About the Group
The Seacht Group comprises a number of specialist engineering and construction businesses delivering design, consultancy, project management and construction services across the UK and Ireland. Operating within the utilities, energy and infrastructure sectors, our companies deliver complex engineering projects from feasibility and design through to construction and commissioning.
As the Group continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to strengthen our commercial capability, support our project teams and help protect the commercial interests of the business.
Role Purpose
The Commercial Manager will provide commercial leadership across the Group's engineering and construction projects, ensuring contracts are negotiated on appropriate terms, commercial risks are effectively managed and project teams receive practical commercial support throughout project delivery.
Working closely with directors, project managers and business unit leaders, the role will help maximise project profitability by providing robust contract review, commercial advice and NEC expertise while improving commercial consistency across the Group.
Whilst the role will contribute to the continued development of commercial procedures and governance, its primary focus is supporting live projects, protecting commercial performance and ensuring the business enters into contracts with a clear understanding of risk.
Key Responsibilities
Contract Review & Negotiation
- Review, negotiate and advise on client, subcontract and supplier contracts, including NEC4, NEC PSC, JCT and bespoke agreements.
- Identify contractual risks and recommend practical, commercially balanced solutions.
- Review and negotiate Z Clauses and other bespoke amendments.
- Draft and review subcontracts, collateral warranties and other commercial agreements.
- Support bid teams by identifying contractual risks during tender submissions.
Commercial Project Support
- Provide proactive commercial support to project managers throughout project delivery.
- Assist with the management of Compensation Events, contract changes, variations and claims.
- Support project managers during final account negotiations.
- Review project forecasts, CVRs and margin performance, challenging assumptions where appropriate.
- Help maximise cash flow through effective commercial management and change control.
- Attend project reviews and provide commercial guidance where required.
Risk Management
- Advise Directors and project managers on contractual and commercial risks before commitments are made.
- Review contractual obligations and ensure appropriate risk mitigation strategies are implemented.
- Support insurance, bond and guarantee requirements where appropriate.
- Assist with dispute avoidance and dispute resolution where necessary.
Commercial Improvement
- Support the ongoing development of commercial procedures, templates and reporting across the Group.
- Help improve consistency of CVRs, commercial reporting and contract administration.
- Promote best practice in contract management and commercial awareness across the business.
- Deliver practical guidance and coaching to project managers and engineers.
Collaboration
- Work closely with Engineering, Design, Operations, Finance and Business Development teams.
- Support directors during key commercial negotiations.
- Assist the bid teams with contractual reviews during tender submissions where required.
- Build strong relationships across the Group to promote commercially sound decision making.
Success Measures
Success in the role will be measured by:
- Improved commercial performance across live projects.
- Better commercial outcomes from contract negotiations.
- Timely identification and mitigation of contractual risks.
- Improved accuracy and consistency of CVRs and project forecasting.
- Increased recovery of Compensation Events, variations and contractual entitlements.
- Improved commercial awareness across project teams.
- Practical commercial procedures that support the business without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
Key Requirements
Essential
- Significant commercial management experience within engineering, utilities or infrastructure.
- Strong working knowledge of NEC3 and NEC4 contracts (ECC and PSC), together with experience of bespoke amendments and Z Clauses.
- Demonstrable experience reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
- Experience supporting project managers through live project delivery.
- Strong understanding of Compensation Events, change control, claims and final accounts.
- Excellent commercial judgement with the ability to balance contractual risk against business opportunity.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
Desirable
- Experience with JCT contracts.
- Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or Construction Law qualification.
- MRICS or similar professional qualification.
- Experience working across multiple business units or disciplines.
Personal Attributes
- Commercially astute with strong business judgement.
- Comfortable challenging constructively and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Pragmatic, solution focused and able to balance commercial risk with operational realities.
- Confident working independently whilst supporting multiple project teams.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
- Calm under pressure and capable of managing competing priorities.
- An effective communicator who can explain contractual issues in clear, practical language.
Why Join Us?
This is a chance to work at group level across multiple specialist businesses, each with its own strengths but united by shared values and a focus on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. You’ll have real influence, visibility to directors, and the opportunity to shape the group’s commercial practices for the future.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £70,000.00-£80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company car
- Company pension
- Private medical insurance
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Ringwood, BH24 3FA: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
Experience:
- commercial management in engineering or construction: 5 years (required)
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
