At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Commercial Director in managing large-scale projects and ensuring financial alignment.
- Company: Join a high-performing team in a dynamic project management environment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a chance to influence major developments.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for mentorship and professional development.
- Why this job: Shape commercial strategies and make a real impact on significant projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial management or quantity surveying with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
An opportunity to join a high‑performing project management environment, supporting the Commercial Director across a portfolio of large‑scale, strategic developments. This position sits at the centre of delivery, connecting project management, development, and finance to ensure alignment across cost, cash flow, procurement, and budgeting from early‑stage planning through to completion. The role offers broad exposure across the full project life cycle, with the ability to influence commercial strategy, improve processes, and contribute to the delivery of complex developments.
Key Responsibilities
- Pre‑Construction
- Support pre‑acquisition and early‑stage development activities including commercial due diligence, feasibility, and risk assessment
- Contribute to bid preparation, programming, and phasing strategies
- Assist in transitioning commercial insight from early‑stage planning through to live delivery
- Support initial cost planning and budget development
- Delivery & Commercial Management
- Work closely with senior leadership to ensure consistent application of commercial procedures
- Provide input on cost control, cash flow management, risk, and change processes
- Monitor market trends and advise on cost pressures and inflation
- Collaborate with project, development, and finance teams to maintain commercial alignment
- Procurement
- Support procurement of contractors and consultants across multiple work streams
- Assist with negotiations and framework agreements
- Recommend procurement strategies and scopes of work
- Promote a design‑to‑budget approach across projects
- Prepare and maintain cost plans, feasibility studies, and project budgets
- Support site‑wide cost management and reporting
- Contribute to business planning and senior‑level reporting
- Maintain key trackers and reporting dashboards
- Contracts & Governance
- Support development of standardised commercial frameworks and agreements
- Advise on procurement routes, contract structures, insurance, and warranties
- Ensure consistency and compliance across commercial documentation
- Contribute to cost benchmarking across projects and portfolios
- Support integration of sustainability and carbon considerations into cost planning
- Assist in building data sets for materials and cost analysis
- Team Support
- Work alongside internal teams and external consultants to support delivery
- Provide guidance and mentorship where required
- Contribute to a collaborative, high‑performance team environment
Candidate Profile
- Experience within commercial management, quantity surveying, or cost consultancy
- Exposure to large‑scale development, infrastructure, or complex project environments
- Strong understanding of cost planning, procurement, and contract management
- Ability to operate across multiple projects and stakeholder groups
- Commercially aware, analytical, and detail‑oriented
- Confident communicator with strong stakeholder management skills
- Organised, proactive, and able to manage competing priorities
This role suits an individual from a consultancy, developer, or contractor background who enjoys operating across the full life cycle of projects and influencing delivery at a strategic level. It offers the opportunity to play a key role in shaping commercial outcomes, improving processes, and contributing to the successful delivery of major developments.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Commercial or QS background with experience on large‑scale developments.
- Strong in cost planning, procurement, and contract management across pre‑construction and delivery.
- Commercially sharp, confident managing cashflow, risk, and stakeholders.
- Able to operate across multiple projects, influence outcomes, and drive best practice in fast‑paced, high‑value environments.
Commercial Manager in Cambridge employer: deverellsmith
Join a dynamic and high-performing team as a Commercial Manager in either Cambridgeshire or Central London, where you will have the opportunity to influence commercial strategy and contribute to large-scale developments. Our collaborative work culture fosters employee growth through mentorship and exposure to the full project life cycle, while our commitment to sustainability and innovative practices sets us apart as an employer of choice. Enjoy competitive benefits and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager in Cambridge
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Commercial Manager role.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching the company and understanding their projects. We recommend practising common interview questions and having examples ready that showcase your experience in cost planning and procurement. Confidence is key, so show them you’re the right fit!
✨Follow Up
After your interview, don’t forget to send a thank-you email! It’s a great way to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the position. We believe this small gesture can make a big difference in keeping you top of mind.
✨Apply Through Our Website
When you find a job that excites you, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Commercial Manager. Highlight your experience in commercial management, cost planning, and procurement, and don’t forget to mention any large-scale projects you've worked on!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific experiences that align with the key responsibilities listed in the job description.
Showcase Your Skills:Be sure to highlight your analytical skills and stakeholder management abilities. We want to see how you’ve successfully navigated complex project environments and influenced outcomes in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you one step closer to joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at deverellsmith
✨Know Your Commercial Fundamentals
Brush up on your understanding of cost planning, procurement, and contract management. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these skills in previous roles, especially in large-scale developments. This will show that you can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples of how you've influenced commercial strategy or improved processes in past projects. Highlight your ability to connect project management with finance and development, as this role requires a holistic view of project delivery.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills
Think of specific instances where you've successfully managed competing priorities and communicated effectively with various stakeholders. This is crucial for the role, so be ready to share how you navigated complex relationships in your previous positions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle real-world challenges, like cost pressures or risk assessments. Prepare by thinking through potential scenarios related to the job description, and outline your thought process and decision-making strategies.