Commercial Manager

An excellent opportunity for an experienced Commercial Manager to lead the commercial function on a major HK$3 billion site formation contract near Lok Ma Chau in San Tin.

This five-year, site-based appointment requires strong heavy civil engineering experience, fluent Cantonese and the right to work in Hong Kong.

Project Details

The successful Commercial Manager will be based on site in San Tin, close to Lok Ma Chau and the Hong Kong border with Shenzhen.

The project is a major site formation and heavy civil engineering contract under NEC form of contract with an approximate value of HK$3 billion and an anticipated duration of five years. The works are expected to involve complex earthworks, excavation, ground engineering, drainage, utilities, infrastructure interfaces and associated civil engineering activities.

This is a fast-paced and commercially demanding construction project requiring strong coordination between the employer, contractor, consultants, subcontractors and other project stakeholders.

The Commercial Manager will play a central role in protecting the project’s commercial position, managing contractual risk and leading a team of Quantity Surveyors throughout the delivery of the works.

Responsibilities and Duties

Reporting to the Divisional Commercial Manager, the Commercial Manager will lead the project commercial and quantity surveying team and take responsibility for claims, contract administration, cost control and wider commercial management under the NEC form of contract.

Key duties and responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing a team of Quantity Surveyors and other commercial staff
• Developing and implementing project commercial procedures, controls and reporting systems within the NEC contract framework
• Providing contractual and commercial advice to the project management and construction teams
• Managing claims, contractual notices, variations and other commercial entitlements
• Overseeing the commercial administration of the main contract and subcontracts
• Identifying and managing commercial risks and opportunities
• Supervising the commercial review of tenders, subcontract tenders and related documentation
• Reviewing and approving subcontract procurement recommendations and commercial agreements
• Supervising, approving and endorsing interim valuations, final accounts and claim submissions
• Reviewing project forecasts, budgets, cost reports and cash-flow information
• Monitoring project expenditure and reporting on the overall commercial position
• Supporting negotiations with clients, consultants, subcontractors and other project stakeholders
• Ensuring contractual obligations and notification requirements are met within the required timescales
• Advising the project team on cost, value, risk and contractual strategy
• Promoting effective commercial controls across the site-based project team
• Coaching, developing and motivating the team of Quantity Surveyors
• Providing clear and accurate commercial reports to divisional and senior management

Desired Skills and Experience

Candidates should be experienced Commercial Managers with a strong background in heavy civil engineering, major infrastructure, or large-scale site formation works.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate:

• At least 15 years of relevant quantity surveying and commercial management experience, ideally with strong NEC experience
• A proven track record of independently managing and developing a team of Quantity Surveyors
• Extensive heavy civil engineering or infrastructure project experience
• Strong site formation, earthworks, ground engineering or major civil works experience
• Experience working on high-value, long-duration construction contracts
• Experience gained with a main contractor or major civil engineering contractor
• Strong knowledge of construction claims, variations and contractual administration
• Experience managing subcontract procurement, tender assessment and commercial negotiation
• Strong experience reviewing budgets, forecasts, cost reports and final accounts
• The ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced major project environment
• Strong commercial judgement and business acumen
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills
• Strong negotiation, analytical and problem-solving abilities
• The confidence to advise senior project and divisional management on contractual and commercial matters
• Fluency in spoken Cantonese is essential
• Strong written and spoken English is required
• Written Chinese language capability is highly desirable
• Candidates may come from Hong Kong or mainland China but must already have, or be able to demonstrate, the legal right to work in Hong Kong

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or an equivalent construction-related discipline is required
• Membership of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, such as MHKIS, is strongly preferred
• Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, such as MRICS, is strongly preferred
• Other relevant professional quantity surveying or commercial management qualifications may also be considered

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Maxim Recruitment is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager on behalf of its client, a major contractor delivering large-scale civil engineering and infrastructure projects in Hong Kong.

The employer has the resources, technical capability and commercial expertise required to deliver complex, high-value construction contracts. This appointment offers the successful candidate the opportunity to lead the commercial function on a substantial five-year site formation project close to the Hong Kong border with Shenzhen.

The role will suit a commercially astute heavy civil engineering professional who is comfortable managing contractual risk, leading a quantity surveying team and operating in a demanding site environment. A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Salary up to HK$175,000 per month
• Site-based position in San Tin, near Lok Ma Chau
• Five-year major civil engineering project
• Opportunity to lead the commercial function on a contract valued at approximately HK$3 billion
• Additional benefits are negotiable and will be discussed with shortlisted candidates