Commercial Manager Water

Our Water sector contractor is seeking a Commercial Manager to initially support pre construction activity on their Southern Water framework based out of Falmer (Brighton) on a permanent basis with hybrid working.

Our contractor helps end clients safeguard the water supply, improve environmental performance and manage demand for future generations. They enhance and extend asset life, ensuring compliance with water quality and environmental standards.

This role will sit within their Water and wastewater capital project delivery team delivering large-scale capital programmes aimed at keeping water infrastructure resilient for the long-term while protecting the environment.

Responsibilities

• play a pivotal role in setting projects up for commercial success from day one. Working closely with senior commercial leaders, operational teams, clients and supply chain partners, you'll help shape contract strategies, influence procurement decisions, and ensure robust commercial controls are established from the outset.
• You'll lead or support pre-contract activities including contract briefings, developing commercial guidance, defining measurement and reporting requirements, and working with Procurement teams throughout the tendering process.
• You'll also support supplier evaluations, contract award recommendations, and manage TUPE-related commercial considerations where required.
• Once projects are underway, you'll take ownership of key commercial processes, ensuring valuations, applications, change management and contractual obligations are managed accurately and in line with contract requirements.
• Oversee certifications, notices, cash collection processes, Early Warnings and Compensation Events, while providing commercial guidance and support to operational teams and acting as an escalation point for contractual issues and disputes.
• Maintain strong commercial control across the supply chain, validating cost information, overseeing subcontractor onboarding and governance, managing payments and accounts, and driving the resolution of commercial issues.
• Working collaboratively with supply chain partners, you'll identify opportunities to maximise value, recover costs and reduce commercial risk.
• Maintain accurate and compliant commercial records, ensuring all valuations, payments, notices, risks, opportunities and contract documentation are effectively managed and readily accessible for audit and assurance purposes.
• Play a leading role in contract performance management, producing and reviewing forecasts, cashflow reporting and CVRs, providing clear insight into project performance, and helping operational teams understand and manage commercial risks and opportunities.
• Through close collaboration with clients, you'll support KPI and SLA performance management to help secure successful commercial outcomes.
• Alongside managing your own responsibilities, you'll provide leadership and direction to junior commercial team members, helping to maintain high standards, develop capability and drive commercial best practice across the business.

Skills/qualifications/experience

• QS degree
• Full UK driving licence
• RICS /other progessional accreditation
• Ideally 10 years Water experience or worked in adjacent sector.
• Strong understanding of procurement processes
• Worked on large complex programmes
• Familiar with financial reporting systems
• Experience with SLAs and performance based contracts
• Dispute resolution and negotiation skills
• Must be able to travel to Falmer office at least 2 days - occasional travel to Hampshire and Kent offices as and when required

Benefits

• Salary £85-99k (open to discussion)
• Contributory pension scheme
• Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Employee assistance programme
• My Rewards portal, access to 1000's of retail discounts
• Life assurance
• Cycle to work, salary finance and give as you earn schemes
• Enhanced maternity, paternity leave and adoption leave
• Reward and recognition scheme
• Recommend a friend - get rewarded for introducing people to us!
• Company car and fuel card with a range of EV and hybrid vehicles to choose from
• My Car Choice our salary sacrifice EV/ Hybrid car scheme
• Health Care Cash Plan, giving you and your family the ability to claim back medical expenses for things like dental, eyecare and physiotherapy and much more!
• Private Healthcare - family cover
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Discretionary bonus scheme