Head Of Commercial, Major Projects

Ugl; Sydney; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

16 weeks parental leave

Salary continuance insurance

Medibank health insurance

Individual Development Plan

Wellness Program (AIA Vitality)

OneRewards discount program

Job summary

UGL, part of the CIMIC Group, is seeking an experienced Senior Commercial Leader to head the commercial function for the Major Projects unit in North Sydney. You will guide commercial managers supporting Australia’s significant infrastructure programs across road, rail, data centres and defence.

The role demands strategic leadership, governance discipline and strong stakeholder management. You will drive commercial performance, manage risks, oversee contracts, and mentor a high-performing team

Qualifications

• Extensive senior commercial leadership experience in a large infrastructure contracting organisation.
• Experience in contract management, governance and commercial strategies across major projects.
• Proven capability in claims management, dispute resolution and complex negotiations.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to drive commercial performance.
• Experience leading commercial teams and developing high-performing professionals.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial function across the Major Projects business.
• Establish and maintain commercial frameworks, policies, processes and governance standards.
• Develop and implement commercial strategies to support project delivery outcomes.
• Provide strategic leadership to project commercial teams.
• Drive a culture of accountability, performance and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and develop commercial professionals across the business.
• Oversee project commercial management including revenue, margin, cash flow, and contracts.
• Lead contract, claims and dispute management across projects.
• Identify, assess and mitigate commercial, contractual and financial risks.
• Maintain robust risk management practices and regular reporting on commercial risks.

Skills

Senior commercial leadership

Contract management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Infrastructure contracting

Education

Bachelor's degree in building/engineering/quantity surveying

Qualifications in contractual law (advantage)

Job description

When you join UGL, you will collaborate with some of the Australia's most talented experts to help shape the nation. With opportunities to work on large-scale projects from start to finish, you will have the space to grow your skills, pursue your passion, and be supported in creating a career journey that aligns with your aspirations and lifestyle.

About the role

Exciting opportunity available to lead the Commercial function for our Major Projects business unit and lead Commercial Managers who are supporting some of Australia’s most significant infrastructure projects in Road, Rail, Data Centre and Defence.

Located in North Sydney, this role is accountable for leading the commercial function across the Major Projects business unit, ensuring the successful commercial management of projects throughout their lifecycle. The role provides strategic and operational leadership to commercial teams, driving commercial performance, protecting business interests, and enabling project delivery outcomes.

Key responsibilities

Lead and manage the commercial function across the Major Projects business.

Establish and maintain commercial frameworks, policies, processes and governance standards.

Develop and implement commercial strategies that support business objectives and project delivery outcomes.

Provide strategic commercial leadership and guidance to project commercial teams.

Drive a culture of commercial accountability, performance, compliance and continuous improvement.

Mentor and develop commercial professionals across the business.

Project Commercial Management

Maintain oversight of all commercial aspects of projects in delivery, ensuring proactive management of risks and opportunities.

Monitor project commercial performance, including revenue, margin, cash flow, claims and contractual obligations.

Support project teams in the administration of client and subcontractor contracts.

Review and challenge commercial assumptions, project forecasts and key commercial decisions.

Ensure early identification and escalation of potential commercial issues.

Contract, Claims and Dispute Management

Oversee the management of contractual obligations across all projects.

Lead the development and execution of commercial strategies relating to claims, variations and dispute resolution.

Support project teams in preparing and negotiating significant variations and claims.

Manage complex commercial negotiations with clients, subcontractors and stakeholders.

Lead the resolution of commercial disputes to achieve favourable outcomes while maintaining key client relationships.

Engage with legal counsel where required to protect company interests.

Establish and maintain robust commercial risk management practices across the business.

Identify, assess and mitigate commercial, contractual and financial risks.

Ensure risk registers are actively managed and integrated into project governance processes.

Support project teams in developing mitigation strategies for emerging risks.

Provide regular reporting on key commercial risks and exposure.

Client and Stakeholder Management

Develop and maintain strong, trusted relationships with clients and key stakeholders.

Act as the senior commercial representative for the business in client engagements.

Influence commercial outcomes through effective negotiation and relationship management.

Support business leaders in strategic client discussions and contract negotiations.

Contribute to the development of long-term client partnerships and repeat business opportunities.

Governance and Reporting

Ensure compliance with contractual, legal, regulatory and corporate governance requirements.

Provide commercial reporting, insights and recommendations to the Executive Team.

Monitor commercial performance against budgets, forecasts and key performance indicators.

Support internal and external audit requirements as required.

Drive best-practice governance standards across commercial operations.

Business Growth and Strategic Support

Contribute to the strategic planning and growth of the Major Projects business.

Support tender reviews and provide commercial input into major bids and pursuits.

Identify opportunities to improve commercial outcomes, efficiencies and risk allocation.

Participate in business planning, investment evaluations and strategic initiatives.

About You

Extensive senior commercial leadership experience within a large infrastructure contracting organisation

A technical background with qualifications in building, engineering, or quantity surveying, with further qualifications in contractual law an advantage

Demonstrated experience managing commercial functions across large-scale project portfolios.

Strong expertise in contract management and commercial governance.

Proven capability in claims management, dispute resolution and commercial negotiation.

Experience managing complex client relationships and stakeholder environments.

Strong financial and commercial acumen.

Experience leading and developing high-performing commercial teams.

Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.

About UGL

As a member of the CIMIC Group of companies, we value diversity in our team’s backgrounds, ideas, work styles.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourage applications from women, people with disabilities, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, mature aged workers and individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.

What we offer

Benefit from 16 weeks of paid primary parental leave.

Complimentary salary continuance insurance.

Discounted Medibank health insurance.

Shape your career with an Individual Development Plan.

Participate in our Wellness Program with AIA Vitality.

Access our OneRewards Discount Program.

Please note: As part of the recruitment process, relevant screening checks will be conducted. These may include reference checks, verification of the right to work in Australia, a national criminal history check, anti-money laundering checks, and a pre-employment medical assessment (including drug and alcohol screening).