Commercial Manager

Aqua Consultants Ltd; Ledston; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Adler and Allan is seeking a Commercial Manager to drive commercial performance across its RICs portfolio. You will oversee contractual obligations, governance and risk management while partnering with Business Unit Directors, Project Managers and Finance to maximise profitability.

You will lead negotiations, support variations and ensure effective change control across multiple projects, while developing commercial capability and improving tools and processes to deliver sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Significant commercial management experience in consultancy, engineering, infrastructure or regulated industries.
• Strong contract management, negotiation skills and risk awareness.
• Experience with NEC contracts and commercial risk is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract management across the portfolio, ensuring obligations and risks are managed.
• Drive margin improvement and monitor profitability against targets.
• Oversee change control, variations, and recovery of additional fees.
• Ensure bids and projects comply with governance and delegated authority.
• Provide commercial support and challenge to senior directors and project managers.
• Coach teams on commercial best practice and drive process improvements.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Commercial governance

Financial analysis

Risk management

Education

Professional qualifications or memberships

Job description

Job Description

Role Purpose

The Commercial Manager is responsible for driving commercial performance across the RICs portfolio through effective contract management, commercial governance, margin improvement, change control and risk management. Working closely with Business Unit Directors, Project Managers and Finance teams, the role will help maximise profitability, improve commercial controls and support sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Management

Lead the commercial management of client contracts across the portfolio, ensuring that contractual obligations, risks, liabilities and payment provisions are effectively managed. Support contract negotiations, variations and dispute resolution activities while embedding consistent contract management practices across the business.

Margin Improvement & Commercial Performance

Drive initiatives to improve profitability across projects and frameworks. Monitor financial performance, identify opportunities to increase margin, challenge underperformance and support delivery teams in achieving commercial targets.

Change Control

Establish a robust change control culture, ensuring scope changes and additional client requirements are identified, documented and recovered commercially. Support Project Managers in securing variations, compensation events and additional fees.

Commercial Governance

Ensure bids and projects comply with governance requirements, delegated authority processes and company policies. Review commercial terms, liabilities, payment provisions and contractual risks before commitments are made.

Portfolio Support

Provide commercial support and challenge to Business Unit Directors and Project Managers. Maintain visibility of project performance, forecasting, WIP, debt and cash generation, helping teams implement recovery plans where required.

Risk Management & Capability Development

Manage commercial risks across the portfolio and support the development of commercial awareness throughout the business. Coach project teams on commercial best practice and contribute to the ongoing improvement of commercial tools, processes and ways of working.

Key Accountabilities

• Contract management and commercial governance.
• Margin improvement and profitability.
• Change control recovery.
• Commercial risk management.
• Forecast accuracy and portfolio reporting.
• WIP, debt and cash performance.
• Development of commercial capability across RICs.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will have significant commercial management experience within consultancy, engineering, infrastructure or regulated industries. They will possess strong contract management and negotiation skills together with a sound understanding of NEC contracts and commercial risk.

Candidates should demonstrate strong financial and analytical capability, excellent stakeholder management skills and a proven ability to improve commercial performance across a portfolio of projects.

Experience within the Water, Energy, Utilities or Environmental sectors would be advantageous, as would relevant professional qualifications or memberships.

Additional Information

Adler and Allan are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. If you require any support with your application, whatever the circumstance, please let us know.