Commercial Manager

Illumine Consulting; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Illumine Consulting partners with a leading infrastructure and pipeline contractor to appoint a Commercial Manager in their Brisbane corporate team. This specialist role sits within Legal & Contracts and works with Pre-Contracts, Project Controls, Operations, Finance and Engineering across multiple major projects.

You’ll review contracts, lead risk assessments, support tender strategy and advise senior leadership to shape commercial positions before bid close.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Contract Management or similar.
• 5+ years in a senior Commercial Manager or Pre-Contracts role.
• Strong experience reviewing contract terms and identifying commercial risk.
• Understanding of construction and pipeline-related project risks.
• Confident negotiating, influencing and advising senior stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and commercial judgement.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft and negotiate head contracts, ECI agreements and subcontract documents.
• Interpret scopes of work, project schedules (P6) and pricing models to ensure commercial alignment.
• Lead risk assessment activities; geotechnical, flood mapping, weather analysis, rate build-ups and construction risk.
• Maintain high-quality contractual correspondence and approval records for each tender.
• Identify and mitigate contractual and commercial risk, advising senior management.
• Support project teams during delivery with claims, letters, variations and day-to-day commercial matters.
• Develop and implement contract administration policies and procedures.
• Build strong relationships with clients, vendors, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
• Provide guidance to junior contract administrators.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, safety and quality requirements.

Skills

Commercial management

Tendering

Contract negotiation

Risk assessment

Education

Engineering/Quantity Surveying degree

Job description

We’re partnering with a leading infrastructure and pipeline contractor to appoint a Commercial Manager ; Legal & Contracts into their Brisbane corporate team. This is a specialist commercial role sitting within the Legal & Contracts function, working closely with Pre‑Contracts, Project Controls, Operations, Finance and Engineering across multiple major projects.

This position suits an experienced Commercial Manager, Pre‑Contracts professional, or a Quantity Surveyor / Engineer ready to step into a more senior commercial and contractual advisory role.

The Opportunity

You’ll be the commercial interface between the legal function and the tender team; ensuring every bid, ECI and head contract is commercially sound, risk‑assessed and aligned with construction realities. You’ll review contract terms, scopes, schedules and pricing models, identify risk, advise senior leadership, and help shape the company’s commercial position before tender close.

This role offers exposure across multiple projects, high‑value tenders, and complex pipeline‑related scopes. It’s a chance to influence commercial strategy at the front end and ensure the business enters every contract with clarity, confidence and strong governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft and negotiate head contracts, ECI agreements and subcontract documents
• Interpret scopes of work, project schedules (P6) and pricing models to ensure commercial alignment
• Lead risk assessment activities; geotechnical, flood mapping, weather analysis, rate build‑ups and construction risk
• Maintain high‑quality contractual correspondence and approval records for each tender
• Identify and mitigate contractual and commercial risk, advising senior management
• Support project teams during delivery with claims, letters, variations and day‑to‑day commercial matters
• Develop and implement contract administration policies and procedures
• Build strong relationships with clients, vendors, subcontractors and internal stakeholders
• Provide guidance to junior contract administrators
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, safety and quality requirements

About You

• Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Contract Management or similar
• 5+ years in a senior Commercial Manager or Pre‑Contracts role
• Strong experience reviewing contract terms and identifying commercial risk
• Understanding of construction and pipeline‑related project risks
• Confident negotiating, influencing and advising senior stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy and commercial judgement
• Able to manage multiple tenders and priorities concurrently
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills

Why This Role?

• Corporate Brisbane‑based position with exposure across multiple major projects
• Work closely with senior leadership across Legal, Pre‑Contracts, Operations and Project Controls
• Ideal for someone wanting to step up into a more strategic commercial position