Project Commercial Manager - Peterborough/Hybrid

Balfour Beatty; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Balfour Beatty as a Project Commercial Manager where you will oversee commercial practices for major infrastructure projects. This role involves cost control, contract management, and team leadership, contributing to the success of the AMP8 programme. Enjoy a hybrid work environment with competitive benefits.

Benefits

Smart working and flexible hours

25 days paid annual leave

Family friendly policies

Pension and share incentive plan

Volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing high-value infrastructure or utilities projects.
• Strong command of NEC contracts and practical estimating experience.
• Excellent stakeholder and team leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee commercial strategy for projects, ensuring cost efficiency.
• Lead contract management and risk mitigation activities.
• Produce financial reports and monitor project timelines.

Skills

Cost Control

Contract Management

Stakeholder Management

Negotiation

Commercial Risk Management

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management

RICS, CIOB, or CICES accreditation

Job description

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About the role

Project Commercial Manager - Balfour Beatty (@one Alliance)

Location: Peterborough / Hybrid

@one Alliance is a pioneering collaboration between Anglian Water and seven leading partners: Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska, and SWECO. Together, we deliver over half of Anglian Water's capital investment programme - and we're about to embark on our most ambitious phase yet: AMP8.

With a record-breaking programme ahead, we're looking for a skilled Project Commercial Manager to help ensure our commercial practices lead the industry. This is an opportunity to influence how we drive value, manage risk, and achieve efficiencies while shaping a more sustainable future for our communities.

What you'll be doing

As a Project Commercial Manager you'll be commercially responsible for a major project or group of projects from start to finish, working closely with the Integrated Projects Leader (IPL) and wider delivery team. You'll bring strong commercial challenge, cost control, and contract management - ensuring we deliver with value, quality, and governance at our core.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy & Procurement

• Prepare and validate cost estimates - ensuring alignment with project scope and delivery strategy.
• Support procurement and tender processes - collaborating with Senior Buyers to secure best value.
• Draft and manage subcontracts - ensuring contracts reflect agreed scope and are administered properly.

Cost Control & Reporting

• Lead cost forecasting - reporting against WBS/CBS and aligning with project timelines.
• Monitor actuals vs. baseline - investigate variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Produce regular financial reports - highlighting trends, risks, and commercial opportunities.

Contract & Risk Management

• Administer NEC-based contracts - ensuring full compliance with Alliance and Anglian Water governance.
• Issue early warnings and notices - providing timely commercial input to project decision-making.
• Maintain accurate financial records - enabling smooth audit and cost assurance processes.
• Agree and finalise accounts - ensuring timely commercial closure.
• Identify and mitigate risks - while actively tracking and realising efficiencies.
• Report withheld, disputed, or disallowed costs - escalating as appropriate.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and develop a small commercial team - providing mentorship and support for their growth.
• Challenge and support the IPL and delivery team - ensuring commercially sound decision-making.
• Build strong relationships - with internal teams, suppliers, and delivery partners to support successful outcomes.

Who we're looking for

We're seeking someone who's commercially sharp, resilient, and confident operating in a complex, fast-paced environment.

Essential:

• Proven experience managing high-value infrastructure or utilities projects.
• Strong command of NEC contracts and practical experience in estimating and negotiation.
• Confident challenging decisions and managing change.
• Skilled in reporting, forecasting, and commercial risk management.
• Excellent stakeholder and team leadership skills.

Desirable:

• Degree-qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related field.
• RICS, CIOB, or CICES accredited (or working toward chartered status).

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK's most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn't rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that's right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

- Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
- 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
- Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
- Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more...

About us

Balfour Beatty's Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and on-going maintenance, our in-house experts, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support customers in the development of some of the UK's most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail]