Commercial Manager

Overview

The Commercial Manager is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of projects through strong commercial leadership. The role manages cost and value, contract negotiation, financial reporting, risk management and dispute resolution. Working closely with the project team, the Commercial Manager ensures commercial governance, develops staff capability and maintains positive relationships with clients and stakeholders. 

John Sisk & Son have been building excellence as a family-owned international construction company by offering trust, certainty and value to our clients whilst being at the heart of change.  

Responsibilities

Commercial Management

• Lead cost and value management for projects, ensuring systems and procedures are in place and followed 
• Oversee financial reporting and cashflow forecasting for projects 
• Identify and negotiate unacceptable contract terms, bonds, warranties and guarantees with clients and stakeholders 
• Manage project change processes by recording, evaluating and recovering entitlements where not the company’s liability 
• Lead risk and opportunity management with the operations team, ensuring mitigation measures are identified and implemented 
• Provide commercial support and training to site staff 

Leadership and Team Development 

• Manage and mentor the commercial team to deliver key responsibilities and develop professional capability 
• Support knowledge sharing and mentoring through structured programmes 
• Supervise the preparation of cost plans for complex projects using appropriate techniques and software 
• Lead the analysis of project cost reports to inform decision making 
• Ensure commercial teams act in line with company values, health and safety standards and cultural behaviours 

Programme And Reporting

• Prepare and monitor long-term cash forecasts for projects, interpreting variances and recommending corrective action 
• Lead preparation of contractual correspondence and reports, ensuring accuracy and compliance 
• Develop innovative systems to control costs and monitor financial performance 
• Support programme and change reporting to management and stakeholders 

Stakeholder Engagement and Governance 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, subcontractors and third parties on commercial issues 
• Provide guidance on risk allocation, step-down clauses and design liability in subcontractor and designer agreements 
• Ensure commercial practices comply with legislation, company policies and best practice 
• Contribute to business planning and ensure alignment of commercial objectives with business unit strategy 
• Represent the company in industry networks and forums, maintaining professional relationships that support business growth 

Experience

• Proven experience in commercial management within construction or infrastructure 
• Strong knowledge of contract law, risk management and dispute resolution 
• Skilled negotiator with the ability to secure acceptable outcomes on complex projects 
• Experience leading commercial teams across multiple projects or large-scale programmes 
• Detailed understanding of project cost management systems and ability to interpret data for decision making 
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills 
• Ability to prepare accurate contractual correspondence and reports under tight timelines 
• Knowledge of design and build processes and delivery planning for multi-disciplinary teams 

Desirable Skills and Experience 

• Detailed understanding of project cost management systems and ability to interpret data for decision making 
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills 
• Ability to prepare accurate contractual correspondence and reports under tight timelines 
• Knowledge of design and build processes and delivery planning for multi-disciplinary teams 
• Experience developing innovative systems for monitoring direct works cost and project financial performance 
• Active involvement in professional networks or industry associations 

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Law, Business Administration or related field 
• Training in bonds, warranties and insurances 
• Training in dispute resolution and contract management 
• Training in financial management and cost control 
• Leadership training in managing and developing teams 
• Training in communication, influencing and negotiation 

Desirable

• Advanced training in change management, persuasion and influencing skills 
• Ongoing CPD in construction law, commercial management and industry best practice. 

Additional Information

• Competitive Salary with yearly increase   
• 26 days holiday (option to purchase 5 more)  
• Employer pension   
• Competitive mileage rate   
• Travel expenses    
• Enhanced parental leave   
• Professional and Educational development   

Our people are at the heart of our success and our proposition to them is work with purpose, have time for life, build a career with no limits and surround yourself with great people.   

Our Internal Recruitment Team fulfil all vacancies on a direct basis. Unsolicited contact by unapproved agencies (sharing speculative CVs) will not be accepted and introductory fees will not apply.  

*The full job specification is available on request   

Sisk Group is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process where required. 

This role profile and all associated recruitment materials have been prepared in line with current and emerging legal and regulatory requirements, including the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the Equality Acts (UK & Ireland). All language is gender-neutral and inclusive, and the requirements listed are based solely on objective role performance needs. Sisk Group is committed to ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance in all recruitment and employment practices 

At Sisk we are committed to attracting and hiring diverse talent into our organisation. We know the confidence gap and imposter phenomenon can get in the way of meeting remarkable candidates. We also know that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often don't apply for roles if they don't feel they meet all the criteria. Give your transferable skills the chance to tell the full story. It’s not all about your technical expertise. Don’t hold back, we’d love to hear from you.