Commercial Manager - Downer Professional Services

Downer; Canberra; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare discounts

Retail savings

Car purchases

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Downer is seeking a Commercial Manager to join our Defence team in Canberra. You will manage commercial and contractual administration across Defence projects, reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager, and protect Downer’s commercial interests.

You’ll lead contract administration, handle variations and claims, support forecasting and margin management, and provide guidance to operational and junior staff while fostering continuous improvement and governance.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in contract administration and commercial management across complex Defence contracts.
• Ability to prepare/ negotiate variations, claims and final accounts with change management and forecasting.
• Strong analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills with excellent communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract administration across Defence projects and programs, including obligations, deliverables and commercial records.
• Manage change control, variations, claims, notices and settlements.
• Support forecasting, valuation, reporting, margin management, and governance forums.
• Prepare and administer subcontract agreements, manage subcontractor performance and variations, and support procurement.

Skills

Contract administration

Commercial management

Change control

Variations & claims

Forecasting & reporting

Margin management

Subcontract administration

Procurement & supplier engagement

Negotiation & analytical thinking

Governance & risk

Education

Tertiary qualifications in law/commerce/finance/quantity surveying/engineering

Tools

None

Job description

Join a growing Defence portfolio where you'll influence commercial outcomes across complex projects, provide trusted advice to delivery teams, and play a key role in contract management, claims, risk mitigation and commercial governance. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially astute professional looking to make an impact in a dynamic and highly strategic environment.

We currently have an opportunity for a Commercial Manager to join our Defence team and play a key role in managing commercial and contractual administration across Defence projects and programs within the Downer Professional Services portfolio.

Reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager, you'll help protect Downer's commercial interests and support successful project financial and operational outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Lead contract administration activities across assigned Defence projects and programs, including obligations, deliverables, compliance requirements and commercial records.
• Manage change control, variations, claims, contractual notices, correspondence, settlements and emerging commercial issues.
• Support project forecasting, valuation, reporting, margin management, Risk & Opportunity reviews and commercial governance forums.
• Prepare and administer subcontract agreements, manage subcontractor performance, claims and variations, and support procurement and supplier engagement.
• Provide commercial guidance and mentoring to operational and junior commercial personnel while supporting continuous improvement, knowledge sharing and best-practice governance.

What You’ll Bring

• Extensive experience in contract administration, commercial management or project commercial roles, including complex contracts through delivery phases.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and negotiating variations, claims and final accounts, with strong capability in change management, reporting and forecasting.
• Strong commercial acumen, contract interpretation, negotiation, analytical and problem‑solving capability.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as law, commerce, finance, quantity surveying, engineering or equivalent.
• Desirable experience includes Defence industry experience below or above the line, knowledge of Commonwealth contracting frameworks, and experience supporting complex Defence projects and professional services contracts.
• Eligibility to obtain and maintain am AGSVA Security Clearance.
• This position is based on site from our Downer Canberra office

More than anything, you'll bring a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for our clients.

Why Downer?

At Downer, we plan, create, and sustain essential public services across Australia and New Zealand. From hospitals to data centres and defence partnerships, we manage critical infrastructure that keeps communities thriving.

What It Means to Belong at Downer

We’re proud of our high-performance culture and commitment to diversity, offering:

• Training and development to support and diversify your career.
• With 30% of vacancies filled internally you'll find real opportunities to advance your career.
• Perks@Downer: healthcare discounts, great savings on retail purchases, car purchases and much more.
• Employee Assistance Program: professional support for you and your family when you need it most.

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we'd still like to hear from you.

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.

If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know, we're here to help you put your best foot forward.