Senior Commercial Manager

Job Nature and Scope:

To provide commercial services to the UKPN Services Piccadilly Line Project Team which is engaged on delivery of Work Package 3 (£36m), and subsequent framework projects up to a value of a further £75m. The initial works will be contracted under an NEC3 Engineering & Construction Contract 2013 with amendments. Target Cost (Option C).

Job Purpose:

The Senior Commercial Manager will be supported by one or more staff, as workloads demand.
The jobholder will ensure the project is set up and initiated on a sound commercial footing and a productive commercial relationship is maintained with the client as well as with Suppliers, Sub-contractors and other stakeholders. The jobholder will manage all commercial matters with regards to contract set-up, management, pricing, service delivery, scope change and dispute resolution to ensure contract requirements are compliant with standards and co-ordinated to maximise profit delivery.

Power and LU experience essential.

Dimensions:

Financial budget circa £40 million

Principle Accountabilities:

• Oversee the contract set-up and commercial management to achieve all contract related commercial goals.
• Control and manage all change procedures in the contract and related projects, ensuring that they are followed by all parties.
• Co-ordinate, analyse and assess use of suppliers and sub-contractor to ensure appropriate service levels and revenues are delivered.
• Monitor the project budget to achieve cost and cash flow targets.
• Comply with all UKPN Services guidelines, goals and procedures and identify and report areas of non- conformance.
• Make decisions and be able to justify them when challenged.
• Produce quality reports as specified within the contract on time and in a professional and legible manner to enhance client understanding of the value we add to their activities.
• Provide counsel and challenge to the Client Delivery team and question the commercial decisions and directions of others where necessary.
• Assess contractor applications for payment, making recommendations to, raising payment.
• Collaborate with the Project Managers and Engineers to ensure risks are identified and managed.
• Identify and secure growth opportunities, supporting the project delivery team in maintaining a schedule of the potential financial impacts for multiple projects.
• Advise others regarding the application of different forms of contract.
• Support the relevant annual rate reviews.
• Create strategies for dispute resolution and prepare arguments to defend or pursue any claims, making recommendations to key UKPN Services third parties on the preferred option.
• Preparation and review of Project Gate Papers to ensure there is a strong commercial case for the initiation and continuation of projects and proposals.
• Responsible for ensuring the form of contract, duration and scope of works, key personnel and payment/application terms for new contracts are in line with the Head Contract terms and conditions.
• Responsible for the creation of a commercial plan setting out the internal and external reporting and notification process.
• Lead or support the establishment of necessary contracts with suppliers, formalise relationships and procure long lead items.
• Active commercial management and attention in order to control costs, manage budgets, ensure there is sufficient cash flow and deal with change events such as variations or delays in order to meet or exceed the profitability targets of each contract under the Framework.
• Responsible for the reporting of commercial performance on a monthly basis via a Commercial Dashboard, including information on the Original Order Value, Change Control & Variations and Current Order Value.
• Lead the commercial risk management for projects, ensuring that commercial risks are recorded and flagged to the central finance team.
• Lead commercial closure of projects to conclude all financial & commercial matters and complete commercial dealings with the client.
• Responsible for final cost report and summary of projects to allow agreement of the final account for the project, understand the overall commercial performance of the project versus forecasts and identify learning points to share best practice across the business.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

• Ideally educated to degree level qualification but could have a HND/HNC in quantity surveying. A non-degree holder should have a demonstrable record of success with a minimum of 15 years’ experience in comparable roles.
• Minimum of 10 years post graduate experience working in contracting commercial department with ideally 2 to 3 years of which should be on multi-disciplined construction projects.
• Professional qualification and or membership
• Track record in a commercial and/or purchasing environment and ideally with some procurement experience.
• Key skills required within the role include – estimating, procurement, risk and opportunity management, design change management, trade contractor and consultant administration, cost reporting, record keeping and claims preparation.
• Commercial acumen, experience and expertise. Excellent analytical, organisation and planning skills. Ability to identify problems, understand key issues, investigate alternatives and apply commercial judgement.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability of building strong working relationships and to influence and negotiate at all levels both internally and externally.
• A detailed knowledge of Contracts and Contract drafting skills including excellent working knowledge and understanding of NEC contracts
• Knowledge of supply chain environment, contracts and experience in contract negotiations
• Demonstrable success in delivering projects and leading project teams
• Work in a pressured environment to demanding timescales as part of a focused team.
• Excellent level PC literacy, particularly complex Excel functions and a knowledge of SAP will be required.
• Understanding of London Underground electrical infrastructure and operations would be a distinct advantage.

Measures of Success:

• Profitability of the contract
• Meeting and exceeding contract commercial and reporting KPIs
• Understanding and management of the Client Relationship
• Contribution to contract growth
• Successful resolution of client disputes where necessary
• Independent and skilled in the face of conflicting priorities with the ability to meet deadlines
• Customer satisfaction.
• Resource management.
• Health & safety responsibilities with the goal of zero harm to people and the environment.