Commercial Manager

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Commercial Manager to lead the financial and contractual aspects of our civil engineering projects. The successful candidate will be instrumental in ensuring commercial viability, managing risks, optimizing profitability, and upholding contractual integrity from project inception to close-out. This role is critical to our success in delivering large-scale infrastructure developments across South Africa.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in commercial management within the civil engineering and infrastructure construction sector.
• Proven track record in managing substantial project budgets (R50M+ or specify range) and complex contractual agreements (e.g., FIDIC, NEC, JBCC).
• Demonstrable experience in tendering, contract negotiation, cost control, risk assessment, claims management, and dispute resolution on civil engineering projects (e.g., roads, bridges, water infrastructure, earthworks).
• Solid understanding of project lifecycles within a contracting environment.
• Experience with relevant South African construction legislation and industry standards (e.g., CIDB regulations).

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related commercial/legal field.
• Professional registration (e.g., Pr.QS with SACQSP, Pr.Eng with ECSA) is highly advantageous.
• Post-graduate qualifications (e.g., MBA, Construction Law) are a strong plus.

Required Competencies

• Commercial Acumen: Exceptional understanding of financial principles, cost control, budget management, and profitability drivers in construction.
• Contractual Expertise: In-depth knowledge of various contract forms, ability to interpret clauses, identify risks, and manage claims effectively.
• Risk Management: Proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of commercial and contractual risks.
• Negotiation & Influence: Strong negotiation skills with a proven ability to achieve favorable outcomes while maintaining professional relationships.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement commercial strategies that align with business objectives and project goals.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to troubleshoot complex commercial issues on site and within contracts.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Superior verbal and written communication skills to articulate complex commercial information to diverse audiences (clients, sub-contractors, legal teams, project managers). Ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships.