Commercial Manager

seek.com.au; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Seek.Com.Au is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to take ownership of commercial performance across its national project portfolio. The role requires strong contractual expertise, financial discipline and practical leadership to strengthen governance and optimise cash flow.

You will work with senior leadership and project delivery teams to influence strategy, improve systems and build a high-performing commercial function across construction and infrastructure projects.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years' experience in commercial management within construction or infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of contracts, variations, EOTs and claims.
• Proven track record of protecting margins and improving financial outcomes.
• Experience leading commercial teams and collaborating with senior executives.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee commercial performance from contract execution to completion, managing risks and maximizing financial outcomes.
• Lead upstream and downstream commercial strategies, variations, EOTs and negotiations.
• Improve governance, reporting standards and cash flow forecasting.
• Mentor Contracts Administration team and ensure compliance with processes.

Skills

Contract management

Strategic commercial leadership

Risk management

Forecasting & cash flow

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, law or construction

Job description

Are you a commercially astute leader who knows how to protect margins, manage contractual risk and turn commercial strategy into measurable results?

An established and growing business operating across construction, infrastructure and complex project delivery is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to take ownership of commercial performance across its national project portfolio.

This is an opportunity for a commercially driven professional who combines strong contractual expertise with financial discipline and practical leadership. You will play a key role in strengthening commercial governance, improving cash flow, protecting contractual entitlements and supporting sustainable business growth.

Working closely with senior leadership and project delivery teams, you will have the opportunity to influence commercial strategy, improve systems and processes, and build a high-performing commercial function.

Are you a commercially astute leader who knows how to protect margins, manage contractual risk and turn commercial strategy into measurable results?

An established and growing business operating across construction, infrastructure and complex project delivery is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to take ownership of commercial performance across its national project portfolio.

This is an opportunity for a commercially driven professional who combines strong contractual expertise with financial discipline and practical leadership. You will play a key role in strengthening commercial governance, improving cash flow, protecting contractual entitlements and supporting sustainable business growth.

Working closely with senior leadership and project delivery teams, you will have the opportunity to influence commercial strategy, improve systems and processes, and build a high-performing commercial function.

The opportunity

You will oversee the commercial performance of projects from contract execution through to completion, ensuring risks are managed, opportunities are captured and financial outcomes are maximised.

Your responsibilities will include:

Commercial strategy and risk management

• Take ownership of upstream and downstream commercial exposure across the project portfolio.

• Develop and oversee strategies for variations, extensions of time (EOTs), claims and commercial negotiations.

• Ensure contractual submissions are accurate, compliant and commercially defensible.

• Protect project margins, identify emerging risks and drive improved forecast outcomes.

• Lead the resolution and escalation of complex contractual matters and disputes.

Financial performance and cash flow

• Work closely with project managers and finance to align contractual positions with project forecasts, cost-to-complete and cash flow.

• Oversee monthly progress claims, ensuring they are accurate, timely and supported by contractual entitlements.

• Review revenue, margin movements and commercial forecasts ahead of month-end reporting.

• Improve working capital, cash flow predictability and the quality of commercial reporting.

• Provide senior leadership with clear, forward-looking insights into project and portfolio performance.

Leadership and commercial governance

• Lead, mentor and develop the Contracts Administration team.

• Oversee procurement performance, supplier arrangements and expenditure against approved budgets.

• Strengthen commercial processes, reporting standards and contractual controls.

• Drive consistent use of systems, registers and documentation to improve visibility, accountability and audit readiness.

• Promote a proactive, commercially disciplined approach across project delivery teams.

Continuous improvement

• Review project outcomes against tender pricing and original assumptions.

• Identify lessons learned and feed these into future estimating, tendering and risk allocation.

• Improve pricing discipline, contract administration practices and commercial decision-making across the business.

About you

You are an experienced commercial professional who can operate at both strategic and operational levels. You understand the detail behind contracts and claims, but you can also see the bigger picture and influence decisions that improve business performance.

To be successful, you will bring:

• At least 10 years' experience in commercial management, contract administration, commercial finance or project controls within construction or infrastructure.

• Strong knowledge of construction contracts, claims management, variations, EOTs and subcontractor commercial arrangements.

• A demonstrated track record of protecting margins, managing commercial risk and improving project financial outcomes.

• Strong financial acumen, including forecasting, cost-to-complete, revenue recognition and cash flow management.

• Experience leading, coaching or developing commercial teams.

• Confidence working with project managers, finance teams and senior executives to resolve commercial issues and drive accountability.

• A structured, systems-driven approach to reporting, documentation and commercial governance.

• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.

A tertiary qualification in finance, law or construction would be advantageous. Experience in infrastructure, utilities or civil construction projects.

Why consider this opportunity?

• Influence commercial outcomes: Take ownership of performance across a diverse project portfolio.

• Make a tangible impact: Improve margin protection, cash flow, reporting and commercial discipline.

• Lead and develop a team: Build capability and consistency across the commercial function.

• Work with senior leadership: Contribute directly to commercial strategy and business performance.

• Drive meaningful improvement: Shape processes and systems that support the next stage of business growth.

Interested?

This is a confidential recruitment process. Further information about the organisation and opportunity will be provided to suitable candidates.