Senior Commercial Manager in Chester

Energy Jobline CVL; Chester (IL); On-site; USD 121,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Energy Jobline CVL is seeking a Senior Commercial Manager to lead commercial performance across a portfolio of utilities and infrastructure projects. The role requires strong NEC contract knowledge and proven CVR, forecasting and risk management capabilities.

You will provide commercial leadership, manage contractual risk, and mentor a team of surveyors and commercial staff while collaborating with operations and project delivery teams to protect margins and drive financial performance.

Qualifications

• Strong utilities or gas sector experience in a contractor environment.
• Extensive construction and infrastructure commercial management experience.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts and commercial administration.
• Experience with CVRs, forecasting, cost-to-complete, cash flow and margin management.
• Experience leading subcontract procurement and complex supply chains.
• Senior-level experience (Senior Commercial Manager or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Take senior commercial responsibility for construction and infrastructure projects from pre-contract through delivery and final account.
• Lead CVR processes, forecasting and cost-to-complete reviews.
• Manage change control, variations, compensation events and contractual correspondence.
• Produce accurate commercial forecasts and reporting to the senior leadership team.
• Mentor and develop members of the commercial and QS team.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients, supply-chain partners and stakeholders.

Skills

Utilities/Gas sector experience

Construction/infrastructure commercial

Senior leadership/management

NEC contracts knowledge

CVR/forecasting/cost-to-complete

Subcontract procurement/contracting

Stakeholder management

Education

Quantity Surveying or construction-related qualifications

Job description

Senior Commercial Manager – Utilities & Infrastructure

Location: Chester

Sector: Utilities / Gas / Construction

The Opportunity

A leading infrastructure contractor is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Commercial Manager to join its team in Chester, taking a senior role in the commercial management of construction and infrastructure projects.

The ideal candidate will come from a utilities or gas background, with experience managing the commercial performance of complex infrastructure contracts. However, candidates from a strong Tier 1 contracting background will also be considered, provided they have significant construction experience and a proven commercial track record.

This is a senior position requiring someone who can provide commercial leadership, protect contractual entitlement, manage risk and work closely with operational teams to drive strong financial performance across a portfolio of projects.

The Role

As Senior Commercial Manager, you will provide commercial leadership across a portfolio of projects, working closely with operational, project and senior management teams.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Taking senior commercial responsibility for construction and infrastructure projects from pre-contract through delivery and final account.
• Managing project commercial performance, ensuring appropriate controls are maintained around cost, value, cash and margin.
• Leading CVR processes, forecasting and cost-to-complete reviews across the project portfolio.
• Managing contractual risk and ensuring commercial opportunities and potential liabilities are identified at an early stage.
• Providing commercial support and challenge to Project Managers, Contracts Managers and operational teams.
• Managing change control, variations, compensation events and contractual correspondence.
• Ensuring contractual entitlement is identified, substantiated and appropriately administered.
• Leading subcontractor procurement, negotiation and commercial management throughout project delivery.
• Reviewing subcontractor performance, applications, variations and final accounts.
• Supporting tendering and pre-contract activities, including commercial reviews, risk assessments and contract negotiations.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with clients, supply-chain partners and key stakeholders.
• Producing accurate commercial forecasts and reporting to the senior leadership team.
• Supporting the resolution of contractual and commercial disputes where required.
• Driving consistent commercial governance and commercial best practice across the business.
• Mentoring and developing members of the commercial and Quantity Surveying team.

About You

We are looking for an established commercial professional with significant experience within construction and infrastructure.

Ideally, you will have:

• Strong utilities or gas sector experience, ideally gained within a contractor environment.
• Significant construction and infrastructure commercial management experience.
• Alternatively, a strong Tier 1 contractor background with responsibility for major construction or infrastructure projects.
• Previous experience at Senior Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager or senior Quantity Surveying level.
• Strong knowledge of NEC contracts and commercial contract administration.
• Extensive experience of CVRs, forecasting, cost-to-complete, cash flow and margin management.
• Strong understanding of change management, variations, compensation events and contractual entitlement.
• Experience managing subcontract procurement and complex supply chains.
• Strong commercial negotiation and contract management capability.
• Experience working closely with operational and project delivery teams.
• Ability to identify commercial risk and implement practical strategies to protect project and business performance.
• Strong client and senior stakeholder management skills.
• Relevant Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or construction-related qualifications would be advantageous.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to take on a key senior commercial position within an established infrastructure contractor, with responsibility for supporting the commercial performance and governance of a significant project portfolio.

The position would particularly suit a Senior Commercial Manager from the utilities or gas sector looking for their next senior appointment. Applications are also welcomed from commercially strong Tier 1 construction professionals with major infrastructure experience who are interested in moving into the utilities sector.