Commercial Manager

Ses Ltd; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

Flexible working

Car allowance/company car

Travel to sites

Private medical cover

Pension with 6% employer contribution

26 days’ holiday + bank holidays

Job summary

SES Ltd is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead commercial strategy across data centre and critical infrastructure projects. You will drive commercial performance, manage risk, and lead a high-performing team throughout the project lifecycle.

You will oversee procurement, cost control, change management and contract administration, ensuring effective governance and strong relationships with clients and partners. The role offers a leadership pathway within a growing sector and attractive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience in data centres or mission-critical environments.
• Familiarity with NEC or JCT contract forms and managing commercial risk.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop commercial strategies across the full lifecycle of data centre and critical infrastructure projects.
• Lead all aspects of commercial management including cost control, change management and procurement.
• Ensure contractual obligations are understood and managed across project teams.
• Drive value recovery and manage variations and entitlements.
• Produce accurate commercial reporting, forecasts and risk assessments.

Skills

Commercial management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Contract administration

Education

Degree or professional qualification

Tools

NEC contracts

JCT contracts

Job description

The role:

We have an exciting opportunity for a Commercial Manager to join our SES Technology division. Working on some of the UK's most complex and fast-paced data centre and mission-critical projects, you will lead commercial strategy throughout the full project lifecycle, helping to maximise project performance, manage commercial and contractual risk, and drive successful outcomes for leading technology clients. This is an opportunity to play a key role in a rapidly growing sector, supporting the delivery of critical infrastructure that underpins the digital economy while leading and developing high-performing commercial teams.

What you'll be doing:

• Develop and implement commercial strategies across the full lifecycle of data centre and critical infrastructure projects.
• Lead all aspects of commercial management, including cost control, change management, procurement, cash flow and risk management.
• Ensure contractual obligations are understood, communicated and effectively managed across project teams and stakeholders.
• Drive value recovery and manage compensation events, variations and contractual entitlements.
• Produce accurate commercial reporting, forecasts, cost value reconciliations and risk assessments to support business performance.
• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants, supply chain partners and project delivery teams to achieve successful commercial outcomes.
• Lead, coach and develop commercial team members, supporting both project performance and professional growth.
• Provide commercial leadership and governance across projects, ensuring compliance with company procedures and delegated authority requirements.

What you will bring:

• Strong commercial management experience within data centres, building services, mission-critical environments or other complex construction sectors.
• A sound understanding of procurement strategies, cost management, forecasting and contract administration.
• Experience working with NEC, JCT or other industry-standard forms of contract and managing commercial risk on large-scale projects.
• Strong leadership, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence positive project outcomes.
• A relevant degree, equivalent practical experience or professional qualification, with membership of RICS, CIOB or a similar professional body being advantageous.

What we will offer you:

• The opportunity to work on high-profile data centre and technology projects for some of the world's leading clients.
• A key leadership role within a specialist division operating at the forefront of digital infrastructure delivery.
• Opportunities to develop your leadership capabilities while supporting and mentoring commercial professionals.
• A collaborative environment where innovation, expertise and continuous improvement are encouraged and recognised.
• Competitive salary and bonus scheme.
• Flexible working.
• Car allowance/company car (subject to role and grade).
• Travel covered to our sites in line with company policy.
• Extensive corporate benefits including private medical cover, pension with 6% employer contribution, health and wellbeing support, 26 days' holiday plus bank holidays and much more.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• Industry-leading family leave benefits, including 26 weeks' fully paid maternity leave and 12 weeks' fully paid paternity leave.

Our commitments:

SES is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work. As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme. Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at [e-mail]