Principal Commercial Manager

External

Awepeople · Reading Area

ContractHybrid1w ago

ComplianceLeadershipMentoringSAFeStrategic Planning

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About the role

As a Principal Commercial Manager, you will operate as the client side commercial authority for large, complex infrastructure contracts, playing a critical role in enabling safe, assured and value for money delivery. Providing commercial and contract performance leadership to the project team to enable effective management of project and commercial risk. This is a senior commercial management role, requiring sound judgement, confidence operating in ambiguity, and the ability to lead others through complex commercial challenges. You will be trusted to take decisions, manage risk proportionately, and provide clear direction in high stakes environments. You will lead strategic planning and governance. Manage, develop and mentor a team that administer the contracts, and get involved in contract disputes. You will support the procurement team, advising on contract options management, working with tier 1 Suppliers and managing KPI reviews / planning. Integration and cross functional relationship management is key.

Responsibilities

Act as Client Commercial Manager for large, complex infrastructure contracts across their full lifecycle ensuring they deliver value for money and achieve the objectives

Provide commercial management leadership, ensuring risk, change and performance are managed effectively and proportionately

Lead a team that manages supplier payments and analysis of contract and subcontract agreements

Set and maintain contract governance, reporting, assurance and standards, aligned to organisational objectives

Lead engagement with Tier 1 suppliers, including the management of complex issues and disputes

Influence and advise senior internal stakeholders, bringing clarity to complex commercial decisions

Lead, develop and mentor commercial management professionals, building capability and confidence across teams

Draft, review and negotiate complex contractual arrangements

Support the wider business through shared learning for continuous improvement

Support the organisation with future business planning of capital spend

This role is focused on commercial management and client side leadership, working alongside procurement colleagues where required.

What success looks like in this role

We are looking for people who can consistently demonstrate the following:

Making effective decisions

Exercises strong commercial judgement in complex, uncertain and high‑risk situations

Balances assurance, risk and pace to support delivery rather than defaulting to process

Takes ownership of decisions and is comfortable being accountable for outcomes

Seeing the big picture

Understands how individual contracts contribute to wider programme and organisational objectives

Anticipates future risks and issues rather than reacting when they crystallise

Thinks strategically about contract structure, incentives and behaviours, not just compliance

Communicating and influencing

Influences senior stakeholders and suppliers with credibility and confidence

Explains complex contractual issues clearly, pragmatically and without unnecessary jargon

Handles challenge, disagreement and dispute constructively and professionally

Leadership

Sets clear expectations and standards for commercial management practice

Develops others through coaching, mentoring and role modelling good judgement

Creates a culture of trust, accountability and continuous improvement

Experience we are looking for

We are interested in what you have done and how you operate, not just your formal qualifications.

You are likely to have significant experience in areas such as:

Managing large, complex infrastructure or engineering contracts through delivery

Acting as the client‑side commercial lead in regulated or safety‑critical environments

Managing contractual change, performance, risk and disputes

Working with senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries

Leading and developing people in matrix or multi‑disciplinary teams

Pricing arrangements and commercial models e.g. target cost incentive fee

Earned value management

Supporting the development of

Principal Commercial Manager

About the role

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Company Intel

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