Commercial Manager

WSP; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical cover

Generous annual leave

Professional subscriptions

Job summary

WSP is seeking a senior commercial and contractual lead for its Power & Energy business in South Africa. You will govern and manage complex NEC/FIDIC-based projects, safeguarding margin, cash flow and entitlement while enabling compliant delivery.

You will provide strategic advisory on cost, schedule, risk and controls, lead contract strategy and administration from tender to close-out, and mentor project controls teams while supporting work-winning and capability development.

Qualifications

• Degree/discipline and senior commercial or contract-management experience on major engineering, construction, energy or infrastructure projects
• Hands-on administration of NEC3/NEC4 and FIDIC forms of contract is essential
• Strong experience in cost management, forecasting, procurement, claims, change control, subcontract management and final-account negotiation
• Power generation, transmission, substations, renewable energy or related infrastructure experience is highly advantageous
• Professional registration or recognised accreditation is advantageous

Responsibilities

• Lead contract strategy and administration from tender through close-out; review contract conditions, amendments and risk allocation; manage NEC early warnings, compensation events, quotations, defined cost and target-cost mechanisms; manage FIDIC notices, instructions, variations, claims, extensions of time and payment processes
• Direct cost control, forecasting, revenue, cash flow and margin reporting; oversee procurement, subcontract administration, valuations and final accounts; maintain auditable commercial records and registers
• Advise on delay, disruption, loss and expense, entitlement and dispute avoidance; lead commercial negotiations; support work winning; develop commercial capability across project teams
• Mentor senior project controls professionals and support capability development
• Ensure alignment with governance, financial control, and delivery excellence frameworks

Skills

Commercial acumen

NEC3/NEC4 contract interpretation

FIDIC contract administration

Negotiation and dispute avoidance

Client-facing communication

Leadership of multidisciplinary teams

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering, or Law

Professional registration or recognised accreditation (advantageous)

Tools

NEC3/NEC4 & FIDIC contracts

Job description

Key Role
Act as the senior commercial and contractual lead within the Power & Energy business, providing governance, strategic advice and hands-on commercial management for complex projects and programmes delivered under NEC and FIDIC forms of contract. The role will safeguard margin, cash flow and contractual entitlement while enabling collaborative, compliant and commercially sound project delivery.

• Serve as the project controls authority for complex and high-value energy and infrastructure programmes
• Define and govern project controls standards, methodologies, and assurance frameworks
• Provide expert oversight and approval of baselines, forecasts, and performance reporting
• Lead resolution of complex project controls challenges related to recovery, re-baselining, and performance risk
• Provide strategic advisory support to clients on cost, schedule, risk, and controls strategy
• Support large-scale project delivery through expert reviews and specialist inputs
• Contribute to work-winning and proposal development, including controls strategies and delivery models
• Mentor senior project controls professionals and support capability development
• Ensure alignment with governance, financial control, and delivery excellence frameworks

Responsibilities
Lead contract strategy and administration from tender through close-out; review contract conditions, amendments and risk allocation; manage NEC early warnings, compensation events, quotations, defined cost and target-cost mechanisms; manage FIDIC notices, instructions, variations, claims, extensions of time and payment processes; direct cost control, forecasting, revenue, cash flow and margin reporting; oversee procurement, subcontract administration, valuations and final accounts; maintain auditable commercial records and registers; advise on delay, disruption, loss and expense, entitlement and dispute avoidance; lead commercial negotiations; support work winning; and develop commercial capability across project teams.

Health and Safety

• Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behavior consistent with the company's health, safety, environmental, and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you
• Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm
• Embracing, displaying, and promoting the company values and ensuring a safe working environment is always maintained

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Law or a related discipline.
• At least eight years' commercial or contract-management experience on major engineering, construction, energy or infrastructure projects, including senior responsibility.
• Hands-on administration of NEC3/NEC4 and FIDIC forms of contract is essential.
• Strong experience in cost management, forecasting, procurement, claims, change control, subcontract management and final-account negotiation.
• Power generation, transmission, substations, renewable energy or related infrastructure experience is highly advantageous.
• Professional registration or recognised commercial or contract-management accreditation is advantageous.

Key Competencies And Generic Skills

• Commercial acumen and strong financial, analytical and strategic judgement.
• Expert NEC and FIDIC contract interpretation and administration.
• Strong negotiation, claims assessment and dispute-avoidance skills.
• Excellent client-facing, written and senior stakeholder communication.
• Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary commercial teams.
• Uncompromising focus on governance, contractual deadlines, record keeping and delivery excellence.

Additional Information
What's in it for you?
What if we can have work-life balance? What if we can be rewarded in ways that support our individual needs? What if we can be accepted for who we are? Here at WSP - we can! WSP recognizes that work is only one part of our lives and making time for the other things in our life is important - be that our families, our friends or ourselves. So, if working from home, working part-time or having flexible start and finish time will help with this let us know as part of your application. As well as rewarding you with competitive pay, WSP offers standard benefits including first class medical cover, generous days annual leave, and paid professional subscriptions. Be you, be happy - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects and maximizes the contribution individuals can bring to WSP. We recognize the benefits that people with varying backgrounds and experiences can bring. Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.