Commercial Manager

Aequalis Consulting Pty; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Aequalis Consulting Pty is seeking a Commercial Manager – Pre-Contracts & Bids to lead commercial aspects of major energy and infrastructure tenders. You will influence pricing, risk allocation and contract positions early in the bid lifecycle, partnering with estimating, engineering and legal teams to deliver robust submissions.

The role requires deep experience in contract negotiations and commercial governance, with proven ability to engage senior stakeholders and drive successful outcomes

Qualifications

• Experience leading commercial management across major energy, utilities or infrastructure tenders.
• Strong ability to shape tender strategies and pricing approaches.
• Proven track record negotiating complex contract terms.
• Excellent understanding of risk allocation and procurement frameworks.
• Comfort working with estimating, legal, engineering and operations teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-contract commercial management across major tenders in energy, utilities, and infrastructure.
• Develop commercial bid strategies, pricing approaches and risk allocation frameworks.
• Review tender docs, contract conditions and commercial obligations.
• Identify and assess commercial and delivery risks during bid lifecycle.
• Lead negotiations with clients, partners and subcontractors pre-award.
• Support procurement strategy and subcontractor evaluation.
• Collaborate with engineering, finance and legal teams to produce robust tender submissions.
• Develop contract departures, qualifications and negotiation strategies.
• Support transition from tender to award and project delivery.
• Strengthen pre-contract commercial governance across the business.

Skills

Commercial management

Bid management

Contract negotiations

Risk assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Financial acumen

Job description

Commercial Manager – Pre-Contracts & Bids | Energy & Infrastructure

Job Type: Permanent | Full-time

Role Overview

An established Australian energy and infrastructure business is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager – Pre-Contracts & Bids to provide commercial leadership across major project opportunities, tenders and contract negotiations. This is an opportunity to influence commercial outcomes at the earliest stages of complex infrastructure projects, ensuring bids are commercially sound, risks are understood and contract positions support successful project delivery.

Working closely with estimating, bid management, engineering, legal and operational leadership teams, you will lead commercial assessments, shape tender strategies and support negotiations with clients and delivery partners. The role requires sound commercial judgement, strong stakeholder engagement and the confidence to challenge assumptions while maintaining a practical, solutions-focused approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead pre-contract commercial management across major energy, utilities and infrastructure tenders.
• Develop commercial bid strategies, pricing approaches, contractual positions and risk allocation frameworks.
• Review tender documentation, contract conditions, scopes of work and commercial obligations.
• Identify and assess commercial, contractual and delivery risks during the bid and tender lifecycle.
• Work closely with estimating and bid teams to ensure pricing assumptions, contingencies and commercial qualifications are appropriately considered.
• Lead commercial negotiations with clients, delivery partners and subcontractors throughout the pre-award process.
• Provide commercial input into bid reviews, tender governance, approval processes and investment decisions.
• Support procurement strategy, subcontractor engagement and commercial evaluation of project delivery models.
• Partner with engineering, operations, finance and legal teams to develop commercially robust tender submissions.
• Develop appropriate contract departures, qualifications and negotiation strategies.
• Support the transition from successful tender through contract award, mobilisation and project delivery.
• Strengthen pre-contract commercial processes, governance and consistency across the business.

About You

We are interested in speaking with commercially astute professionals who have developed their careers across major infrastructure, energy, utilities, engineering or construction environments.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant experience as a Commercial Manager, Senior Commercial Manager, Pre-Contracts Manager, Bid Commercial Manager or Contracts Manager.
• Demonstrated experience managing commercial and contractual requirements during major project tenders.
• Strong understanding of contract risk, commercial negotiations, pricing methodologies and procurement frameworks.
• Experience working on complex infrastructure, EPC, utilities or energy projects.
• The ability to review and negotiate commercial terms across major construction and engineering contracts.
• Strong knowledge of Australian construction contracting practices, including relevant forms of contract and risk allocation principles.
• Experience working with estimating, bid management, project delivery and legal teams.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to evaluate project opportunities and challenge commercial assumptions.
• Confidence engaging with senior executives, clients and project delivery stakeholders.
• A practical, measured approach to commercial problem-solving and decision-making.

Experience in electricity transmission, substations, renewable energy infrastructure, major utilities or civil infrastructure projects will be highly regarded.

You will understand that effective pre-contract commercial management goes beyond identifying contractual risks. It requires the ability to negotiate practical outcomes, protect commercial interests and establish the foundations for successful project delivery.

Why Apply

• Influence major project outcomes: Shape commercial strategy and contractual positions before projects enter delivery.
• Complex infrastructure exposure: Work across significant energy, utilities and infrastructure tender opportunities.
• Senior stakeholder engagement: Collaborate with commercial, estimating, engineering and operational leaders on important business decisions.
• Commercial ownership: Take responsibility for tender risk, contract negotiations and pre-award commercial outcomes.
• Broader career development: Strengthen your commercial leadership experience across major projects and strategic bid activity.
• Flexible location options: Opportunity to be based in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.