Senior Commercial Manager

The Senior Commercial Manager is responsible for leading the commercial, contractual and financial management of a data center development delivered under FIDIC-based contract terms. The role provides senior commercial leadership (on Site) across procurement, contract administration, cost control, variations, claims, risk, reporting and final account close-out, ensuring that the Employer’s commercial position is protected while enabling safe, timely and compliant project delivery. The position requires deep practical experience with FIDIC forms of contract, including the administration of notices, determinations, variations, payment mechanisms, claims, Extension of Time assessments, dispute avoidance and formal correspondence.

Key responsibilities

1. Lead the commercial management function for the full project lifecycle, from procurement and contract award through construction, commissioning, handover, final account and defects liability period.
2. Administer FIDIC-based main contracts and associated amendments, ensuring compliance with contractual procedures, notice requirements, time bars, payment provisions, variation mechanisms and dispute resolution processes.
3. Provide senior contractual advice to the Project Manager, development team and project controls function on commercial strategy, entitlement, risk allocation and contractual position management.
4. Manage variations, change orders and Engineer’s instructions, including valuation, substantiation, negotiation, approval workflows and integration with project cost forecasts.
5. Lead the assessment and management of contractor claims, counterclaims, Extension of Time submissions, disruption claims, acceleration proposals and prolongation cost claims, supported by contemporary records and delay analysis.
6. Establish and maintain robust commercial governance, including contract registers, claim and notice trackers, risk and opportunity registers, change control logs, payment trackers, procurement status reports and commercial decision records.
7. Oversee cost management and forecasting for major work packages, ensuring alignment between approved budget, committed cost, forecast final cost, cash flow, contingency, risk exposure and funding approvals.
8. Support procurement strategy for construction, MEP, specialist systems, long-lead equipment and OFCI interfaces, ensuring tender documents, commercial schedules and contract conditions are complete, coordinated and commercially enforceable.
9. Prepare, review and issue contractual correspondence, notices, responses, commercial reports, payment assessments, recommendation papers and negotiation records in a clear, defensible and auditable manner.
10. Coordinate closely with legal advisers, project controls, planning, design, construction, commissioning, procurement, finance and operations teams to ensure that commercial decisions reflect the technical, schedule and operational realities of the project.
11. Lead commercial negotiations with contractors, consultants and supply chain partners, aiming for timely resolution of variations, claims and final accounts while preserving contractual rights and avoiding unnecessary disputes.
12. Ensure commercial readiness for project handover and close-out, including settlement of outstanding claims, agreement of final accounts, confirmation of contractual deliverables, release of securities and completion of contractual records.
    

Key skills and capabilities

1. Advanced working knowledge of FIDIC or similar contract forms, including practical administration of notices, variations, claims, payment procedures, determinations and dispute avoidance mechanisms.
2. Strong commercial acumen with the ability to protect the Employer’s position while maintaining constructive relationships with contractors, consultants, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
3. Proven capability in claims strategy, Extension of Time assessment, loss and expense evaluation, disruption analysis, prolongation cost review and settlement negotiation.
4. Excellent cost management, forecasting and financial control skills, including budget management, committed cost tracking, cash flow forecasting, contingency management and forecast final account reporting.
5. Strong understanding of large-scale data center delivery, including MEP-intensive construction, commissioning dependencies, long-lead equipment, OFCI interfaces, utility connections, phasing, energisation and handover requirements.
6. High standard of contractual writing, commercial correspondence and document control, with the ability to produce clear, defensible and auditable records.
7. Strong negotiation, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to lead difficult commercial discussions at senior level.
8. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-value project environment with multiple contractors, complex interfaces, tight deadlines and significant commercial exposure.
9. Proficiency with commercial management, cost control, contract administration and document management systems, such as Primavera Unifier, SAP, Oracle, Power BI or equivalent platforms.

Qualifications and experience

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Law, Procurement, Project Management, Finance or a related discipline.
2. Typically, 20–25+ years of relevant commercial, contract management or quantity surveying experience, including senior responsibility on large-scale construction, infrastructure, industrial, mission-critical or data center projects.
3. Demonstrable experience administering FIDIC-based contracts or similar through the full project lifecycle, including tendering, contract award, execution, change management, claims, payment, final account and close-out.
4. Experience working in an Employer, developer, PMC, EPC contractor, cost consultant or major contractor environment on complex capital projects.
5. Professional membership or certification is desirable, such as MRICS, MCIOB, FIDIC Certified Contract Manager, PMP, AACE, CIArb or an equivalent recognised credential.
6. Experience with high-value MEP, electrical infrastructure, critical power, cooling, controls, telecoms, security, fire protection and commissioning-related packages is highly desirable.
7. Strong knowledge of procurement strategy, tender evaluation, contract drafting support, commercial schedules, bonds, guarantees, insurances, warranties, liquidated damages and performance security arrangements.
8. Fluent written and spoken English, with the ability to prepare formal contractual correspondence, commercial reports, executive summaries and negotiation records suitable for senior stakeholders and legal review.