Commercial Manager

At Sweet Projects, we work with the data, defence and energy sectors. We are a comprehensive design, construction and engineering provider, offering services spanning site acquisition, architecture, and refurbishment to client occupancy. In our world, there are no simple projects, only specialist needs and clever solutions.

We are a general contracting business, drawing on over forty years of specialised industry experience to provide excellent service, sustain long-term partnerships and achieve the highest quality outcome for key clients, whilst maintaining financial commitments.

BUILT AROUND PEOPLE

Built around you is Sweet Project's approach to business. It is our brand promise, not just to our clients, but to our people. From the inside out, built around you is in our DNA.

Our team is the cornerstone of our firm, and we take pride in nurturing their talents and fostering their professional growth.

We proudly invest in all the people our success rests on. Building our company around our people and their wellbeing, safety, and work/life balance – these vitally important values act as the standards against which we must judge ourselves. That's why we're constantly working to do things better tomorrow than we do today.

We look for a lot of elements when we're hiring at Sweet Projects – skills, character. But above all else, it is your behaviours that shine through. Regardless of how many years of experience, or who you have worked for previously, if you have the drive and the passion, there is nothing you can't achieve here.

Purpose

To ensure that all commercial aspects of projects are properly managed and controlled for the group, and a commercial strategy is developed and delivered in accordance with the requirements of the business.

The Commercial Manager is responsible for the commercial management and administration of a single high value project or series of projects, typically with a high value or complex contractual or commercial issues.

This requires development of and delivery of a commercial strategy and delivery of good commercial practice, working with operational leadership and directing a commercial team to optimise profitability and cash generation.

The Commercial Manager shall ensure that the projects and project teams under their responsibility always operate within the Company procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivery of commercial and administration best practice on all projects under their responsibility.
• Ensuring compliance with Company Operating Procedures
• Working with operational and Company leadership to ensure all projects meet and exceed objectives set for turnover, cash and profitability, both on an interim and final basis.
• Driving project teams to maintain robust financial management, reporting and forecasting.
• Working with operational leadership to develop and deliver commercial strategies and lead project teams in the recovery of full financial entitlements on projects including the measurement of change and resolution of issues with an effect on profitability.
• Implementing project procurement strategy and requirements and driving project teams in the correct procurement, administration, payment processes and management of subcontracts on all projects under their responsibility.
• Identifying project risks and opportunities and implementing effective management strategies.
• Provision of management, advice, guidance and leadership to protect the company or divisions financial and contractual interests on all projects under their responsibility.
• Working with operational leadership to lead project teams in the management of project design to maximise return, quality, timing and safety.
• Promotion of effective attitudes and behaviours consistent with the Companies Core Values.

Departmental Responsibilities

• Working with operational leadership to ensure all projects meet and exceed objectives set for turnover, cash and profitability, both on an interim and final basis.
• Driving project teams to maintain robust financial management, reporting and forecasting including in the management of costs.
• Working with operational leadership to lead project teams in the recovery of full financial entitlements on projects including the measurement of change and resolution of issues with an effect on profitability.
• Implementing project procurement strategy and requirements and driving project teams in the correct procurement, administration, payment processes and management of subcontracts on all projects under their responsibility.
• Identifying project risks and implementing effective management strategies.
• Provision of management, advice, guidance and leadership to protect the company or divisions financial and contractual interests on all projects under their responsibility.
• Working with operational leadership to lead project teams in the management of project design to maximise return, quality, timing and safety.
• Implement Company financial controls and reporting procedures on all projects under their responsibility.
• Ensure project's compliance with health, safety, environmental and quality procedures and standards.
• Implement, comply and promote the companies business initiatives.
• Delivery of commercial and administration best practice on all projects under their responsibility.
• Provide feedback to estimators and other head office departments to promote best practice and value.
• Identify and manage project commercial risks and opportunities.
• To encourage and develop a culture of contractual awareness and ensure that the full contractual entitlement is achieved by rigidly managing records, contractual notifications, change control, etc.
• To ensure the rigorous management of contract notifications including Early Warning Notices, Compensation Events/variations, extension of time claims, etc.
• When subcontracting ensure that the administration, commercial management and payment processes are carried out timely, fairly and reasonably.
• Advise site management and other departments of the Company's contractual rights, remedies and obligations under the Contract.
• Implement and comply with the Company's financial controls and reporting procedures.
• Comply with the Company's management health, safety, environmental and quality procedures and standards.
• Foster continuous commercial improvement and communicate outcomes to Senior Management.
• Comply with the Companies business authorisation levels & controls.
• Implement, comply and promote the Company's Business Initiatives.
• Lead project team in value engineering review of project design to maximise return, quality, timing, safety.
• To assist with the development and training of commercial staff where appropriate.

People Responsibilities

• Work with company leadership to recruit high quality commercial staff with appropriate skills where needed.
• Communicate business matters to staff and encourage regular dialogue to exchange information and ideas for improvement.
• Identify and recommend to Commercial Director training requirements of commercial staff.
• Facilitate the personal development of commercial staff.
• Create effective relationships with all Company leadership, Departments and company or divisional staff, including all subordinates for the benefit of the company or division.

Contractual and Subcontracting

• Have a full understanding of the Contract Documents and tender.
• Attain a full understanding of how the parties to a contract hold design responsibility.
• Attain a full understanding of how the parties to a contract hold responsibility for the timely delivery of a project and their obligations, rights and remedies in the event of delaying events.
• Attain a full understanding of how Contract Document(s) and tender(s) are compiled.
• Attain a full understanding and sound working knowledge of compiling subcontract order(s).
• Ensure subcontracts are properly prepared and signed off.
• Ensure that all Contractual requirements for bonds, guarantees and or warranties are obtained from subcontractors.
• Manage the procurement of key subcontracts with particular emphasis on the proper transfer of risk.
• Monitor and review material differences between subcontractor applications and their payments, provide advice etc to pre-empt possible adjudications.
• Advise on and where required, draft all contractual notices, and also from subcontractors and suppliers etc.
• Develop an understanding and knowledge of the payment processes under the Main and subcontracts.
• In conjunction with site staff implement and maintain the appropriate records required to manage a construction contract i.e. Engineers diaries, Programme reports, As-built records and evidence etc.
• Process payments and notify all subcontractors in accordance with the Construction Act.
• Monitor and pursue the proper collection of all contractual documentation due from subcontractors.
• Liaise with the Project Director regarding contractual issues and their possible effect on profitability.
• Manage dispute resolution (under the guidance of the Commercial Director).

Qualifications

• HNC/HND/ Degree in Quantity Surveying desirable.
• MCIOB &/or MRICS
• Working towards/achieved fellowship of relevant institution

Experience required

• Must have a working knowledge of ECC, JCT & NEC contracts
• Commercially oriented, qualified individual, with experience of managing commercial staff Experience of financial and management reporting.
• Working understanding of procurement practices and forms of main and subcontract
• Good understanding of Cost / value process and reporting
• Management training and development will be provided in line with Sweet Projects personal development programme