Commercial Manager - Engineering & Infrastructure

Our cliient comprises a number of specialist engineering and construction businesses
delivering design, consultancy, project management and construction services across the UK
and Ireland. Operating within the utilities, energy and infrastructure sectors, their companies
deliver complex engineering projects from feasibility and design through to construction and
commissioning.

As the Group continues to grow, they are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to
strengthen our commercial capability, support our project teams and help protect the
commercial interests of the business. This is a permanent staff position, working on a hybrid basis from their offices in Ringwood, Hampshire.

Role Purpose
The Commercial Manager will provide commercial leadership across the Group's engineering
and construction projects, ensuring contracts are negotiated on appropriate terms, commercial
risks are effectively managed and project teams receive practical commercial support
throughout project delivery.

Working closely with directors, project managers and business unit leaders, the role will help
maximise project profitability by providing robust contract review, commercial advice and NEC
expertise while improving commercial consistency across the Group.

Whilst the role will contribute to the continued development of commercial procedures and
governance, its primary focus is supporting live projects, protecting commercial performance
and ensuring the business enters into contracts with a clear understanding of risk.

Key Responsibilities
Contract Review & Negotiation
* Review, negotiate and advise on client, subcontract and supplier contracts, including
NEC4, NEC PSC, JCT and bespoke agreements.
* Identify contractual risks and recommend practical, commercially balanced solutions.
* Review and negotiate Z Clauses and other bespoke amendments.
* Draft and review subcontracts, collateral warranties and other commercial agreements.
* Support bid teams by identifying contractual risks during tender submissions.

Commercial Project Support
* Provide proactive commercial support to project managers throughout project delivery.
* Assist with the management of Compensation Events, contract changes, variations and
claims.
* Support project managers during final account negotiations.
* Review project forecasts, CVRs and margin performance, challenging assumptions
where appropriate.
* Help maximise cash flow through effective commercial management and change
control.
* Attend project reviews and provide commercial guidance where required.

Risk Management
* Advise Directors and project managers on contractual and commercial risks before
commitments are made.
* Review contractual obligations and ensure appropriate risk mitigation strategies are
implemented.
* Support insurance, bond and guarantee requirements where appropriate.
* Assist with dispute avoidance and dispute resolution where necessary.

Commercial Improvement
* Support the ongoing development of commercial procedures, templates and reporting
across the Group.
* Help improve consistency of CVRs, commercial reporting and contract administration.
* Promote best practice in contract management and commercial awareness across the
business.
* Deliver practical guidance and coaching to project managers and engineers.
Collaboration
* Work closely with Engineering, Design, Operations, Finance and Business Development
teams.
* Support directors during key commercial negotiations.
* Assist the bid teams with contractual reviews during tender submissions where
required.
* Build strong relationships across the Group to promote commercially sound decision
making.

Success Measures
Success in the role will be measured by:
* Improved commercial performance across live projects.
* Better commercial outcomes from contract negotiations.
* Timely identification and mitigation of contractual risks.
* Improved accuracy and consistency of CVRs and project forecasting.
* Increased recovery of Compensation Events, variations and contractual entitlements.
* Improved commercial awareness across project teams.
* Practical commercial procedures that support the business without creating
unnecessary bureaucracy.

Key Requirements
Essential
* Significant commercial management experience within engineering, utilities or
infrastructure.
* Strong working knowledge of NEC3 and NEC4 contracts (ECC and PSC), together with
experience of bespoke amendments and Z Clauses.
* Demonstrable experience reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
* Experience supporting project managers through live project delivery.
* Strong understanding of Compensation Events, change control, claims and final
accounts.
* Excellent commercial judgement with the ability to balance contractual risk against
business opportunity.
* Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Desirable
* Experience with JCT contracts.
* Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or Construction Law qualification.
* MRICS or similar professional qualification.
* Experience working across multiple business units or disciplines.

Personal Attributes
* Commercially astute with strong business judgement.
* Comfortable challenging constructively and influencing senior stakeholders.
* Pragmatic, solution focused and able to balance commercial risk with operational
realities.
* Confident working independently whilst supporting multiple project teams.
* Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
* Calm under pressure and capable of managing competing priorities.
* An effective communicator who can explain contractual issues in clear, practical
language