Commercial Manager

Avove Utilities; North East; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car or car allowance

Pension scheme

Flexible working options

Financial wellbeing programme

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Avove is recruiting a Commercial Manager to lead a dedicated commercial team from our Durham office with hybrid working. The role focuses on delivering contractual and commercial duties on a major framework with NWG, driving profitability and compliance across projects.

You will oversee monthly client and subcontractor applications, manage change and risks, mentor team members, and foster strong client relationships while protecting contractual entitlements. A full driving license is required.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Knowledge of standard contracts, particularly within support services.
• Good awareness of broader industry issues.
• Ability to build strong client relationships while protecting contractual entitlements.
• Skilled in negotiation and presentation.
• Promotes and demonstrates an inclusive working environment.
• Proven experience in quantity surveying/commercial management.
• Successful track record in main contract management.
• Experience in supply chain procurement, management, and financial oversight.
• Understanding of recordkeeping requirements and dispute resolution approaches.
• Experience recruiting and managing a Commercial team.

Responsibilities

• Lead as part of a wider Commercial team delivering all contractual and commercial duties.
• Ensure compliance with contractual and internal processes and procedures.
• Manage the Framework commercial team.
• Manage the monthly application process to the client.
• Manage and monitor change process.
• Manage monthly applications to subcontractors in line with legislation.
• Resolve client and subcontractor disputes.
• Manage framework risks and opportunities; minimize WIP.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to team members.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Contracts knowledge

Client relationship building

Negotiation

Dispute resolution

Budgeting & reporting

Team leadership

Supply chain procurement

Framework/contract management

Mentoring/coaching

Job description

Working here isn’t just a job. You can advance your career at Avove, and we’ll reward you with a range of benefits that recognise great work. We provide full training and continuous development to help you reach your potential. We strive to create an inclusive working environment where everyone can be themselves. Join us and take the next step towards a fulfilling career.

We understand the impact our work has on our society and the environment. It’s the difference we make that improves people’s lives and helps the economy to grow. We work alongside our customers to deliver resilient, bespoke infrastructure solutions that keep the taps running, the energy flowing and people connected. The work we do together matters.

About the role…

We have been awarded a major multi-million-pound design and build framework agreement with Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) as part of NWG’s Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) £3.6 billion investment programme. As we embark on this exciting 12-year design and build framework, we are looking for a Commercial Manager.

This is a full-time permanent role, based from our Durham office along with home working.

Please note: a full valid driving license is a pre-requisite for this role.

What you’ll be doing…

• To play a leading role as part of a wider Commercial team in the delivery of all contractual and commercial duties
• Ensure compliance with contractual and internal Avove processes and procedures
• Manage the Framework commercial team
• Management of the monthly application process to the client
• Manage and monitor change process
• Management of the monthly application process to the subcontractors in line with current legislation
• Resolve client and subcontractor disputes
• Manage framework Risks & Opportunities Manage and minimise WIP
• Professional Development including mentoring and coaching of team members.

About you…

• Strong commercial and financial acumen
• Knowledge of standard contracts, particularly within support services
• Good awareness of broader industry issues
• Ability to build strong client relationships while protecting contractual entitlements
• Skilled in negotiation and presentation
• Promotes and demonstrates an inclusive working environment
• Proven experience in quantity surveying/commercial management
• Successful track record in main contract management
• Experience in supply chain procurement, management, and financial oversight
• Understanding of recordkeeping requirements and dispute resolution approaches
• Competent in commercial budgeting and reportingExperience recruiting and managing a Commercial team

What’s in it for you…

We offer a rewarding salary that is tailored to your skills and experience. But that’s not all! We celebrate hard work and give recognition to our colleagues. In addition to this, we understand that one size doesn’t fit all so everyone has access to a variety of flexible benefits that work for you.

• Competitive salary tailored to your skills and experience
• Company car or car allowance
• Company pension scheme
• Family-friendly policies and flexible working options
• Financial wellbeing programme
• Employee Assistance Programme and on-site mental health first aiders
• Volunteering days and charity matched giving
• Mentoring and professional development opportunities

About us…

We design, build and maintain the UK’s utilities infrastructure to help transform local communities for the better. We provide cutting-edge and sustainable engineering solutions and play a critical role in helping to keep the water running, the lights on and people connected.

We are an expert, responsible and agile partner, providing vital services to water, power and telecommunications sectors. We work closely with our clients to help protect and improve their assets, enhance customer experience and protect the natural environment. Everything we do is designed to drive continual improvement and move life forward.

We are proud to work in partnership with leading utility providers, including Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Northern PowerGrid, Northumbrian Water Group, Scottish Power Energy Networks.

We are an equal opportunities employer...

We welcome applications from candidates of all races, genders, disabilities, religions, ages and sexual orientations. We know that having a diverse workforce encourages new perspectives, inspires creativity and creates an engaging workplace and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all colleagues can thrive. When it comes to inclusion, we’re making sure we keep up the progress with our Communities of Practice, who help us do just that.

What next...

We encourage you to apply for this role as soon as you can. We recognise talent waits for no one, so we progress candidates individually through all stages of recruitment process.

If you have any questions, please reach out for an informal discussion.