Commercial Manager

Department of Justice and Community Safety VIC; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-life balance

Career development

Diversity & inclusion

Safety & wellbeing

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

VIDA Community Safety in Melbourne is seeking a Commercial Manager to provide high‑quality commercial advice across infrastructure projects. You will work with project, legal and procurement teams to shape contract models, evaluate tenders and secure value-for-money outcomes.

You will combine sound commercial judgement with a collaborative approach, supporting governance, probity and transparent decision making across VIDA Community Safety's project delivery program.

Qualifications

• Experience providing commercial oversight across procurement and contracting lifecycle.
• Knowledge of government procurement policies and contract frameworks.
• Ability to advise on contract strategies, tender documentation and negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality commercial advice across construction and infrastructure projects.
• Support tender documentation, contract models and risk allocation.
• Lead tender evaluations and contract negotiations, ensuring value-for-money outcomes.
• Develop governance tools, templates and guidance for project delivery teams.

Skills

Commercial oversight

Tender evaluation

Contract strategy

Risk allocation

Value-for-money

Government procurement

Education

Bachelor degree or higher in business, law, commerce or economics

Job description

Department of Justice and Community Safety VIC – Melbourne VIC

DJCS is administering this recruitment on behalf of VIDA, in line with VIDA's policies and processes.

About VIDA

The Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) is a specialist project delivery organisation, responsible for delivering Victoria's major transport, health and community safety infrastructure program.

This multi-disciplinary program includes more than 200 projects including the North East Link, removing level crossings, Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1, new and upgraded hospitals specialist programs such as the early parenting centres expansion and upgrade program and community safety projects including Corrections and Emergency Services.

The unprecedented program of works brings together expert skillsets to deliver crucial health, community safety, and major transport projects, and ensures that operations are streamlined and efficient while delivering better outcomes for Victorians.

Led by the Director-General, VIDA is comprised of the five project offices, VIDA Road, VIDA Metro, VIDA Rail, VIDA Health and VIDA Community Safety.

VIDA is established as an Administration Office under the Public Administration Act 2004 as a specialist organisation.

About this Opportunity

The Commercial Manager will provide high-quality commercial advice and support across construction and infrastructure project delivery, tender documentation, contract models, risk allocation and value-for-money outcomes for VIDA Community Safety.

Reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager, the role works closely with project, legal and procurement teams to support commercial and contractual arrangements across a range of community safety infrastructure projects. This includes providing commercial input across construction works and services packages, contract strategies, tender evaluations, contract negotiations and final contract documentation.

This is a hands‑on commercial advisory role requiring sound judgement, strong attention to detail and the ability to apply commercial principles across traditional and collaborative procurement models. The role will support coordinated outcomes across the technical, legal and commercial aspects of project delivery, ensuring arrangements align with project objectives, government requirements and VIDA Community Safety's strategic goals.

The role will contribute to consistent, transparent and well‑governed commercial outcomes by identifying commercial risks and opportunities, supporting approvals and authorisation requirements, preparing reports and recommendations, and contributing to practical tools, templates and guidance material for project delivery teams.

About You

An experienced commercial professional with practical experience providing commercial oversight, review and advice across the procurement and contracting lifecycle for construction works, services packages or complex infrastructure projects. Brings a strong understanding of commercial and contractual arrangements, government procurement policies, contract strategy, tender documentation, tender evaluation, contract negotiations and project delivery requirements.

Combines sound commercial judgement with a collaborative and solutions‑focused approach. Comfortable working across project, legal, procurement and senior stakeholder groups to ensure coordinated outcomes across the technical, legal and commercial aspects of project delivery, while supporting probity, governance, value‑for‑money and the achievement of commercial objectives.

You’ll bring:

• Experience providing commercial oversight, review and advice across the procurement and contracting lifecycle for construction works, services packages or complex infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of commercial and contractual arrangements associated procurement processes and alignment with government procurement policies.
• Ability to apply commercial principles across traditional and collaborative procurement models to support project commercial objectives and value‑for‑money outcomes.
• Experience supporting the preparation and execution of contract strategies, including the review of tender documentation, tender evaluations, contract negotiations and final contract documentation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with project, legal and procurement teams to ensure coordinated outcomes across technical, legal and commercial aspects of project delivery.
• Strong understanding of commercial, contractual and financial risks associated with infrastructure or construction project procurement and delivery environments.
• Well‑developed written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear advice, reports, recommendations, evaluation material and briefing inputs.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to contribute to practical tools, templates and guidance material that support consistent commercial services for project teams.

Key Selection Criteria

• Experience providing commercial advice on public infrastructure or construction projects, including tender evaluation, contract strategy, risk allocation and value‑for‑money considerations.
• Experience identifying and assessing commercial, contractual and financial risks associated with public infrastructure or construction project procurement and delivery environments and provide practical advice to support project delivery and decision‑making.
• Demonstrated understanding of construction and infrastructure project development and delivery methodologies under a range of contract types, including the ability to review and advise on the commercial aspects of tender proposals, contract terms and conditions, risk allocation and contractual arrangements.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with procurement, legal and project teams to provide commercial input that supports value‑for‑money, probity, governance and project outcomes.
• A strong understanding of the processes of government required to undertake projects with experience in either the public and private sectors, ideally within built infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of government procurement processes, governance requirements and contract frameworks, with experience applying this knowledge in a commercial advisory context highly desirable.

Qualifications and Mandatory Requirements

Bachelor (or higher) qualifications in business, law, commerce, economics or an equivalent level of experience (3+ years) within a commercial environment would be highly regarded.

What We Offer

• An emphasis on work / life balance
• High‑performing team environment
• Equal opportunity employer
• Personal & Professional development opportunities
• Committed to safety & wellbeing

Pre-Employment Checks

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre‑employment checks which include national police/qualification (where applicable) checks and misconduct screening.

Diversity and Inclusion

VIDA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering a values‑led, diverse and inclusive workplace.
We believe our teams should represent the diversity of our communities in which we work, and we actively embrace and celebrate people from all walks of life.

If you require reasonable adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please contact us. We're here to support you.