Commercial Manager

Colas; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm in Portsmouth is seeking a Commercial Manager to oversee financial management for a major highways project. This role involves budget management, contract negotiations, and strong stakeholder collaboration. Ideal candidates will have a background in commercial management, with proficiency in financial controls and contract oversight. Attractive compensation packages, including a salary of £75,000-£80,000, plus benefits, are offered.

Benefits

Company Car / Car allowance

Colas Pension Scheme with up to 10% contributions

Life Assurance Scheme (x4 basic salary)

25 days annual leave plus Public Holidays

Hybrid Working Scheme

Fully funded Professional Qualification opportunities

Discounts on various services through employee benefits portal

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years' experience in commercial management, ideally within Construction/Highways.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and contract management.
• Membership of a recognized professional body such as RICS is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial and contractual management of the Portsmouth Highways PFI project.
• Manage and monitor all spending, ensuring effective cost control.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Skills

Financial awareness

Negotiation skills

Leadership skills

Contract management

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying or Finance

Tools

Financial and project management software

Job description

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Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.

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Purpose of the role

Colas Ltd have an exciting opportunity for a Commercial Manager to join the team based at our Portsmouth depot, PO6 1TA. You will lead the financial and contractual management of our Portsmouth Highways PFI project. This role focuses on ensuring works are delivered within budget, managing contracts, identifying commercial risks, and supporting strategic decision-making. You'll work closely with project teams and stakeholders to drive commercial performance, oversee cost control, and ensure compliance with legal and company standards.

Main Responsibilities

As Commercial Manager, you will oversee the financial performance of projects, ensuring works are delivered within budget while achieving maximum value. You will provide clear guidance, coaching, and mentoring to your team, including the Senior Quantity Surveyor, helping them understand how works are priced and linked to programme schedules. You will manage and monitor all spending closely, ensuring effective cost control, forecasting, and cash flow management. Your strong contract awareness will enable you to prepare, review, and negotiate contract documents, ensuring full compliance with legal, regulatory, and company policies. You will identify and assess commercial risks and implement mitigation strategies, proactively supporting the team in managing contract variations, claims, and disputes. Maintaining a direct link to the team, you will support them in interpreting contractual obligations, particularly in relation to the five-year handback period. You will build and maintain strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers, facilitating smooth project delivery. By providing regular financial reports and analysis, you will highlight commercial risks and opportunities to senior management, ensuring strategic alignment with business goals. Your leadership will drive process improvements and commercial excellence across the project lifecycle.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a commercially focused professional with strong financial awareness, bringing a minimum of five years' experience in commercial management ideally within Construction / Highways but open to someone from different sectors. While a highways or infrastructure background is not essential, a solid understanding of financial controls and contract management is paramount. You may hold a degree in Quantity Surveying, Finance, or an equivalent qualification, and membership of a recognised professional body such as RICS would be advantageous. You possess excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills, along with a strategic mindset and strong attention to detail. Proficiency in financial and project management software enables you to effectively influence at all levels and drive commercial success.

Package Description

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A salary between £75,000 and £80,000 PLUS Company Car / Car allowance
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays - this is dependent on days worked - this is based on 5 days a week
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

Note to Recruitment Agencies :

In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable.

As a business, we hold three core values Caring, Sharing and Daring.

We are committed to Caring for our colleagues, promoting, equality and diversity, and maintaining a culture of fairness, transparency, and respect for all employees, clients, communities, suppliers, contractors, and other stakeholders.

We harness a productive environment where talents are being fully utilised and organisational goals are met, Sharing our knowledge and expertise with colleagues to progress and expand on new ideas, promoting trust, responsibility, and solidarity.

Our culture is built on an innovative and pioneering mindset, Daring to welcome new ideas and approaches. We are driven to invest in our employees and encourage them to participate in innovation, moving forward and striving to provide sustainable infrastructure solutions.

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