Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager

Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead commercial and contractual management for complex energy and construction projects.
  • Company: Dynamic company focused on energy and construction with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and the chance to work on sustainability projects.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on high-value projects while shaping commercial strategy.
  • Qualifications: Significant experience in commercial roles within energy or construction sectors.
  • Other info: Join a supportive team and grow your career in a senior role.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Department: Commercial

Reporting to: COO / Sales & Marketing Director

Location: Hybrid – UK (with regular office and project engagement)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager to take ownership of commercial and contractual risk across complex energy and construction projects. This is a senior role requiring strong judgement, confidence, and experience operating in live commercial environments — not just contract review. You will act as a commercial authority within the business, supporting sales, delivery and leadership teams to structure robust deals, negotiate balanced contracts, and ensure projects are commercially viable from bid stage through to completion. This role is critical in protecting margin, managing risk, and improving commercial discipline as the business continues to grow across public sector and industrial & commercial markets.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the commercial and contractual review of complex projects across energy, construction and infrastructure environments.
  • Act as the internal authority on contract risk, commercial terms, and deal structure.
  • Challenge assumptions, pricing, and risk positions where required — providing clear, practical recommendations rather than legal theory.
  • Lead the review, negotiation and amendment of contracts including JCT (Design & Build), NEC, bespoke energy contracts, PPAs and framework agreements, ensuring commercially robust delivery of design and build lighting and solar projects across public sector tenders and frameworks (including the NHS) and private sector design and build environments.
  • Lead the commercial negotiations with customers, consultants and counterparties alongside sales and senior management.
  • Ensure contracts reflect agreed commercial positions, pricing models, risk allocation and delivery assumptions.
  • Support bid and sales teams during qualification, pricing and contract stages to ensure bids are commercially sound and contractually deliverable.
  • Own the commercial governance process, ensuring appropriate approvals, risk reviews and sign-offs are completed before contract execution.
  • Identify and clearly articulate key risks, mitigation strategies and fallback positions for senior decision-makers.
  • Identify contractual, commercial and delivery risks early and work with internal teams to mitigate or price them appropriately.
  • Ensure margin protection mechanisms are embedded within contracts, including change control, compensation events and relief provisions.
  • Support the business in moving away from overly onerous or one-sided contractual positions where they undermine delivery or profitability.
  • Ensure smooth commercial handover from sales to delivery teams, with clear articulation of obligations, assumptions and risk areas.
  • Provide ongoing commercial support during project delivery where required, including variations, claims and dispute avoidance.
  • Work closely with Sales, Finance, Operations, Project Delivery teams to ensure alignment between commercial intent and operational reality.
  • Be able to manage and engage any external legal resource that is needed on complex contractual discussions.
  • Build credibility and trust across the business as a pragmatic, commercially minded operator.

Skills & Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience in a senior commercial or contracts role within energy, construction, infrastructure or complex engineering environments.
  • Strong working knowledge of JCT contracts (particularly Design & Build), with the confidence to negotiate amendments rather than simply review.
  • Proven experience operating in complex, high-value projects with multiple stakeholders and delivery risk.
  • Strong commercial acumen — able to understand margin, cashflow, risk and delivery impacts of contractual decisions.
  • Comfortable challenging senior stakeholders constructively and standing firm on key commercial principles.

Desirable

  • Experience within energy, renewables, utilities or energy services (e.g. solar, lighting, CHP, infrastructure).
  • Knowledge of NEC contracts and alternative contracting models.
  • Experience with energy solution based contracts, service-based contracts or long-term performance-linked agreements.
  • Commercial, quantity surveying or legal background (formal qualification beneficial but not essential).

Personal Attributes

  • Commercially minded, not risk-averse for the sake of it.
  • Clear communicator who can explain complex contractual issues in plain English.
  • Confident, credible and calm under pressure.
  • Pragmatic problem-solver with a delivery-focused mindset.
  • Comfortable operating at senior level without needing excessive structure or hand-holding.

What We Offer

  • A senior, influential role with real impact on how the business trades and delivers projects.
  • Exposure to complex, high-value energy and construction projects.
  • The opportunity to shape commercial discipline and contract strategy as the business grows.
  • Competitive salary and benefits package, aligned to experience.
  • Flexible working arrangements (on-site / remote hybrid).
  • Opportunity to work on high-profile sustainability projects.
  • A collaborative, supportive team environment.

Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager employer: Energy Efficient Solutions Group

Join a forward-thinking company that values your expertise as a Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping the commercial landscape of high-value energy and construction projects. With a flexible hybrid working model, competitive salary, and a collaborative team culture, you'll have the opportunity to influence key decisions while working on impactful sustainability initiatives. We prioritise employee growth and offer a supportive environment that encourages innovation and professional development.
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Contact Detail:

Energy Efficient Solutions Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their commercial strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build your confidence.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly shows your enthusiasm for joining our team. Let’s get you that dream job!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager

Commercial Acumen
Contract Review
Negotiation Skills
Risk Management
Stakeholder Management
JCT Contracts Knowledge
Project Delivery Support
Bid Governance
Problem-Solving Skills
Communication Skills
Experience in Energy and Construction
Understanding of Margin and Cashflow
Ability to Challenge Senior Stakeholders
Pragmatic Mindset

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Commercial & Contracts Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing complex contracts and commercial risks, especially in energy and construction projects. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!

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. Share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated contract negotiations and managed risks in previous positions. Let us know what makes you tick!

Showcase Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, don’t forget to showcase your strong commercial acumen. Talk about how you've understood margin, cash flow, and risk in past roles. We’re keen to see how you’ve made decisions that positively impacted project delivery and profitability.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates directly from us. Plus, it’s super easy to do!

How to prepare for a job interview at Energy Efficient Solutions Group

✨Know Your Contracts Inside Out

Make sure you have a solid understanding of the key contracts relevant to the role, especially JCT and NEC. Be prepared to discuss specific clauses and how they impact commercial viability. This will show your expertise and confidence in handling complex contractual discussions.

✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Acumen

Be ready to talk about your experience with margin protection and risk management. Share examples of how you've identified risks in past projects and the strategies you implemented to mitigate them. This will highlight your ability to think critically and act decisively in high-stakes environments.

✨Engage with Stakeholders Effectively

Prepare to discuss how you've collaborated with various teams, such as Sales and Project Delivery, to ensure alignment on commercial intent. Highlight your communication skills and give examples of how you've built credibility and trust with senior stakeholders.

✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Think of specific instances where you've faced challenges in contract negotiations or project delivery. Be ready to explain how you approached these issues pragmatically and what the outcomes were. This will demonstrate your ability to remain calm under pressure and find solutions that benefit all parties involved.

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