Senior Commercial Specialist

KBR, Inc.; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive team

Flexible work options

High-impact projects across sectors

Leadership and technical development

Job summary

KBR, Inc. in Australia is seeking a Senior Commercial Specialist to support a growing pipeline of defence and government infrastructure projects. The role involves developing contracting strategies, administering claims and variations, and ensuring accurate cost tracking.

Based in either Sydney or Adelaide, you will liaise with legal, procurement and project teams to manage risk and drive commercial success across major contracts.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Business, Engineering, Law, Finance, Management or Quantity Surveying.
• Minimum 8 years' relevant defence/government infrastructure experience.
• Strong understanding of government and defence contracts.
• Experience in commercial management of infrastructure projects.
• Experience negotiating major subcontracts and change management.
• Ability to liaise with internal teams and subcontractors for cost tracking.
• Strong commercial acumen with focus on risk mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Support pursuit teams in developing contracting strategies for prime contracts and subcontracts.
• Administer commercial activities including claims, variations, delays, and subcontract execution.
• Provide timely project information to Project Manager for decision-making.
• Assist in preparing and reviewing estimates for completeness and accuracy.
• Develop and implement change management processes to identify exposures.
• Negotiate subcontracts and purchase orders with appropriate terms.
• Draft contractual notices and supporting documentation.
• Monitor financial performance, risks, cash flow, and terms compliance.
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, and subcontracts for claims development.
• Contribute to training, tools, and lessons learned for improvement.

Skills

Business/Engineering/Law/Finance/QA/PM

8+ years defence/government infra

Govt/defense contracts knowledge

Contract cost tracking

Commercial management of infra

Subcontract negotiation & change mgmt

Risk assessment & mitigation

Education

Tertiary qualification in Business/Eng/Law/Finance/Management/QS

Job description

• Do you thrive in complex environments where government contracting, risk management, and cost control intersect?
• Are you looking to work alongside top-tier professionals in a supportive, high-performance team?

If so, we want to hear from you.

As KBR’s Infrastructure Solutions Australia division continues to expand, particularly within our Defence, Buildings and Nuclear market sector, we are seeking a Senior Commercial Specialist to play a key role in supporting our growing pipeline of projects and proposals. This role is available due to continued growth, and strong commercial leadership is essential to ensuring successful delivery across major contracts.

We are seeking applicants to be based in either our Sydney or Adelaide Offices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the pursuit team in developing contracting strategies for prime contracts, major subcontracts, and purchase orders
• Administer key commercial activities including claims, variations, delays, and subcontract execution in line with the commercial strategy
• Ensure timely and accurate project information is provided to the Project Manager to support decision-making
• Support preparation and review of estimates to ensure completeness and accuracy
• Contribute to the development and implementation of change management processes to identify commercial exposures and claims
• Assist in negotiating major subcontracts and purchase orders, ensuring appropriate risk and commercial terms are flowed down
• Draft contractual correspondence including notices, letters of entitlement, and supporting documentation
• Monitor project financial performance, risks, cash flow, and adherence to commercial terms and financial targets
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, subcontracts, and other specialists to support claims development and submission
• Contribute to commercial training, tools, procedures, and capture of lessons learned for continuous improvement

Skills & Experience Required:

• Tertiary qualification in Business, Engineering, Law, Finance, Management, or Quantity Surveying
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience working with contractors, subcontractors, and owners on defence or government infrastructure or engineering projects
• Strong understanding of the nuances and complexities of government and defence contracts
• Proven experience in commercial management of infrastructure, engineering consulting, construction or building projects. Experience in defence building or infrastructure projects would be a bonus
• Proficient in submitting contractual notices, processing variations, and managing extensions of time
• Demonstrated ability to liaise effectively with internal departments and subcontractors to ensure accurate contract cost tracking and management
• Strong commercial acumen and attention to contractual compliance and risk mitigation

Our KBR Values - We Value Our People, We Deliver, We Are People of Integrity, We Empower, We Are a Team of Teams – these values embody our people centric organisation.

At KBR, we don’t just talk about culture—we live it.

Connect with diverse thinkers and passionate collaborators across our Australian and global teams.

Belong to a workplace where your voice matters, and your impact is valued.

Grow your career with ongoing opportunities to lead, learn, and push boundaries.

What We Offer:

• A supportive team where leadership is human, not hierarchical.
• Flexible work options that suit your lifestyle.
• Meaningful, high-impact projects across a variety of sectors.
• Leadership and technical development programs to support your growth.

Ready to shape the built environment and your future?