Commercial Manager - Operations and Maintenance

JobSpace; Hamilton; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits

EAP Beyond Blue

Perks@Downer

Flexible WFH days

Job summary

Downer Group in Hamilton, New Zealand, seeks a Commercial Manager - Operations & Maintenance to lead commercial strategy, optimise revenue, and manage key contracts and stakeholder relationships. The role focuses on planning, financial oversight, and risk mitigation across project portfolios.

The successful candidate will oversee bid risk assessments, negotiate major subcontracts, and drive project performance while aligning with organisational goals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years construction and service-based contracting experience.
• Understanding of utilities construction sector and water assets.
• Background in negotiation of forms of contract with acceptable risk profiles.
• Collaborative communication style and ability to influence outcomes.
• Willing to travel to client sites.

Responsibilities

• Deliver commercial strategy and optimise revenue opportunities for projects.
• Identify, assess and mitigate commercial and contractual risks in bids and procurement.
• Lead or support negotiation of subcontractor and supplier agreements for favorable outcomes.
• Oversee contract performance with cost control, reporting and governance compliance.
• Ensure smooth commercial handover of awarded projects and communicate rights, obligations, risks and opportunities.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Contract management

Financial oversight

Team collaboration

Education

Post-graduate qualification in Commercial Law / Contract Management

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Commercial Manager - Operations and Maintenance

The Commercial Manager Operations & Maintenance is responsible for delivering commercial strategy, optimising revenue opportunities, mitigating project risk, and managing key contracts and stakeholder relationships. This role involves commercial planning, financial oversight of projects, negotiating major subcontracts, driving project performance and ensuring profitable business growth in alignment with organisational goals. In this role the successful incumbent can envision themselves attending to tasks such as:

• Partner closely with Contract Managers to ensure successful project and contract outcomes
• Support bid and tender teams by identifying, assessing and mitigating commercial and contractual risks, while contributing to procurement strategies and commercial submissions
• Lead and support the negotiation of subcontractor and supplier agreements to achieve favourable commercial outcomes
• Oversee contract performance through effective program management, cost control, reporting, contract validation, claims management, extensions of time and governance compliance
• Ensure effective commercial handover of awarded projects, providing clear guidance on contractual rights, obligations, risks and opportunities
• Drive continuous improvement of Risk & Opportunity processes through training, coaching, system enhancements and governance initiatives

What we offer

• Competitive remuneration with a significant ASX-listed company
• A suite of health and wellness benefits and initiatives, including EAP Beyond Blue
• Access to Perks@Downer, which offers discounts and savings on various products, including retail items, travel deals, and entertainment options
• We are a Tier 1 ASX listed company with in-house capabilities that far exceed traditional contractor environments
• Flexible working conditions including WFH day's available

What we're looking for

• A tertiary / post-graduate qualification in Commercial Law / Contract Management or related discipline (e.g. finance, contract law, etc.) is preferred
• 5+ Years construction and service based contracting experience working in a commercial and/or legal department
• Understanding of the broader Utilities construction sector and construction of complex water assets
• Background in the successful negotiation of forms of contract with an acceptable risk profile in accordance with policies and procedures;
• Collaborative communication style with the ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• A highly skilled strategic thinker with a strong ability to influence outcomes and decisions
• Able to travel and attend client sites

About Energy & Utilities

Downer's Energy & Utilities business unit is an integrated trans-Tasman team, providing services and solutions that connect communities to essential networks and infrastructure. We design, build, operate and maintain today's critical assets and networks, delivering complete services across the water, electricity, telecommunications, industrial and power generation sectors. Our expertise spans in-house technical smarts, specialist engineering, integrated OEM partners, and dedicated crews of qualified tradespeople.

Downer Group is an employer that acknowledges and embraces the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents, and cultures. As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from everyone.