Commercial Manager

An experienced Commercial Manager is required to lead commercial management activities for a construction consultancy in Glasgow. The successful candidate will provide strategic NEC contract advice, oversee risk, change, procurement, payment and reporting processes, manage key client relationships and lead the development of commercial teams.

Project Details

The Commercial Manager will oversee the commercial delivery of construction and infrastructure consultancy commissions in Glasgow and across Scotland.

Specific project sectors are not currently known. The successful candidate will be accountable for commercial performance across individual projects or a portfolio of commissions administered under NEC and other standard forms of construction contract.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Commercial Manager will provide senior commercial leadership, ensuring that robust systems, contractual procedures and reporting processes are applied consistently.

Key duties will include:

• Leading the commercial strategy for projects and client commissions
• Interpreting and negotiating NEC contract terms confidently
• Advising clients on contractual risk, amended clauses and commercial obligations
• Obtaining specialist contractual or legal advice where required
• Taking overall accountability for commercial risks and opportunities across projects or portfolios
• Overseeing risk, opportunity, change-control and reporting frameworks
• Providing strategic commercial advice to clients, project teams and senior business leaders
• Ensuring robust change-management processes are implemented and maintained
• Negotiating and closing out complex or contentious changes
• Escalating contractual matters appropriately and supporting commercial resolution
• Ensuring project teams maintain accurate and contemporaneous commercial records
• Establishing and monitoring best-practice record-keeping procedures
• Taking ownership of cash-flow forecasting, applications and payment reporting
• Negotiating late-payment, non-payment and other contentious payment matters
• Overseeing subcontract procurement and commercial management from inception to final account
• Negotiating subcontract terms before appointment
• Ensuring cost and value reports are accurate, clear and commercially robust
• Reviewing project outturn forecasts and challenging potential commercial exposure
• Presenting complex commercial information to clients and senior stakeholders
• Owning procurement strategy across projects and major work packages
• Negotiating complex securities, guarantees, bonds and related commercial provisions
• Directing dispute-avoidance and dispute-resolution strategies
• Supporting meetings, negotiations and pre-dispute discussions with clients and contractors
• Maximising contractual entitlement during final account negotiations
• Developing negotiation strategies based on best-case and worst-case commercial scenarios
• Leading, mentoring and developing Quantity Surveyors and other commercial team members
• Managing difficult or sensitive client and stakeholder situations
• Taking accountability for the commercial competence and performance of project teams
• Driving improvements in commercial systems, behaviours, reporting and business performance

Desired Skills and Experience

The successful Commercial Manager will have extensive commercial management and NEC contract experience, combined with strong leadership and client advisory skills.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Extensive experience as a Commercial Manager, Senior Quantity Surveyor or senior commercial consultant
• Advanced knowledge and practical administration of NEC contracts
• Experience reviewing, negotiating and advising on contract amendments
• Strong knowledge of contractual risk, entitlement and commercial strategy
• Experience leading commercial management across major projects or portfolios
• A proven ability to manage complex change, compensation events and final accounts
• Strong experience of applications, payment, cash-flow forecasting and commercial reporting
• Extensive subcontract procurement and management experience
• Experience negotiating contract terms, securities, warranties, guarantees or bonds
• Proven experience preventing, managing or resolving construction disputes
• Strong commercial negotiation and decision-making skills
• The ability to advise clients and senior stakeholders on complex commercial matters
• Experience leading, mentoring and performance-managing commercial teams
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Strong client-management and consultancy skills
• The ability to identify and implement improvements to commercial processes
• A confident, accountable and solutions-focused leadership style

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related construction discipline is expected
• Expert working knowledge of NEC contracts is required
• MRICS, MCInstCES or another relevant professional qualification is strongly preferred
• Additional qualifications in construction law, contract management or dispute resolution would be advantageous

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Maxim Recruitment is working with an established construction consultancy seeking a Commercial Manager for its Glasgow team. The business provides quantity surveying, commercial management and contract advisory services to clients delivering complex construction and infrastructure projects.

The consultancy supports clients with NEC contract administration, procurement, risk management, commercial reporting, change control, payment, final accounts and dispute avoidance. The Commercial Manager will hold a senior client-facing position, providing strategic advice while supporting the development of the wider commercial team and helping maintain consistently high professional standards.

A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Hybrid working
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Flexible working hours
• Generous annual pay rises