Job Description:

Engineering & Construction | Major Projects | Leadership Opportunity

Some commercial roles are about reporting numbers.

This one is about influencing them.

We're looking for an experienced Commercial Manager to take ownership of the commercial performance of a busy Business Unit delivering complex engineering and construction projects. This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping commercial strategy, driving performance, managing risk, and supporting the successful delivery of high-value projects from tender through to final account.

You'll work closely with Operations, Engineering, Planning, and Finance teams, providing clear commercial leadership while helping to create an environment built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

If you're someone who enjoys making decisions, leading people, and taking ownership of commercial outcomes, this is the kind of role where you'll make a genuine impact.

As Commercial Manager, you will be responsible for the overall commercial health and performance of the Business Unit, ensuring projects are delivered successfully while protecting profitability and minimising risk.

From tender evaluation and contract negotiation through to project close-out and final account settlement, you'll provide strategic commercial leadership across multiple projects and workstreams.

You'll also play a key role in developing commercial talent, improving processes, and ensuring best practice is embedded throughout the business.

• Lead the commercial management of projects throughout their lifecycle, from pre-construction through to final account.
• Develop and implement commercial strategies to support business objectives and maximise project profitability.
• Own Business Unit forecasts, budgets, cash flow, reporting, governance, and financial performance.
• Lead tender evaluations, commercial reviews, contract negotiations, and gap analysis activities.
• Review and interpret contract conditions, identifying commercial risks and opportunities.
• Manage and resolve contractual issues, disputes, and commercial challenges.
• Support project teams in identifying risk mitigation strategies and commercial improvements.
• Monitor project commercial performance, ensuring accurate forecasting and reporting.
• Conduct commercial audits across live projects and implement corrective actions where required.
• Oversee subcontract administration, payment processes, contractual compliance, and final account agreements.
• Ensure retention releases and close-out activities are effectively managed.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Planning, Finance, and Estimating teams to ensure alignment across project delivery.
• Mentor, develop, and lead commercial team members, promoting a high-performance culture.
• Feed lessons learned back into estimating and pre-construction functions to improve future project performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and the development of efficient commercial processes and systems.

• Proven experience as a Commercial Manager, Senior Quantity Surveyor, or similar commercial leadership role within engineering, construction, infrastructure, MEP, utilities, or industrial projects.
• Strong knowledge of contract administration and commercial management principles.
• Experience negotiating contracts and managing commercial risk on complex projects.
• Ability to analyse commercial performance and provide strategic recommendations.
• Strong financial awareness, including forecasting, budgeting, cost control, and cash flow management.
• Experience managing subcontractor relationships and contractual obligations.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading and developing commercial teams.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Practical understanding of project planning, scheduling, and progress reporting.
• Ability to balance commercial priorities with operational requirements while maintaining strong working relationships.

• A senior leadership position with genuine influence over project and business performance.
• Exposure to major engineering and construction projects.
• The opportunity to shape commercial strategy rather than simply report on results.
• A collaborative and high-performing project environment.
• Long-term career progression and leadership development opportunities.
• The autonomy to make decisions and drive meaningful change.
• A business culture that values accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine commercial leadership with strategic influence, while working on complex projects that genuinely challenge and reward you, we'd like to hear from you.

Apply today for a confidential discussion.

To find out more about Real, please visit (url removed)

Real Staffing, a trading division of SThree Partnership LLP is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy | Registered office |8 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ, United Kingdom | Partnership Number | OC(phone number removed) England and Wales