Commercial Manager

Centum Engineering Services; Ireland; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Centum Engineering Services in Ireland seeks an experienced Commercial Manager to lead contracts, cost control and forecasting across electrical installation projects. You will manage tendering, delivery and final accounts, while protecting margins and reporting performance to senior management.

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will coordinate with Quantity Surveying, Planning and Finance teams, drive early risk assessment, and ensure contractual compliance.

Qualifications

• Senior commercial management experience in electrical installations is essential.
• Strong contractual knowledge across Irish, UK and/or European projects.
• Proven experience managing cost control, forecasting, cash flow, variations, claims and Extensions of Time.
• Experience leading Quantity Surveyors and commercial teams.
• Advanced Excel skills, particularly in forecasting, cash flow and margin analysis.
• Experience with job-costing systems, commercial reporting and project dashboards.
• Willingness to travel.
• Previous data centre experience desirable, but not essential where you can demonstrate substantial electrical installations commercial experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract reviews, negotiations and commercial agreements, ensuring scope, assumptions, terms, obligations and risk are clearly understood.
• Ensure project teams understand contractual requirements, notices and submission deadlines.
• Oversee labour, materials, plant and subcontractor costs, earned value, cost-to-complete, final margin and cash-flow forecasts.
• Identify margin erosion and commercial exposure early. Agree recovery plans and track them through to completion.
• Lead the Quantity Surveying function and maintain consistent commercial processes, controls and reporting.
• Work with Planners and delivery teams to align programmes, resource assumptions and forecasts.
• Lead change management covering variations, dayworks, scope changes and client instructions.
• Ensure contractual notices, including Early Warnings where applicable, are issued within required timescales.
• Ensure variations and claims are evidenced, priced, submitted, negotiated and progressed.
• Oversee payment applications, certifications, retentions and outstanding payments. Coordinate receipts and forecasts with Finance.
• Support Extension of Time and other commercial claims with relevant project specialists.
• Review procurement decisions and supplier or subcontractor terms against budgets, programmes, cash flow and contractual exposure.
• Report on costs, earned value, cash flow, variations, claims, risks, opportunities and forecast outcomes.
• Travel for client meetings, commercial negotiations and project progress reviews, with site visits typically lasting 1–3 days.

Skills

Senior commercial mgmt

Contract knowledge

Lead QS team

Advanced Excel

Job costing

Forecasting cash flow

Negotiation skills

Travel readiness

Data centre exp

Job description

Applicants must have the right to work in the EU and hold a valid passport for travel to EU project locations.

Commercial Manager

Annual salary: €120,000–€180,000 / £100,000–£150,000

Package: Depending on experience, project scope and electrical installation requirements, plus a performance-linked bonus

Location: Ireland / NI, with UK and European travel as required

Reporting to: Managing Director

Job type: Full-time

The role

Lead commercial management across Centum’s projects and operations, from tender and estimation through delivery and final account. Take responsibility for contracts, cost control, forecasting, cash flow, procurement oversight, variations, claims and commercial risk.

Work closely with Quantity Surveying, Planning, Finance and delivery teams to protect margin and give senior management a clear view of performance.

Know the contracts, know the numbers and know where the risk sits. Challenge unsupported forecasts, act early on margin erosion and back your commercial position with evidence.

Key responsibilities

• Lead contract reviews, negotiations and commercial agreements, ensuring scope, assumptions, terms, obligations and risk are clearly understood.
• Ensure project teams understand contractual requirements, notices and submission deadlines.
• Oversee labour, materials, plant and subcontractor costs, earned value, cost-to-complete, final margin and cash-flow forecasts.
• Identify margin erosion and commercial exposure early. Agree recovery plans and track them through to completion.
• Lead the Quantity Surveying function and maintain consistent commercial processes, controls and reporting.
• Work with Planners and delivery teams to align programmes, resource assumptions and forecasts.
• Lead change management covering variations, dayworks, scope changes and client instructions.
• Ensure contractual notices, including Early Warnings where applicable, are issued within required timescales.
• Ensure variations and claims are evidenced, priced, submitted, negotiated and progressed.
• Oversee payment applications, certifications, retentions and outstanding payments. Coordinate receipts and forecasts with Finance.
• Support Extension of Time and other commercial claims with relevant project specialists.
• Review procurement decisions and supplier or subcontractor terms against budgets, programmes, cash flow and contractual exposure.
• Report on costs, earned value, cash flow, variations, claims, risks, opportunities and forecast outcomes.
• Travel for client meetings, commercial negotiations and project progress reviews, with site visits typically lasting 1–3 days.

What we are looking for

• Senior commercial management experience in electrical installations is essential. General construction experience alone does not meet this requirement.
• Strong contractual knowledge across Irish, UK and/or European projects.
• Proven experience managing cost control, forecasting, cash flow, variations, claims and Extensions of Time.
• Experience leading Quantity Surveyors and commercial teams.
• Strong negotiation skills and confidence dealing with clients, contractors and professional advisers.
• Advanced Excel skills, particularly in forecasting, cash flow and margin analysis.
• Experience with job-costing systems, commercial reporting and project dashboards.
• Clear communication, sound analytical judgement and the ability to maintain control under pressure.
• Willingness to travel for meetings and project reviews.
• Previous data centre experience desirable, but not essential where you can demonstrate substantial electrical installations commercial experience.

Bring the evidence

• Project and portfolio values, electrical installation scope, team sizes and your commercial authority.
• Examples of protecting margin, improving cash flow or resolving contractual exposure.
• Variations, claims or final accounts you personally led to an agreed outcome.
• Reporting or control improvements you introduced and their results.

Anonymised examples and figures are welcome. We may follow up with references; confidential employer, client or employee records are not required.

How success is measured

Reliable forecasts, protected margin, timely notices and applications, evidenced change recovery, controlled procurement exposure and clear visibility of cash flow and commercial risk.

Responsibility and judgement

Lead commercial decisions and negotiations within delegated authority. Set standards, challenge unsupported positions and escalat material contractual, payment or margin risks promptly to the Managing Director.

Why join Centum

Influence commercial strategy across a growing engineering business operating in Ireland, the UK and Europe. Work closely with senior management and help establish consistent standards across major electrical engineering and data centre projects.

Travel and assignment-specific arrangements will be explained during recruitment.

Be clear about the commitment

Commercial control needs more than a spreadsheet and a weekly call.

Stay close to the projects, people and decisions behind the numbers. Expect office involvement and travel for meetings and project progress reviews, with site visits typically lasting 1–3 days.

This is not a fully home-based role. You need to be willing to get out, meet the teams and understand how the work is progressing.