Senior Commercial Manager Manchester (Trafford Park & Salford Quays)
Permanent - Hybrid
Competitive + Flexible Benefits Summary We’re looking for an experienced and commercially driven Senior Commercial Manager to join our team on the landmark Therme Manchester development. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a leading role on one of the UK's largest and most technically complex projects, taking responsibility for the commercial performance, governance and risk management of a major project whilst supporting the successful delivery of strategic business objectives. Working across our Trafford Park and Salford offices, you'll provide commercial leadership across the project lifecycle, from procurement and contract management through to project delivery and final account settlement. Stakeholder management will be a key part of the role, requiring the successful candidate to build and maintain strong relationships with the client, supply chain partners, consultants, project teams and senior business leaders. If you're an accomplished commercial professional with experience leading teams, managing complex contractual environments and driving commercial performance on major projects, we'd love to hear from you. Some of the key deliverables in this role will include: Commercial Leadership & Governance

• Lead and manage all commercial activities across the Therme Manchester project.
• Support the Commercial Director in delivering commercial strategy and business objectives.
• Ensure commercial best practice, governance and controls are implemented throughout the project.
• Provide commercial advice and expertise to project and operational teams.
• Support contract reviews and commercial reporting activities.
• Ensure commercial decisions support both project outcomes and wider business objectives.
• Drive accountability, continuous improvement and commercial excellence across the project team.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with client representatives, consultants, supply chain partners and key stakeholders.
• Lead commercial engagement with customers, subcontractors and suppliers.
• Act as a trusted advisor to project leadership teams, providing commercial insight and guidance.
• Manage commercial negotiations to achieve successful project and business outcomes.
• Promote collaboration across all project functions to support successful programme delivery.
• Influence stakeholders at all levels through effective communication, commercial awareness and relationship management.
• Represent the business professionally and identify opportunities to strengthen existing and future customer relationships.

Commercial Performance & Reporting

• Manage the financial and commercial performance of the project.
• Ensure accurate forecasting of costs, value, cash flow and commercial risks.
• Support the preparation of management accounts and project commercial reviews.
• Monitor project performance against budget and forecast outcomes.
• Ensure commercial reporting is accurate, timely and aligned with business requirements.
• Drive proactive management of project margins and commercial opportunities.

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Lead the development and management of project risk and opportunity registers.
• Identify commercial risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Ensure opportunities are identified, evaluated and maximised where appropriate.
• Monitor emerging risks and provide recommendations to project leadership.
• Ensure commercial exposure is effectively understood and managed throughout the project lifecycle.

Contract & Supply Chain Management

• Oversee subcontract procurement, contract administration and supply chain commercial management.
• Ensure effective management of subcontractor accounts from award through to final account agreement.
• Manage contractual compliance and ensure obligations are understood and administered correctly.
• Support dispute avoidance through proactive contract management and stakeholder engagement.
• Ensure all commercial records are maintained to support contractual entitlement and business protection.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide leadership, direction and support to commercial team members.
• Foster a high-performance culture aligned to company values and behaviours.
• Support the development, coaching and mentoring of commercial professionals.
• Ensure individual and team objectives are clearly defined and achieved.
• Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across project and regional teams.

Change Management & Commercial Control

• Manage change control processes to ensure all variations are identified, valued and agreed.
• Assess commercial implications of project changes and communicate impacts to stakeholders.
• Support the preparation, negotiation and agreement of compensation events and variations.
• Ensure robust commercial records are maintained to support change management activities.
• Drive early identification of potential commercial issues and implement appropriate actions.

Dispute Avoidance & Resolution

• Lead the commercial management of project issues and disputes.
• Provide commercial and contractual guidance on claims and dispute matters.
• Work collaboratively with project teams and stakeholders to resolve issues at the earliest opportunity.
• Ensure all project correspondence, records and notices are managed in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Protect the commercial interests of the business whilst maintaining positive stakeholder relationships.

What we're looking for: Essential

• Significant experience within a Senior Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager or Managing Quantity Surveyor role.
• Proven experience managing the commercial performance of major construction, engineering or infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of contract administration and commercial management principles.
• Experience leading commercial teams and developing high-performing individuals.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong financial awareness including forecasting, cash flow management and reporting.
• Experience managing risk, opportunity and change control processes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building capabilities.
• Degree qualified or equivalent in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline.

Desirable

• Experience delivering large-scale complex projects in the leisure, healthcare, commercial, infrastructure or major projects sectors.
• Experience working within NEC and other standard forms of contract.
• Membership of RICS, CIOB or other relevant professional body.
• Chartered status or working towards professional accreditation.
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary project environment with complex stakeholder networks.
• Experience of projects exceeding £100m in value.

Benefits We’re always evolving our benefits to ensure we're attracting and retaining great people. Some of what you can expect includes:

• Pension with a leading provider and up to 8% employer contribution
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Personal Wellbeing and Volunteer Days
• Private Medical Insurance
• Free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible benefits including Dental Insurance, Gym Membership, Travel Insurance and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Ongoing personal and professional development opportunities
• Career progression within a leading engineering and construction business
• Opportunity to work on one of the UK’s most exciting and technically challenging projects

Therme Manchester is a truly unique project, requiring a commercially astute leader who can build exceptional stakeholder relationships, manage complex contractual environments and drive project success through strong commercial leadership.

Next Steps: 

 

As a business, we’re on a journey to build on our culture where everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. This starts with recruitment and how we bring people into the organisation.  

 

We’ll do our best to outline the recruitment process to you ahead of time with plenty of notice. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met. 

 

About Us: 

 

We are one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training. 

 

Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward-thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies. 

 

Progression is something we value, and we will make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be. 

 

#LI-JL2