At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy and manage financial performance in engineering services.
- Company: Join a leading civil engineering contractor with a focus on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Excellent salary, bonus, comprehensive benefits, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for continuous improvement and professional development.
- Why this job: Take on a strategic leadership role with significant autonomy and career progression.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in commercial management within civil engineering or related fields.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Commercial Manager to join a leading civil engineering contractor within its expanding Engineering Services division. This newly created leadership role has been established to support continued business growth, a strong secured project pipeline, and ongoing investment across engineering, design, infrastructure, and professional services delivery.
Reporting directly to the Group Director Engineering Services, you will lead the commercial function and play a strategic role in driving business performance, commercial governance, profitability, contract management, and operational excellence. This position offers significant autonomy and long-term career progression within a forward-thinking infrastructure and engineering organisation.
The Role
As Senior Commercial Manager, you will take full responsibility for the commercial management and financial performance of the Engineering Services business unit. Working closely with senior stakeholders across engineering, design, project delivery, operations, procurement, and leadership teams, you will ensure effective commercial controls, contractual compliance, financial reporting, and risk mitigation across a portfolio of complex infrastructure and civil engineering projects.
This role is ideal for an experienced Commercial Manager, Commercial Lead, Associate Commercial Director, Head of Commercial, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Managing Quantity Surveyor, or Commercial Business Partner seeking a strategic leadership position.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Management & Leadership
- Lead and develop the commercial strategy across the Engineering Services division.
- Implement best practice commercial governance, policies, and reporting frameworks.
- Drive business growth through strong commercial leadership and performance management.
- Mentor and develop commercial teams.
- Contract Management (NEC3 / NEC4)
- Manage negotiation, administration, and execution of NEC3, NEC4, professional services, consultancy, and engineering contracts.
- Ensure contractual compliance and robust contract administration processes.
- Manage commercial correspondence and contractual documentation.
- Commercial Risk & Opportunity Management
- Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial and contractual risks.
- Maximise commercial opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
- Prevent scope creep through effective change control and contract governance.
- Financial Management & Commercial Controls
- Oversee Cost Value Reconciliations (CVRs), Work in Progress (WIP), forecasting, budget management, margin improvement, and Profit & Loss reporting.
- Deliver accurate commercial reporting and performance analysis.
- Procurement & Supply Chain
- Manage procurement and commercial engagement of subcontractors, consultants, and design partners.
- Develop procurement and contract strategies aligned to project and business objectives.
- Change Management & Compensation Events
- Lead variation management, compensation events, and commercial negotiations.
- Ensure project scope changes are identified, costed, agreed, and recovered.
- Continuous Improvement
- Develop commercial systems and operational processes.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across project delivery and business performance.
Requirements
- Proven experience as a Senior Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Managing Quantity Surveyor, Commercial Lead, Commercial Director, or Senior QS.
- Extensive experience within Civil Engineering, Infrastructure, Construction, Engineering Consultancy, Utilities, and Major Projects.
- Strong understanding of commercial governance, contract management, procurement, forecasting, and financial control.
- Experience operating across both Consultancy / Professional Services environments and Contracting / Project Delivery environments.
- Demonstrated success managing commercial risk, profitability, and stakeholder relationships.
- Strong negotiation and client management skills.
Qualifications
- Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related discipline.
- Membership of RICS, CICES, MRICS, MCICES preferred but not essential.
Senior Commercial Manager in Manchester employer: All The Top Bananas
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Manager in Manchester
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like All The Top Bananas, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Senior Commercial Manager at All The Top Bananas.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
