Senior Commercial Manager

Senior Commercial Manager

Reference: SCMMAJPROJ
Type: Contract
Location: Essex, England
Industry: Engineering
Salary: £650 - £800 per day + Inside IR35

Job Title: Senior Commercial Manager – Complex Works (Highways Major Project)

Role Purpose

The Senior Commercial Manager will lead commercial management across complex enabling and civils works packages within a major highways programme. This includes ground investigation, archaeology, ecology, drainage, and major civil engineering works, ensuring robust cost control, risk management, and contract administration throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership (Package-Level)

• Lead commercial management for multiple complex works packages across the programme.
• Provide strategic commercial advice to Project Directors and Delivery Leads.
• Ensure alignment with overarching programme commercial strategy.

Procurement & Contract Management

• Develop and deliver procurement strategies for enabling and civils works packages.
• Manage tender processes, evaluation, and contract award.
• Administer and manage contracts (primarily NEC3/NEC4), ensuring compliance and performance.
• Lead commercial negotiations with contractors and specialist suppliers.

Complex Works Delivery

• Provide commercial oversight and control across:
  • Ground investigation and geotechnical works
  • Archaeological investigations and mitigation
  • Environmental and ecological works
  • Drainage and water management systems
  • Major civils (earthworks, structures, highways works)
• Manage interfaces between multiple contractors and disciplines.
• Ensure early contractor involvement and effective package integration.

Cost Management & Reporting

• Develop and maintain detailed cost plans and forecasts.
• Monitor budgets, track actuals, and manage variances.
• Produce accurate and timely commercial reports for senior stakeholders.
• Ensure value for money and cost optimisation across packages.

Risk, Change & Claims Management

• Lead risk identification and commercial mitigation strategies.
• Manage compensation events, variations, and change control processes.
• Assess and respond to contractor claims, ensuring robust commercial positions.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution.

Stakeholder & Supply Chain Management

• Build strong working relationships with contractors, consultants, and internal teams.
• Interface with environmental, planning, and engineering stakeholders.
• Promote collaborative behaviours while protecting commercial interests.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with internal governance and public procurement regulations.
• Maintain audit-ready commercial records and documentation.
• Support assurance reviews and approvals processes.

Key Requirements

Experience

• Significant experience in commercial management on major highways or infrastructure projects (typically £100m+ packages).
• Strong experience managing complex enabling works, including:
  • Ground investigation and geotechnical risk
  • Archaeology and heritage constraints
  • Environmental/ecology mitigation works
  • Drainage and utilities interfaces
• Experience in major civils delivery (earthworks, structures, highways construction).
• Proven experience administering NEC contracts (NEC3/NEC4 essential).
• Experience in multi-contractor, high-interface environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial and contractual acumen.
• Advanced knowledge of NEC mechanisms (compensation events, programme, risk register).
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and cost management capability.
• Ability to manage complexity, uncertainty, and competing priorities.
• Clear and confident communication skills.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Civil Engineering, or similar.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. RICS, CICES) preferred.
• Postgraduate qualification desirable.

Leadership & Behaviours

• Proactive, detail-oriented, and commercially driven.
• Collaborative but firm in protecting commercial outcomes.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Strong problem-solving mindset in complex delivery environments.

Desirable Experience

• Experience on major UK highways or infrastructure programmes such as:
  • Cross Rail
  • Smart Motorways Programme
  • Major Railway schemes
• Experience working within regulated or public sector delivery environments.
• Familiarity with environmental consenting and Development Consent Orders (DCO).

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.