Commercial Manager - Data Centres

Highfield Professional Solutions Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Highfield Professional Solutions Ltd. is seeking a seasoned Commercial Cost Manager to own project and portfolio cost management across data centre developments.

You will develop budgets, business cases and cashflow forecasts, and provide commercial guidance on procurement and contract structures to support delivery from feasibility to completion. You will review tender submissions, monitor costs and financial performance, and work with Delivery, Development and Finance teams to influence

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying or Cost Management.
• Chartered status with RICS, CIOB or equivalent.
• Significant experience in professional cost management, ideally within a consultancy or client-side environment.
• Experience developing project budgets, cost plans, cashflow forecasts and commercial reports.
• Confident reviewing tenders, variations, contractor applications and procurement strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence project teams and senior decision-makers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint; MS Project experience beneficial.
• Experience with ERP platforms, construction law, earned value management and mission-critical commissioning and testing processes would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead project and portfolio cost management throughout the development and delivery lifecycle.
• Develop and review project budgets, development budgets, business cases and cashflow forecasts.
• Provide commercial advice on procurement strategies, contract structures and project delivery.
• Review and assess tender submissions, contractor pricing, variations and payment applications.
• Monitor project costs, commitments, accruals and financial performance, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Work closely with Delivery, Development and Finance teams to support investment decisions and maintain accurate cost reporting.
• Manage and provide direction to external cost consultants, ensuring effective cost control and consistent reporting.
• Support contract administration and commercial decision-making across the project portfolio.

Skills

Cost management

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Tender review

Financial analysis

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

Chartered status (RICS/CIOB)

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

MS Project

Job description

Join an established data centre owner-operator and play a key role in the successful delivery of major data centre developments. This is an opportunity to take ownership of project and portfolio cost management, providing commercial and financial insight across investment, procurement and construction delivery.

Working closely with the Development, Delivery and Finance teams, you'll influence projects from early feasibility and business case development through to construction and completion.

About the Role

• Lead project and portfolio cost management throughout the development and delivery lifecycle.
• Develop and review project budgets, development budgets, business cases and cashflow forecasts.
• Provide commercial advice on procurement strategies, contract structures and project delivery.
• Review and assess tender submissions, contractor pricing, variations and payment applications.
• Monitor project costs, commitments, accruals and financial performance, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Work closely with Delivery, Development and Finance teams to support investment decisions and maintain accurate cost reporting.
• Manage and provide direction to external cost consultants, ensuring effective cost control and consistent reporting.
• Support contract administration and commercial decision-making across the project portfolio.

About You

• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management or an equivalent discipline.
• Chartered status with RICS, CIOB or a recognised equivalent.
• Significant experience in professional cost management, ideally within a consultancy or client-side environment.
• Experience developing project budgets, cost plans, cashflow forecasts and commercial reports.
• Confident reviewing tenders, variations, contractor applications and procurement strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence project teams and senior decision-makers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint; MS Project experience beneficial.

Experience with ERP platforms, construction law, earned value management and mission-critical commissioning and testing processes would also be advantageous.

You’ll be commercially astute, proactive and comfortable managing multiple projects, competing priorities and tight deadlines.

Take your career client-side and play an influential role in shaping the commercial success of major data centre developments.