Senior Commercial Manager at J. Murphy & Sons Ltd, Golborne

Murphy is a leading international, specialist engineering and construction company founded in 1951 with a purpose to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure. Operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and America, Murphy provides better engineered solutions to infrastructure sectors including transportation; natural resources; energy and water. 

Headquartered in London, Murphy has a number of related businesses – Ground Engineering; Utility Connections; Murphy Plant; Murphy Process Engineering; Pipeline Testing Services; Specialist Welding Services; and Electrical Services. Murphy is a specialist in delivering pipelines, design, structural steel, tunnelling, fabrication, bridges and piling, and has a substantial holding of plant, equipment and facilities.

Murphy employs around 4,000 engineers, professional managers and skilled operatives around the world. Together, they work as ‘One Murphy’ - directly delivering the people, plant and expertise needed to make projects a success. Visit (url removed) or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X:

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A senior commercial leadership opportunity with delegated accountability across our circa £100m Frameworks & Diversification portfolio, working directly with the Commercial Director across major frameworks, projects and emerging opportunities.You’ll shape the portfolio’s commercial performance, leading P&L, cash, margin, risk and opportunity while developing high-performing commercial teams and helping drive future growth

A day in the life of a Murphy Senior Commercial Manager

• Lead the commercial performance of a circa £100m portfolio, spanning major frameworks, projects and new opportunities, with genuine accountability for delivering results.
• Operate as a trusted senior partner to the Commercial Director, taking delegated ownership, making key commercial decisions and helping shape the direction and growth of the portfolio.
• Own the commercial health of the portfolio, driving P&L, cash, margin, forecasting, risk and opportunity while turning insight into action.
• Lead and develop a high performing commercial team, empowering Commercial Managers and senior commercial professionals to take ownership, perform at their best and build capability for the future.
• Build influential relationships with senior clients and stakeholders, leading key negotiations, strengthening strategic partnerships and helping convert opportunities into sustainable growth
• Manage all commercial aspects of the Operational Unit and maintain regular liaison with all stakeholders.Build a high performing team, while continually improving
• Monthly project reviews to analyse the business unit performance and take appropriate action.
• Attend the required reviews with the Executive Team to explain the business current and planned performance.
• Ensure the implementation of a commercial strategy for the operating unit including tenders.
• Maintain a schedule of Client engagement events for equivalent level customer feedback, alignment and future pipeline of work.
• In conjunction with the Operations Director, set the annual business plan, and create the strategy to achieve the elements therein.
• Active management of the work winning process, allocation of resource to commercial elements, liaison with the Regional pre-contract commercial resource.
• To lead on the development and training of Commercial Practitioners including supervisor / mentor / counsellor role for staff undertaking their APC or equivalent.
• Maximising of cash position, including WIP control, cash flow production & improvement plans for all projects..
• To be responsible in conjunction with the Operational Director and Estimating Manager to ensure that a review of all of the contractual obligations and commercial risks is carried out prior to the submission of all tenders within the BU and attend tender settlement meetings as required.
• Manage project controls including value, cost, production and supply chai 
• To ensure effective negotiations with prospective clients are carried out prior to signing contracts to minimise risk
• Carry out commercial audits on other BU’s as and when required.
• Functional leadership, bringing best practice into the business, involvement in Business Improvement Initiative

Still interested does this sound like you?

• A proven senior commercial leader with experience of successfully managing multi project, framework or portfolio level commercial performance within the construction or infrastructure sector.
• Demonstrable experience of leading Commercial Managers and senior commercial professionals, creating accountability through others rather than directly managing every commercial detail.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience overseeing P&L, cash, WIP, margin, forecasting, risk and opportunity across a substantial portfolio.
• The gravitas and judgement to operate with delegated authority, working directly with senior business leaders and confidently making commercial decisions across multiple contracts and projects.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to identify themes, risks and opportunities across a portfolio, while knowing when to challenge or intervene at individual project level.
• Strong senior client and stakeholder capability, with experience of commercial negotiation, conflict avoidance and building long-term strategic relationships.
• Proven experience contributing to work winning, tender strategy, commercial governance and pre-contract risk, connecting new opportunities with operational delivery.
• A strong people leader with a track record of developing commercial capability, succession and high-performing teams across multiple locations or projects.
• Excellent working knowledge of construction contracts and commercial risk, with the technical credibility to challenge and support project commercial teams when required.
• Degree qualified or equivalent relevant commercial experience, ideally with MRICS or equivalent professional accreditation, and comfortable operating in a mobile role across the portfolio.