Commercial Manager Water

Matchtech Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Online GP service

Private Healthcare

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Discretionary bonus scheme

Job summary

Matchtech Group is seeking a Commercial Manager to support pre-construction activity on a Southern Water framework, with hybrid working from Falmer (Brighton). The role sits in the Water and wastewater capital delivery team, delivering large-scale programmes to keep water infrastructure resilient and compliant.

The successful candidate will lead commercial strategies, oversight of valuations, change control, and governance, while supporting procurement and supplier evaluation across multiple

Qualifications

• A Quantity Surveying degree with relevant professional accreditation.
• Experience in water or adjacent sectors is preferred.
• Strong procurement and contract management knowledge.
• Experience with large capital programmes and complex contracts.
• Familiarity with financial reporting systems and KPI tracking.
• Ability to travel to Falmer and other offices as required.

Responsibilities

• Set up projects for commercial success with senior leaders, operations, clients and supply chain partners.
• Lead or support pre-contract activities, including tendering, contract briefings and reporting requirements.
• Support supplier evaluations, contract awards and TUPE considerations where needed.
• Manage valuations, change control, and contractual obligations once projects start.
• Oversee certification, notices, cash collection, EWN and CVR processes.
• Ensure effective commercial records and governance across the supply chain.

Skills

Driving licence - UK

Procurement knowledge

Complex programmes

Financial reporting familiarity

SLAs and performance contracts

Dispute resolution

Negotiation skills

Travel flexibility

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

RICS or professional accreditation

Job description

Our Water sector contractor is seeking a Commercial Manager to initially support pre construction activity on their Southern Water framework based out of Falmer (Brighton) on a permanent basis with hybrid working.

Our contractor helps end clients safeguard the water supply, improve environmental performance and manage demand for future generations. They enhance and extend asset life, ensuring compliance with water quality and environmental standards.

This role will sit within their Water and wastewater capital project delivery team delivering large-scale capital programmes aimed at keeping water infrastructure resilient for the long-term while protecting the environment.

Responsibilities

• play a pivotal role in setting projects up for commercial success from day one. Working closely with senior commercial leaders, operational teams, clients and supply chain partners, you'll help shape contract strategies, influence procurement decisions, and ensure robust commercial controls are established from the outset.
• You'll lead or support pre-contract activities including contract briefings, developing commercial guidance, defining measurement and reporting requirements, and working with Procurement teams throughout the tendering process.
• You'll also support supplier evaluations, contract award recommendations, and manage TUPE-related commercial considerations where required.
• Once projects are underway, you'll take ownership of key commercial processes, ensuring valuations, applications, change management and contractual obligations are managed accurately and in line with contract requirements.
• Oversee certifications, notices, cash collection processes, Early Warnings and Compensation Events, while providing commercial guidance and support to operational teams and acting as an escalation point for contractual issues and disputes.
• Maintain strong commercial control across the supply chain, validating cost information, overseeing subcontractor onboarding and governance, managing payments and accounts, and driving the resolution of commercial issues.
• Working collaboratively with supply chain partners, you'll identify opportunities to maximise value, recover costs and reduce commercial risk.
• Maintain accurate and compliant commercial records, ensuring all valuations, payments, notices, risks, opportunities and contract documentation are effectively managed and readily accessible for audit and assurance purposes.
• Play a leading role in contract performance management, producing and reviewing forecasts, cashflow reporting and CVRs, providing clear insight into project performance, and helping operational teams understand and manage commercial risks and opportunities.
• Through close collaboration with clients, you'll support KPI and SLA performance management to help secure successful commercial outcomes.
• Alongside managing your own responsibilities, you'll provide leadership and direction to junior commercial team members, helping to maintain high standards, develop capability and drive commercial best practice across the business.

Skills/qualifications/experience

• QS degree
• Full UK driving licence
• RICS /other progessional accreditation
• Ideally 10 years Water experience or worked in adjacent sector.
• Strong understanding of procurement processes
• Worked on large complex programmes
• Familiar with financial reporting systems
• Experience with SLAs and performance based contracts
• Dispute resolution and negotiation skills
• Must be able to travel to Falmer office at least 2 days - occasional travel to Hampshire and Kent offices as and when required

Benefits

• Salary £85-99k (open to discussion)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Employee assistance programme
• My Rewards portal, access to 1000's of retail discounts
• Life assurance
• Cycle to work, salary finance and give as you earn schemes
• Enhanced maternity, paternity leave and adoption leave
• Reward and recognition scheme
• Recommend a friend - get rewarded for introducing people to us!
• Company car and fuel card with a range of EV and hybrid vehicles to choose from
• My Car Choice our salary sacrifice EV/ Hybrid car scheme
• Health Care Cash Plan, giving you and your family the ability to claim back medical expenses for things like dental, eyecare and physiotherapy and much more!
• Private Healthcare - family cover
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Discretionary bonus scheme