Commercial Manager

Digital Edge Data Center; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Digital Edge Data Center in Malaysia is seeking a seasoned Commercial Manager to lead commercial governance and cost control for data center construction projects in-country. You will coordinate with Supply Chain, Engineering, Project Delivery and Finance to ensure contract compliance, budgets, and risk mitigation.

Based in Johor, you will manage external consultants, oversee tendering and contract administration, and report to the Regional Commercial Lead, delivering transparent spend tracking

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• 8+ years of commercial management experience in data-center or major construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of contract law, cost control methodologies and procurement frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead local cost planning and benchmarking for major construction packages.
• Oversee tendering, contract administration, and commercial negotiations for D&C projects in Malaysia.
• Maintain audit-ready records of contract documentation and commercial communications.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Project Delivery and Operations to ensure design-to-budget alignment.
• Support funding and cash-flow management with Corporate Development and Finance.

Skills

Commercial governance

Cost control

Contract management

Stakeholder mgmt

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying

Job description

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Where performance meets sustainability, Digital Edge is a leading provider of sustainable, next-generation, AI-ready digital infrastructure across Asia Pacific. Backed by Stonepeak, a global alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, Digital Edge has over US$1.6 billion in committed equity capital from some of the world ’s largest institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Since our founding in 2020, we have rapidly scaled across key Asia markets, operating 31 data centers with over 1.8GW of secured IT power. We operate as a regional platform delivering consistent global standards, combining scale with strong local execution across every market.

This role is an exciting opportunity to join our fast-growing team as we further expand our footprint across Asia.

Our values:

• Respect: We embrace diversity and collaboration.
• Innovation: We share ideas and solve problems.
• Strive: We are driven and determined.
• Excellence: We seek to deliver the best.
• Responsibility: We do what’s right for our people and the planet.

About the role:

We are seeking a Commercial Manager to join our Design & Construction (D&C) team in Malaysia.

This role is responsible for commercial governance and cost control on data center construction projects in-country. The role operates under minimal supervision, manages local external consultants and works closely with internal stakeholders from early design through construction close-out.

You will partner closely with Supply Chain, Engineering, Project Delivery, and Corporate Development to ensure cost certainty, contractual compliance, and risk mitigation across all projects.

This role will be based in Johor, Malaysia and will report to the Regional Commercial Lead.

Key responsibilities:

• Apply the platform commercial management framework locally, covering cost planning, contracting models (GMP, cost-plus, hybrid), procurement strategy and risk management.
• Provide commercial input during feasibility and early design stages, ensuring budgets, benchmarks, and cash-flow forecasts align with project and business objectives.
• Maintain comprehensive, audit-ready records of all contract documentation, commercial correspondence, and amendments.
• Drive consistent implementation of the commercial playbook, processes, and reporting frameworks across the Malaysia portfolio and ensure alignment with commercial standards.
• Drive end-to-end contract administration - from pre-contract strategy, tender review support, and commercial negotiations to final account settlement across all D&C projects in Malaysia.
• Administer major EPC, D&B, and framework agreements, including change-order management, claims avoidance, and dispute resolution.
• Monitor commercial risk exposure across all projects and **escalate** issues with clear mitigation plans.
• Request fee proposals from multi-disciplinary consultants, evaluate submissions, recommend suitable candidates to Management and manage the onboarding of successful consultants.
• Liaise with consultants throughout the tendering exercise, including strategizing tender packages and evaluating the suitability of the Form of Contract and specific conditions of tendering.
• Review tender and contract documents prepared by consultants.
• Oversee tendering exercise carried out by consultants, including reviewing tender reports, attending tender interviews, negotiating, and finalizing tender recommendation with supporting documentation for internal approval processes and follow-up to obtain sign-off.

Cost Planning & Reporting

• Lead local cost planning and benchmarking for all major construction and MEP packages.
• Liaise with the consultant QS to obtain the monthly project financial statement for reporting purposes and follow up on payments submitted by contractors and consultants.
• Maintain a standardized reporting dashboard tracking CAPEX burn, S+X months vs. T+X months spend buckets, forecast-to-complete, and variance analysis, providing leadership with clear portfolio-wide visibility.
• Review the Statement of Final Accounts prepared by consultants.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary in-country point of commercial contact for Engineering, Project Delivery, and Operations, ensuring design-to-budget alignment.
• Support Corporate Development / Finance on funding calls and cash-flow management by providing accurate spend projections and scenario modelling.
• Partner with Supply Chain to ensure sourcing strategies and vendor selections meet D&C technical and schedule requirements.
• Support due diligence and business case development for new investment opportunities in Malaysia, in coordination with Corporate Development and Regional teams
• Interface with JV partners, lenders, and hyperscale customers on commercial matters and reporting.

The successful candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of commercial management experience in data-center, mission-critical infrastructure, or major construction projects, with a track record of working independently and delivering results under minimal supervision.
• Strong knowledge of contract law, cost control methodologies, and procurement frameworks.
• Familiarity with international contract standards (e.g., FIDIC) and local construction norms.
• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and executive reporting skills.
• RICS, MRICS, or equivalent commercial management certification preferred.
• This role is based in Malaysia and requires flexibility to travel to project sites as needed.