Commercial Manager (Water)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Thrive wellbeing programme

Gymflex discounts

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Commercial Manager (quantity surveyor level) to lead commercial delivery across a portfolio of water and environmental projects. You will embed a culture of commercial excellence, balancing client, staff, and operational performance while collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams.

The role requires a background in quantity surveying and project commercial management, strong Excel skills, and experience with NEC contract administration.

Qualifications

• A degree (or equivalent professional experience) in a relevant discipline.
• Background in quantity surveying AND project commercial management.
• Advanced MS Excel skills and confidence using similar tools to analyse, manage and report commercial data.
• Solid working knowledge of NEC 3/4 contract administration.
• Ability to produce clear, well-structured reports and deliver information confidently in meetings.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver commercial services to internal and external clients across water and environmental sector projects.
• Provide risk and commercial advice during bid and project lifecycle.
• Ensure suitable prospect governance is in place.
• Coordinate with finance to report and forecast commercial performance of projects.
• Carry out detailed analyses of projects and report findings from commercial and financial perspectives.
• Manage changes with focus on commercial implications; manage risk and opportunity.
• Support business improvement initiatives within the commercial team.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Reporting

Project planning

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

AI mindset

Education

Degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

MS Excel

NEC 3/4 contract administration

Job description

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A Little More About Your Role

Our Water business is seeking a Commercial Manager (quantity surveyor level) to work across our portfolio of projects and provide commercial leadership to multi‑disciplinary teams; the role plays a crucial part in delivering key infrastructure for clients including the Environment Agency, tier 1 contractors, local authorities and water companies.

Your role will be to embed a strong project culture around commercial excellence, balanced with the need to satisfy client, staff and commercial expectations along with business operational performance. You’ll be highly collaborative, a natural problem solver and well used to tackling the myriad challenges that complex infrastructure projects can present.

We’re looking for someone who brings genuine passion and enthusiasm to our work , a constructively challenging mindset and an open, honest and accountable approach. You’ll be tenacious in solving issues, seeking improvement and demonstrating inclusive and respectful behaviours in all your interactions.

Whilst the role is commercially focussed, it requires an individual with proven skills and experience across aspects of business operations including understanding technical issues; people management; application of corporate systems; work winning; recruitment and staff development.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver commercial services to both internal and external clients across a variety of water and environmental sector projects.
• Provide risk and commercial advice during the bid and project lifecycle to assess performance and provide support to the wider business.
• Ensure suitable prospect governance is in place.
• With support from the finance team provide effective reporting and forecasting of the commercial performance of projects within the Water business.
• Carry out detailed analyses of projects and report on the issues and findings from both a commercial and financial perspective.
• Ensure changes are managed rigorously with a focus on commercial implications of change, manage commercial risk and opportunity generally.
• Ensure that activities meet both internal company standards and external requirements. Support the commercial team’s business improvement initiatives.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself?

What We Would Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

• A degree (or equivalent professional experience), in a relevant discipline.
• A background in quantity surveying AND project commercial management.
• Advanced MS Excel skills and confidence using similar tools to analyse, manage and report commercial data.
• Solid working knowledge of NEC 3/4 contract administration.
• The ability to produce clear, well‑structured reports and deliver information confidently through presentations and meetings.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with clients, stakeholders and project teams.
• Experience planning project timescales, resources and commercial inputs, with the ability to monitor and report progress against programme and budget.
• An understanding of fee structures and cost drivers across different project stages, with the ability to support effective commercial decision‑making (desirable but not essential).
• A mind that is open to the opportunities presented by the adoption of AI.

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

# WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.