Commercial Manager

Gencellprojects; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job description

About the Role

We are currently seeking a highly capable and commercially astute Commercial Manager to join our team for a 6-month contract supporting a major data centre project in the UK. This role offers the opportunity to work on high-value infrastructure initiatives during a critical phase of growth, with significant outsourcing and proposal activity underway. As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will lead the full commercial lifecycle of data centre projects – from early-stage procurement strategy through to final account settlement and performance evaluation. With several proposals being submitted (starting today) and more projects expected in the pipeline, this is a fast-paced and strategically critical role.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Contract / Tendering Stage

• Develop procurement strategies (e.g., design & build, EPC, lump sum turnkey) tailored to project scope and risk profile.
• Lead cost planning and budgeting across all design stages – concept, schematic, and detailed design.
• Prepare tender documentation including scope of work, BOQs, and commercial terms.
• Oversee tender evaluation: perform technical and commercial bid analysis, risk assessments, and recommendations.
• Engage and negotiate with subcontractors, suppliers, and service providers.
• Draft and negotiate main contract and subcontract commercial terms.

Construction Phase

• Manage project cost control including budget vs actual tracking, forecasting, and reporting.
• Review and certify subcontractor applications, monitor variations, and maintain cash flow forecasts.
• Administer contract compliance, support change management, and negotiate change orders/variations.
• Maintain commercial risk and opportunity registers and identify value engineering opportunities.
• Report to key stakeholders (client, project managers, finance) through regular commercial updates and dashboards.
• Attend site and coordination meetings with the client and delivery teams.

Post-Construction / Handover

• Lead final account close-out and settlement of outstanding commercial matters.
• Evaluate contractor performance and contribute to lessons-learned reviews.
• Support internal and external audit processes (e.g., cost assurance, procurement compliance).

Strategic & Cross-Cutting Functions

• Ensure adherence to internal governance and external regulatory requirements.
• Provide strategic contract advice across a portfolio of data centre projects (hyperscale, colocation, edge).
• Act as commercial lead and client interface for bid submissions, including today's live proposal.
• Develop and maintain commercial dashboards using tools like Power BI and Excel for reporting and forecasting.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in commercial management of data centre or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of UK construction procurement and contract administration (NEC, JCT, FIDIC, etc.).
• Experience in cost planning, tendering, and post-contract cost control.
• Commercially minded with the ability to work in high-pressure environments.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Availability to start early June 2025 and contribute to immediate proposal work.