Commercial Manager

The Commercial Manager is responsible for driving commercial performance across the RICs portfolio through effective contract management, commercial governance, margin improvement, change control and risk management. Working closely with Business Unit Directors, Project Managers and Finance teams, the role will help maximise profitability, improve commercial controls and support sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Management

Lead the commercial management of client contracts across the portfolio, ensuring that contractual obligations, risks, liabilities and payment provisions are effectively managed. Support contract negotiations, variations and dispute resolution activities while embedding consistent contract management practices across the business.

Margin Improvement & Commercial Performance

Drive initiatives to improve profitability across projects and frameworks. Monitor financial performance, identify opportunities to increase margin, challenge underperformance and support delivery teams in achieving commercial targets.

Change Control

Establish a robust change control culture, ensuring scope changes and additional client requirements are identified, documented and recovered commercially. Support Project Managers in securing variations, compensation events and additional fees.

Commercial Governance

Ensure bids and projects comply with governance requirements, delegated authority processes and company policies. Review commercial terms, liabilities, payment provisions and contractual risks before commitments are made.

Portfolio Support

Provide commercial support and challenge to Business Unit Directors and Project Managers. Maintain visibility of project performance, forecasting, WIP, debt and cash generation, helping teams implement recovery plans where required.

Risk Management & Capability Development

Manage commercial risks across the portfolio and support the development of commercial awareness throughout the business. Coach project teams on commercial best practice and contribute to the ongoing improvement of commercial tools, processes and ways of working.

Key Accountabilities

• Contract management and commercial governance.
• Margin improvement and profitability.
• Change control recovery.
• Commercial risk management.
• Forecast accuracy and portfolio reporting.
• WIP, debt and cash performance.
• Development of commercial capability across RICs.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will have significant commercial management experience within consultancy, engineering, infrastructure or regulated industries. They will possess strong contract management and negotiation skills together with a sound understanding of NEC contracts and commercial risk.

Candidates should demonstrate strong financial and analytical capability, excellent stakeholder management skills and a proven ability to improve commercial performance across a portfolio of projects.

Experience within the Water, Energy, Utilities or Environmental sectors would be advantageous, as would relevant professional qualifications or memberships.