London / Flexible working | Equity opportunity

This is not a traditional Managing Director role.

It’s an opportunity to run a construction business as if it were your own… with genuine autonomy, long-term upside, and the backing of a private owner who believes in trust, judgement and delivery over ego or interference.

If you’re the type of leader who understands that doing the small things brilliantly is often what unlocks the bigger opportunities, read on…

The opportunity…

We are working exclusively with a privately owned construction business that has been delivering complex, high-value projects across London and beyond for over two decades.

The business has:

• Delivered top-tier commercial, refurbishment and mixed-use schemes
• Successfully operated at £30m to £40m turnover with lean, high-quality teams
• Built its reputation on repeat clients, relationships and delivery… not noise, branding or volume

The owner is now ready to appoint a Managing Director to take full responsibility for the construction business, with him moving into a chairman / shareholder role.

This is a planned, long-term appointment … not a turnaround, and not a replacement.

Why this role is different…

• You will have real autonomy to run the business end-to-end
• You won’t be micromanaged, boxed in by layers of governance, or pushed into volume work
• You will work with sophisticated private clients who value judgement, discretion and delivery
• There is meaningful equity / earn-in or buy-in potential, not just a salary

In short, this is a chance to build something of substance over time, not simply hold a title.

The mindset that matters…

This role is fundamentally about how you think and how you operate.

The owner believes there is no job too small when servicing the right client. Sometimes the smaller, less glamorous pieces of work are what earn trust … and trust is what leads to larger, more meaningful commissions.

The successful Managing Director will:

• Take pride in servicing clients properly, regardless of project size, whilst being focused on the notable project wins of course
• Play the long game, building relationships that lead to repeat and larger-scale work
• Win work through credibility, judgement and relationships, not hard selling or marketing spin

That mindset is central to how this business has grown… and how it will continue to grow.

What you will be doing…

This is a genuinely broad, hands-on MD role, covering:

• Winning work through your own network, reputation and relationships
• Identifying and securing notable, multi-million-pound projects
• Shaping bids, pricing and overall commercial strategy
• Leading projects from pre-construction through to delivery
• Owning client relationships and repeat work
• Running the business day-to-day, including full P&L responsibility
• Building and leading a lean, high-performing senior team

The business operates across multiple project typologies, including commercial refurbishments, residential schemes, hospitality, and emerging opportunities in Europe (including hotels and potentially data centres).

The firm has a proven track record of delivering schemes in the £10m to £40m range… and is looking for a leader with the confidence and network to continue securing work at this level.

Who this will suit…

This role is about mindset first, CV second.

You are likely to be someone who:

• Has the confidence and credibility to win work through your own relationships
• Has secured, priced and delivered complex projects… not just managed them
• Is commercially astute and comfortable taking responsibility
• Thrives in lean environments where judgement matters
• Is motivated by ownership, autonomy and long-term value, not corporate hierarchy

This may well be a step-up into your first full Managing Director role, rather than a sideways move for a career MD.

Package & upside…

• Base salary: Up to £120k (flexible for the right individual)
• Equity (earn-in or buy-in)
• Flexible working pattern (London office and/or remote/home-based)
• A genuine opportunity to shape, grow and ultimately own part of a business

Candidates focused purely on base salary are unlikely to be right for this role. Those excited by trust, responsibility and building something meaningful will be.

Interested?...

This role is being handled confidentially on an exclusive basis.

If you’re curious, even if you’re not actively looking, a discreet, exploratory conversation is encouraged. All we require is a CV that evidences the right experience to set up the call.

Sometimes the right role isn’t the obvious next step… it’s the one that finally lets you do things properly!