Commercial Manager
Location: Cornwall | Hybrid working
Salary: £56,197
Closing date: Midday 24 November 2026
Interviews (in person): 9 December 2026
Leading and developing Cornwall Housing’s commercial capability, including its quantity surveying function.
About this opportunity
Cornwall Housing manages and maintains around 10,200 council homes on behalf of Cornwall Council. On 1st October 2026, the Council announced a C2 grading following an inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing. Cornwall Housing’s services formed a significant part of that inspection, which recognised progress in resident safety, engagement and investment in homes, alongside areas for further improvement.
Building on this progress, we have created a Commercial Manager role to strengthen how we manage the cost, performance and value of our property services contracts. You will help ensure that sound commercial decisions support reliable services, effective investment and better outcomes for residents.
You will be our senior commercial lead across repairs, voids, planned maintenance, capital works, adaptations and other property contracts. Leading our quantity surveying and commercial support capability, you will oversee cost control, forecasting, contract variations, commercial risk and assurance. You will work closely with operational leaders and contractors to understand what the figures reveal, challenge performance constructively and turn that insight into better delivery.
We are seeking someone with strong commercial management and cost control experience gained through housing, construction, property services or a related field. You will have managed substantial contracts and mixed delivery arrangements, and be comfortable interpreting contractual obligations, resolving issues and advising senior colleagues. Experience of procurement and retendering matters, but the heart of this role is commercial assurance and contract performance.
You will combine analytical strength with the ability to explain complex information clearly and work well with people across different functions. You will know that value for money means more than the lowest price: it means making sound decisions about cost, quality, capacity and the service residents receive.
The role follows Cornwall Housing’s hybrid working model and involves regular travel and attendance at face-to-face meetings.
Full job brief
Equal opportunities
As part of Public Leaders Appointments’ commitment to inclusive recruitment, we invite candidates to complete a short, confidential equality monitoring questionnaire. Participation is voluntary and the information is kept separate from the selection process. It is used only for anonymised reporting and to help us evaluate the reach and inclusivity of our recruitment work.
Please use code CHL-COMMERCIAL-26
How to Apply
If you are interested in this opportunity, we strongly encourage a confidential conversation with Public Leaders Appointments before submitting your application. This is an opportunity to explore the role, Cornwall Housing’s context and the practical expectations in more detail.
Contact Melissa Stewart, Consultant – melissa@publicleadersappointments.com
What to do next:
- Your application should consist of a CV and covering letter, each of no more than three sides of A4. Your covering letter should explain your motivation for applying and demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role.
- Please also provide contact details for two professional referees who can comment authoritatively on you as a person and as an employee. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.
- Remember to fill in the Equal Opportunities form at the top right section of this page upon application.
- Applications should be sent to: applications@publicleadersappointments.com using the reference “CHL Commercial”.
Following consideration of applications and shortlisting, selected candidates will be invited to the final assessment process.