Senior Commercial Manager – NEC Contract Specialist

COWI; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Private health care

Group personal pension

Life assurance

Maternity Leave benefits

Paternity Leave

Cycle-to-work

Electric vehicle lease

Job summary

COWI is seeking a Senior Commercial Manager to provide senior commercial leadership across projects, bids and portfolios. You’ll lead pre-contract strategy, contract review and negotiation, risk management and post-contract administration to support delivery from opportunity through close-out.

You’ll translate terms into practical implications, challenge commercial positions, and collaborate with Legal, Finance and technical teams to strengthen governance and capability.

Qualifications

• Extensive pre-contract experience including procurement strategy and bid development.
• Strong ability to identify, allocate and mitigate commercial risks.
• Experience with NEC3 and NEC4 contract terms and standard forms.
• Ability to translate contract terms into practical implications for programme and delivery.
• Proven track record in bid support, tender evaluation and contract negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Manage pre-contract and bid inputs incl. ITTs, pricing, and procurement strategies.
• Critically review contracts to identify commercial and delivery risks at project and portfolio level.
• Advise on risk allocation, departures, and commercial strategy for bids and projects.
• Develop procurement and contracting strategies aligned with client objectives and risk appetite.
• Draft, review and negotiate consultancy and sub-consultancy agreements and change documents.
• Lead or support contract negotiations with clients and supply chain partners.
• Assist with tender documentation and contract data, and support evaluation through to award.
• Provide post-contract commercial management: changes, notices, payments, and disputes.
• Establish contract mobilisation and controls with clear risk ownership and deliverables.
• Act as trusted adviser to clients, PMs, finance and legal, supporting governance and capability development.

Skills

NEC3/NEC4 expertise

Contract strategy

Risk management

Negotiation

Pre-contract and bid leadership

Contract review and administration

Education

Professional body membership (RICS, CICES, CIArb, APM or CIOB)

Tools

NEC3/NEC4 accreditation

FIDIC familiarity

Job description

COWI is seeking a Senior Commercial Manager to provide senior commercial leadership across projects, bids and portfolios. You’ll lead pre-contract strategy, contract review and negotiation, risk management and post-contract administration to support delivery from opportunity through close-out.

You’ll translate terms into practical implications, challenge commercial positions, and collaborate with Legal, Finance and technical teams to strengthen governance and capability.