Commercial Manager

Job Description Overview

The Commercial Manager is responsible for commercial and financial management across a portfolio of projects delivered under NEC4 contracts. The role ensures robust cost control, forecasting, change management, and contract compliance, while supporting Project Managers and Directors to deliver projects to time, cost and contractual obligations.

The role operates across multiple simultaneous commissions, providing consistency of approach to financial governance, contract administration, risk management and reporting, and acting as a trusted commercial adviser to both internal teams and external stakeholders.

• Lead the commercial management of NEC4 contracts (including PSC and ECC as applicable), ensuring contractual processes are applied consistently and correctly across projects.
• Manage and administer contractual mechanisms including
  
  Early Warnings, Compensation Events, change control, programme impacts and entitlement assessments.
• Provide commercial advice and challenge to Project Managers on contract risk, compliance, and commercial strategy.
• Support preparation, review and agreement of contractual correspondence, notices, assessments and records. Maintain a clear audit trail demonstrating compliance with contract conditions and agreed procedures.
• Establish and maintain robust financial controls across a live portfolio of projects, ensuring consistency in cost management and reporting.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, cashflow and earned value, identifying variances and risks at an early stage. Produce accurate, timely and reliable monthly financial reports at portfolio / department level.
• Support period‑end processes, including accruals, revenue recognition and reconciliation with financial systems. Lead commercial change management, ensuring that scope changes are identified early, assessed correctly and implemented in line with NEC4 procedures.
• Maintain commercial risk and opportunity registers, working with Project Managers to develop mitigation strategies.
• Assess the commercial implications of programme changes, scope growth, resourcing variations and client instructions. Support resolution of commercial issues and disputes through structured, evidence‑based approaches.
• Work closely with Project Managers, Project Directors and discipline leads to embed strong commercial behaviours across project teams.
• Act as a key commercial interface with clients and supply chain partners, supporting transparent and professional engagement. Support negotiations and agreement of commercial matters while protecting the organisation’s contractual position.
• Contribute to a collaborative project culture aligned with NEC principles of mutual trust and cooperation.
• Ensure projects operate in compliance with internal commercial governance, approval thresholds and delegated authorities. Maintain and improve commercial processes, templates and controls to support consistent delivery across the portfolio.
• Support audits and internal reviews by providing clear, well‑maintained commercial records. Capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of commercial management practices.

Technical Knowledge and Experience

• A Commercial Manager with experience in major programmes and complex infrastructure within construction, engineering, manufacturing, oil and gas or UK Public Sector organisation.
• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying or a related commercial/construction discipline, or able todemonstrateequivalent knowledge and experience gained through practice.
• Membership, or working towards membership ofthe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or an equivalent recognised body

Essential

• Experience as a Commercial Manager managing projects under NEC4 forms of contract.
• Proven ability to manage financial controls across multiple concurrent projects or programmes.
• Sound understanding of cost management, forecasting, change control and commercial risk.
• Experience supporting Project Managers with commercial strategy and contract compliance.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to present clear, concise commercial information to senior stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience…