Commercial and Cost Control Lead

Job Description

As the Commercial and Cost Control lead, you will oversee the commercial governance and cost control strategy across NEXTDC’s colocation development projects, ensuring strong commercial outcomes, operational excellence, and delivery certainty. Working closely with Planning & Approvals, Cost Planning, Programme, Procurement and Project teams, this role drives commercial standards, contractor engagement, risk management, and cost control across base builds, capacity expansions, and customer fitouts.

The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on project support to identify commercial risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.

We are open to candidates based in Melbourne or in Sydney

What will you do:

Commercial Governance Framework

• Establish and maintain commercial governance frameworks, standards, templates, and procedures across all Colocation Development projects.
• Support contractor, consultant, and client-supplied equipment engagement strategies in collaboration with Legal and the CDO.
• Drive consistency through commercial training and capability uplift programs for Contract Managers and Cost Administrators.

Delivery & Commercial Oversight

• Provide active commercial oversight during project delivery, working closely with Project Leads to manage commercial outcomes proactively.
• Monitor portfolio-wide commercial reporting, identifying risks, inconsistencies, and opportunities for corrective action or optimisation.
• Ensure effective contract administration, commercial analysis, variation management, and contractor claims assessment across projects.

Cost Control & Reporting

• Lead portfolio cost reporting, forecasting, cashflow tracking, contingency management, and financial reporting processes.
• Oversee commercial reporting systems and ensure accurate integration of project financial data into portfolio reporting frameworks.
• Support budget forecasting, reforecasting, cost-to-complete assessments, and governance of budget adjustments.

Contractor & Consultant Engagement

• Support procurement and contractor engagement activities, including tender reviews, commercial evaluations, and negotiation support.
• Maintain market intelligence on contractor and consultant capability, capacity, and pricing trends.
• Build strong relationships with contractor commercial teams to facilitate efficient issue resolution and project delivery.

Compliance, Governance & Risk

• Ensure compliance with commercial governance requirements, procurement policies, and contractual obligations across the project portfolio.
• Maintain portfolio-wide commercial risk and opportunity registers, ensuring mitigation strategies are identified and managed effectively.

What you need:

Technical & Commercial Expertise

• Strong knowledge of Australian construction contract law and standard forms, including AS 4000 and AS 2124, with hands-on contract administration experience.
• Advanced analytical, financial modelling, and cost control capabilities, including forecasting, contingency management, and commercial reporting.

Commercial Governance & Leadership

• Proven experience establishing and maintaining commercial governance frameworks across complex, multi-project environments.
• Ability to uplift team capability and drive consistent commercial standards through functional leadership and influence.

Stakeholder Management & Negotiation

• Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex commercial matters clearly to executive and project stakeholders.
• Sound commercial judgement and negotiation capability, with experience assessing contractor and consultant positions to achieve commercially effective outcomes.

Systems & Tools

• Proficient in commercial management systems, cost control platforms, and advanced Excel modelling.
• Familiarity with document management platforms such as Aconex, Procore, or equivalent systems.

Qualifications

• 15+ years’ experience in commercial management, contract administration, or quantity surveying on major capital works projects.
• Experience across data centres, mission-critical infrastructure, healthcare, pharmaceutical/laboratory, or highly serviced building sectors.
• Proven experience managing commercial frameworks across multiple concurrent projects in a portfolio environment.
• Experience developing and implementing commercial governance standards.
• Portfolio-level commercial oversight experience strongly preferred.
• Tertiary qualification in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Law, Commerce, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Professional membership (e.g. AIQS, RICS, or equivalent) preferred.

Additional Information

• Seize this exciting opportunity to join one of Australia’s fastest growing companies and play a key contributing role in the future of AI and the digital economy  
• Join an inclusive, diverse and values-driven working culture   
• Great opportunities to progress within our company (grow as we grow)  

Our mission is to continue building a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents the communities in which we operate.

Make NEXTDC your next move.