Commercial Director | Construction
Location: Cork (Hybrid)
Reporting to: Managing Director
Partnership: Morgan McKinley is proud to be partnering exclusively with our client on this senior leadership appointment.
About the Company
For over 30 years, our client has been a market leader in delivering bespoke, high-complexity design and construction solutions for some of the world's most iconic global brands. With a reputation built on converting challenging concepts into reality-particularly within the Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, and Data Center sectors-they are now seeking a strategic and commercially astute Commercial Director to architect the next phase of their business evolution.
The Role: Commercial Strategy & Partnership
The Commercial Director is a high-impact leadership position responsible for the strategic direction, commercial integrity, and revenue growth of the organization. You will act as the bridge between technical engineering excellence and the commercial reality of the market, ensuring the company continues to secure and deliver flagship projects across Ireland and Europe.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Growth & Business Development
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Revenue Strategy: Develop and execute a multi-year commercial strategy to diversify the project portfolio and expand the footprint in mission-critical sectors.
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Pipeline Management: Lead the identification of new business opportunities and strategic partnerships with Tier-1 contractors and global end-users.
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Market Positioning: Act as a key brand ambassador, ensuring the company's unique value proposition is understood by procurement leads and project directors.
2. Tendering & Commercial Risk Management
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Commercial Oversight: Lead the tendering and estimating functions, ensuring all bids are technically robust, commercially viable, and strategically aligned.
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Contract Negotiation: Take ownership of contract reviews and negotiations, managing commercial risk and ensuring favorable terms across multi-million euro project cycles.
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Margin Optimization: Monitor project profitability and implement strategies to optimize margins and cost recovery.
3. Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
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Blue-Chip Partnerships: Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders at world-leading Pharma and Tech organizations.
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Internal Synergy: Work closely with Engineering, Operations, and Finance teams to ensure a unified approach to project delivery.
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Senior Leadership: Act as a core member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), providing data-driven insights to influence business-wide decision-making.
4. People Leadership & Development
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Team Evolution: Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing commercial team, fostering a culture of accountability.
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Capability Building: Lead programs to elevate commercial acumen across the wider organization, ensuring every project lead understands the "Commercial Why."
Ideal Candidate Profile
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Background: 10+ years of senior commercial leadership experience within Construction, Engineering, or Specialist Fit-out.
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Sector Expertise: A deep understanding of the Data Center or Pharmaceutical construction landscape is highly advantageous.
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Acumen: Proven track record in managing complex contracts (FIDIC/RIAI/JCT), P&L accountability, and high-value tender processes.
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Thinker/Do-er: Ability to translate complex project requirements into pragmatic, profitable commercial strategies.
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Communication: A persuasive leader capable of establishing credibility with C-suite executives and site-based teams alike.
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Education: Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, or Business. A postgraduate qualification in Commercial Law or an MBA is a plus.
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to join a small, agile, and tightly knit leadership team where your influence will be felt immediately. You will truly own the commercial roadmap of a successful Irish organization while shaping the future of industrial design and construction.
To Apply: Please submit your CV to Shane Spillane at Morgan McKinley.
