Job Purpose / Overview:
The Commercial Manager plays a key role in the financial and commercial success of major, complex projects, overseeing them from inception through tendering, contract negotiation, and delivery. Responsible for projects often valued in the tens of millions, they are an integral part of the senior leadership team, handling everything from risk management and procurement to financial reporting and supply chain management. With extensive experience in the construction industry, they bring commercial awareness, client liaison skills, and leadership abilities. Typically, they are Chartered Members or Fellows of professional bodies such as RICS, ICES, or CIOB, and mentor others on their path to professional qualification.
Contextual Information:
SZC, owned by EDF and HMG, is focused on delivering a nuclear power plant and related infrastructure at Sizewell C in Suffolk. The project's current phase includes securing funding, finalizing supply chain contracts, and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals. SZC is transitioning from EDF's Nuclear Development business unit, with a focus on replicating the technical and commercial success of Hinkley Point C. The project involves key stakeholders including the UK Government, financial institutions, regulators, EDF, and local communities.
Principal Accountabilities, Activities and Decisions:
- Ensures staff have a good knowledge of and adheres to the Company's GMCEs, BMS and other governance, including Sizewell C systems, processes and required governance.
- An ability to see the bigger picture and prioritise business opportunities.
- Willing to take initiative to respond to market/customer requirements.
- Understands how economic factors affect the construction industry.
- Provides commercial input to Value Engineering reviews for different forms of construction.
- Manages the feedback of commercial data to Planning and Estimating.
- Maximises digital opportunities.
- The ability to review tenders & cost data.
- Manages the preparation of Target Cost for a Project.
- Coordinates the commercial team to ensure programme issues are identified and actioned.
- Manages the preparation and review of Earned Value Management.
- Manages the preparation of the monthly CVR and associated commercial reports.
- Reports and explains the commercial progress to senior divisional staff.
- Manages the feedback of commercial data to Planning, Estimating, Marketing and Sales.
- Leads commercial aspects with Customer and stakeholders.
- Establishes client supply chain requirements & advises on alternative forms of contract & procurement arrangements.
- Formulates management plans for resource procurement.
- Understands dispute resolution including options, structure as well as knowledge of the SCL Protocol.
- Applies legislation and liaises with legal experts.
- Prepares Estimates & Tender submissions including the interpretation of specifications & preambles.
- Represents the financial and contractual interests to your employer and/or client in progress meetings or the like.
- Coordinates buying, accounts, production control/planning, supply chain management & procurement techniques, estimating & surveying functions.
- Manages and reports on Commercial Risk and Opportunity.
- Manages disallowed cost.
- Experience in the recruitment and retention of staff.
- Onboards and inducts staff, ensuring commercial induction packs are drawn up and delivered.
- Manages and oversees team PDRs and identifies & targets the needs of individuals & self.
- Oversees & gives advice on training & development including professional development.
- Gives feedback on strengths and weaknesses - connecting plans for development of individuals.
- Determines project commercial staff requirements & liaises with HR for recruitment including temporary staff.
- Interviews staff for lesser grades.
- Liaises with all parties to ensure task/project remains on plan.
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience:
Essential:
- BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying or experience equivalent.
- Member or Fellow of RICS, ICES or CIOB.
Desirable:
- Communication.
- Teamwork.
- Leadership.
- Strategic change management.
- Achievement focus (achieving results).
- Business and customer awareness.
- Promotes organisational aims & objectives.
- Manages customer needs.
- Manages opportunities & threats.
Don't match all the criteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.
About us:
We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia. Certainty, reliability, quality - this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.
As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long-term health conditions and disabilities through the 'Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to the interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.
We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com.