Commercial manager

Laing O'Rourke; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to take commercial ownership of works at Margam and Port Talbot Substations in South Wales. The role focuses on financial, contractual, and commercial success across complex infrastructure projects in a safety-focused environment.

You will collaborate with project managers, engineers, subcontractors, and client representatives to deliver governance, cost control, and robust reporting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in commercial management within utilities, energy, substations, civil engineering, or related infrastructure sectors.
• Strong understanding of NEC or similar contract suites.
• Excellent commercial judgement, negotiation ability, and communication skills.
• Proactive approach to risk management and cost control.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills and a collaborative working style.

Responsibilities

• Manage all commercial aspects of works across Margam and Port Talbot Substations.
• Oversee contract administration, ensuring obligations are met and risks are mitigated.
• Lead commercial reviews, valuations, and applications for payment.
• Manage change control processes, including identification, evaluation, and agreement of variations.
• Administer and settle subcontractor accounts, ensuring fair and timely commercial resolution.

Skills

Commercial management

NEC contracts

Negotiation

Communication

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Cost control

Job description

Job Opportunity: Commercial Manager

Locations: Margam Substation & Port Talbot Substation (South Wales)
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive, with benefits package

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Commercial Manager to take commercial ownership of key works delivered across Margam and Port Talbot Substations. This role is central to ensuring the financial, contractual, and commercial success of complex infrastructure and energy-related projects in a high-performing, safety-focused environment.

As a Commercial Manager, you will work closely with project managers, engineers, subcontractors, and client representatives to deliver strong commercial governance, effective cost control, and high-quality reporting. You will play a crucial role in supporting project delivery while protecting commercial interests and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial & Contractual Management

• Manage all commercial aspects of works across Margam and Port Talbot Substations.
• Oversee contract administration, ensuring obligations are met and risks are mitigated.
• Lead commercial reviews, valuations, and applications for payment.
• Manage change control processes, including identification, evaluation, and agreement of variations.
• Administer and settle subcontractor accounts, ensuring fair and timely commercial resolution.

Financial Control & Reporting

• Provide accurate and timely commercial reporting, forecasts, and cost/value reconciliation.
• Monitor project performance against budgets, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Support the preparation of monthly commercial dashboards and project review information.

Risk & Claims Management

• Identify, assess, and manage commercial and contractual risks.
• Prepare or support the preparation of claims and dispute resolution documentation.
• Recommend mitigation strategies and advise on the commercial implications of project decisions.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Build effective relationships with clients, subcontractors, consultants, and internal teams.
• Negotiate commercial agreements to achieve positive project outcomes while maintaining strong working partnerships.
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to project leadership.

Team Support & Development

• Offer commercial guidance to junior team members and support the wider project workforce.
• Promote best practice in commercial governance and compliance across the business.

About You

You will bring:

• Proven experience in commercial management within utilities, energy, substations, civil engineering, or related infrastructure sectors.
• Strong understanding of NEC or similar contract suites.
• Excellent commercial judgement, negotiation ability, and communication skills.
• A proactive approach to risk management and cost control.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills and a collaborative working style.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [e-mail]