Commercial Manager

Ausnet; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AusNet is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead contract management for commercial change events supporting the Western renewables Link Project. You will oversee procurement, contract administration, claims, variations and risk management while collaborating with internal teams and external partners.

With 8+ years in commercial roles within infrastructure or energy, you will shape commercial positions, drive governance, and deliver auditable valuations.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Law, Commerce, Business, Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline.
• 8+ years’ experience in commercial, procurement, contract management or project delivery in large-scale infrastructure or energy.
• Experience managing procurement, contract administration, variations, claims, notices and supplier performance.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent negotiation and issue-resolution capabilities in complex environments.
• Ability to recognise material or precedent-setting matters and escalate with clear analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication for concise commercial advice and reports.

Responsibilities

• Manage and administer supplier and subcontract agreements, including obligations, variations, claims, notices and close-out requirements.
• Maintain auditable records of valuations and decisions for contracts and commercial events.
• Identify, assess and monitor commercial risks and opportunities with appropriate mitigation.
• Coordinate preparation, assessment and resolution of contractual claims and variations across project functions.
• Ensure contractual notices and submissions are accurate, evidence-based and timely.
• Maintain governance, records and reporting including registers for claims, variations, notices and correspondence.
• Build constructive working relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, contractors and external parties to enable delivery.
• Prepare commercial analysis, recommendations and approval papers for decision-makers.
• Support negotiations and escalate material or complex matters.

Job description

Through purpose and people - not just through the infrastructure we operate, but through the way we show up for each other, our customers’ and our communities. The future of energy is in our hands. Let’s shape it together.

Are you ready to shape the future of energy?

This Commercial Manager role is responsible for contract management activities specifically related to the assessment, valuation and governance process for commercial change events supporting delivery of the Western renewables Link Project.

The role provides commercial leadership across designated contracts and work packages, including procurement activities, contract administration, claims and variations, commercial risk management and the development of sound commercial positions. Working across project functions and with external delivery partners and internal subject matter experts, the Commercial Manager ensures commercial obligations are understood, risks and opportunities are identified early, and appropriate contractual processes are implemented effectively.

What you’ll help deliver:

Manage and administer key supplier and subcontract agreements, including obligations, performance, variations, claims, notices, commercial correspondence and close-out requirements.

Maintain diligent and traceable records of contractual claims that ensures an auditable record of valuations and assessment decisions.

Identify, assess and monitor commercial risks and opportunities, ensuring appropriate mitigation, controls, ownership and escalation.

Coordinate the preparation, assessment and resolution of contractual claims and variations, including the collation of supporting information across project functions.

Ensure contractual notices and submissions are accurate, evidence-based and issued within required timeframes.

Maintain effective commercial governance, records and reporting, including registers for claims, variations, notices, obligations and commercial correspondence

Build constructive working relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, contractors and other external parties to enable effective contract delivery and issue resolution.

Prepare clear commercial analysis, recommendations and approval papers for consideration by project and business decision-makers.

Support negotiations and commercial discussions, escalating matters that are material, highly complex or outside the role’s delegated authority

You don’t need to check every box, however we’re looking for a good combination of:

Tertiary qualification in Law, Commerce, Business, Engineering, Construction Management or other relevant discipline

At least 8+ years’ commercial, procurement, contract management or project delivery experience, ideally within large-scale infrastructure, construction, energy or another asset-intensive environment.

Demonstrated experience managing commercial and contractual processes, including procurement, contract administration, variations, claims, notices and supplier performance.

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary and cross-organisational teams.

Excellent negotiation and issue-resolution capability from within complex commercial environments.

Ability to recognise material or precedent-setting matters and escalating these appropriately with clear analysis and recommendations.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise commercial advice, correspondence, reports and approval papers.

The AusNet experience is all about…

Growing your impact:

We’ll support you to build your career through real opportunities and strong connections.

Solving some of the most complex energy challenges of our time:

We love unpacking complex challenges in clever ways and looking at things differently.

Building an energy future to be proud of:

We’re a trusted leader, with deep expertise, driven to do what’s right for our communities and customers.

We’re committed to building an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce. We believe different perspectives are essential to our success, and we encourage all applicants to apply. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we're happy to discuss how we can support you.