provide strategic insight, rigour, and leadership across a growing regional portfolio.

This organisation invests in its leaders, offering senior staff significant autonomy, a strategic voice, and strong organisational support that values results and long-term dedication.

Working Environment & Projects

You will be responsible for the commercial performance across a range of large, rapid-delivery M&E programmes, involving mechanical, electrical, and process-critical installations with stringent schedules and specifications. Given the scale and complexity, your commercial leadership will directly influence business outcomes.

Reporting to senior management, you will oversee a team of commercial managers and quantity surveyors working on multiple simultaneous projects. Collaboration is key, working closely with operations, engineering, and pre-construction leaders in an accountable and commercially sharp environment with open communication lines bridging site teams to executives.

The role is based in Dublin, with frequent travel to project sites across Europe to ensure firsthand oversight, client engagement, and leadership impact at an international level. You will manage commercial outcomes throughout the project lifecycle — from tender strategy and contract negotiation to final account settlements.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive strategic commercial leadership for multiple European M&E projects, focusing on margin, cash flow, and financial performance.
• Lead and mentor a regional team of commercial managers and quantity surveyors, establishing standards and enhancing capability.
• Collaborate with pre-construction and estimating leadership to oversee tender reviews, pricing strategies, and bid approvals.
• Manage negotiation and administration of main contracts and subcontracts, including bespoke NEC, FIDIC, and JCT forms.
• Direct commercial risk and opportunity management, implementing robust change control and early entitlement identification.
• Supervise cost value reconciliations, forecasting, and monthly financial reporting to executive leadership.
• Take senior responsibility for final account negotiations and resolving complex commercial disputes.
• Foster trusted relationships with clients, main contractors, and key supply chain partners at senior levels.
• Contribute to broader business strategy, commercial governance, and continuous enhancement of commercial processes.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Extensive commercial management experience within M&E contracting or specialist building services, ideally at Commercial Director or senior Head of Commercial level.
• Proven success leading commercial performance on multiple large-scale, technically complex projects concurrently.
• Experience in data centre, life sciences, pharmaceutical, or advanced manufacturing sectors is advantageous but not mandatory.
• In-depth knowledge of international contract forms and demonstrated excellence in contract negotiation and dispute resolution.
• Educational background in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or related field; MRICS or MSCSI chartership is preferred.
• Strong track record in leading, developing, and retaining high-performing commercial teams across different locations.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across European project sites from the Dublin base.

Compensation and Benefits

The position offers a base salary of €170,000 plus an executive-level benefits package that generally includes a performance-based bonus, car or car allowance, pension scheme, and private healthcare. Beyond financial benefits, this role presents the opportunity to shape commercial strategies at an expanding European operation, advance toward board-level leadership, and leave a lasting impact through leadership on significant mission-critical projects.