Senior Commercial Manager - London / Watford

Are you an experienced Senior Commercial Manager with a background in major infrastructure or complex construction projects?

Do you want to lead the commercial delivery of a high-profile project that will help shape the future of the UK's power network?

Are you looking for an opportunity to take ownership of commercial strategy and performance on a major project with a business that values commercial expertise?

If the answer is yes, this could be the opportunity for you!

Join us in delivering the critical power infrastructure needed to support the UK's future energy demands.

The Senior Commercial Manager Opportunity:

Laing O'Rourke is a key construction partner on the Letchmore Heath Substation project, a major infrastructure upgrade for National Grid in Watford, with a project value of circa £500m.

We are currently recruiting a Senior Commercial Manager to help lead the commercial function, initially based in central London before transitioning to the project office in Watford as the project takes shape.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in forming the commercial strategy that will dictate the future project performance, working closely with project leadership, the client, the specialist supply chain and wider stakeholders in an innovative and collaborative environment.

What will the role look like?

• Leading role in the commercial management of the project, driving commercial strategy, performance, and delivery.
• Take ownership of the commercial strategy, ensuring contractual obligations and business objectives are met.
• Oversee project costs, budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Manage contractual risk, change control, compensation events and claims under NEC4 contracts.
• Lead commercial negotiations with the client, supply chain and key stakeholders, managing cost and value to achieve positive outcomes.
• Oversee the preparation, agreement, and settlement of final accounts.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate commercial risks while maximising opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide commercial and contractual advice to the project team, supporting effective decision-making.
• Oversee commercial reporting, including contract reviews and Business Performance Reviews (BPR).
• Lead, support, and develop the wider Commercial team, providing direction and guidance.
• Build effective relationships with the client, supply chain, and wider project stakeholders.
• Ensure robust commercial governance, processes and controls are maintained throughout the project.

What skills & experience are we looking for?

• Experience managing the commercial delivery of major infrastructure or complex construction projects.
• Experience working in or interfacing with National Grid or similar High Voltage power projects.
• Excellent knowledge of NEC contracts and commercial risk management.
• Experience leading and developing commercial teams.
• Strong financial management skills, including cost control, forecasting, and reporting.
• Experience in contract administration, change management, commercial negotiations, and final account settlement.
• The ability to manage commercial risk, influence stakeholders, and drive project performance.
• A degree in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management; RICS membership is desirable but not essential.

About us:

We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people, and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com

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