CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS)
Commercial Manager
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
The Role
The Commercial Manager supports the negotiation and delivery of commercial agreements, ensuring alignment with business objectives while effectively managing risk and governance. Working closely with cross-functional teams, the role provides commercially sound advice, supports deal progression, and contributes to negotiation strategies across a range of contract structures. With strong commercial and contractual awareness, the Commercial Manager balances value, risk, and client needs, builds effective relationships, and delivers clear, structured communication in a fast-paced environment.
Skills & Capabilities
Commercial & Strategic Skills
- Strong commercial acumen: able to assess value, margin, risk, and commercial implications of deals
- Working knowledge of deal structures: MSAs, SOWs, framework agreements, T&M, fixed price, and hybrids, with guidance on when to use each
- Applies strategic thinking by aligning contracts with business and client objectives
- Sound commercial judgment: understands when to escalate, when to negotiate, and when to compromise
- Good financial literacy: understands revenue drivers, cost structures, and margin impacts
Contracting & Legal Skills
- Strong contract drafting and interpretation skills across MSAs, SOWs, amendments, and renewals
- Good understanding of key contractual risks (liability, indemnities, IP, termination, data protection)
- Able to translate legal and contractual concepts into clear business implications
- Experience supporting contracts across different jurisdictions with guidance from specialists
- Follows governance processes: approvals, deviations, and use of standard templates
Negotiation Skills
- Solid negotiation capability, including:
- Managing timelines and stakeholder expectations
- Handling standard negotiation challenges confidently
- Applying structured concession strategies
- Outcome-focused: supports deal progression while managing risk
- Comfortable negotiating with client procurement and legal teams, with support where needed
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Risk Management & Decision Making
- Commercially aware and pragmatic approach to risk (guided by policy and leadership)
- Supports decision-making by assessing risks and proposing balanced options
- Identifies delivery, operational, and contractual risks during deal development
- Understands escalation thresholds and seeks guidance when required
- Maintains clear documentation of key decisions and approval
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
- Builds effective working relationships across Sales, Legal, Finance, and Delivery
- Acts as a reliable commercial partner to internal teams
- Maintains professional client interactions while supporting commercial objectives
- Helps manage competing priorities between growth and risk control
- Works collaboratively across functions to achieve deal outcomes
Communication & Presence
- Clear, accurate and structured communication (written and verbal)
- Able to present issues with context and recommended actions
- Confident in stakeholder discussions, with developing executive presence
- Produces strong documentation: summaries, approvals, and commercial notes
Operational & Process Skills
- Supports contract lifecycle management from negotiation through execution and renewal
- Follows and contributes to improving commercial processes
- Strong attention to detail with ability to manage multiple deals simultaneously
- Organised and able to prioritise workload effectively
Key Attributes
Commercial & Strategic Thinking
- Demonstrates solid commercial judgment with awareness of risk and value
- Applies structured thinking to commercial problems
- Understands key pricing and margin considerations
- Develops confidence in making recommendations with appropriate support
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Collaboration & Influence
- Works effectively with cross-functional teams
- Builds credibility through consistency and delivery
- Influences stakeholders through clear reasoning rather than authority
- Seeks input from senior colleagues when required
Negotiation & Deal Support
- Supports negotiation strategy and execution
- Balances commercial drivers with risk considerations
- Recognises key issues and escalates where appropriate
- Contributes to progressing deals toward closure
Risk & Governance Mindset
- Understands and applies governance frameworks
- Identifies risks and raises them appropriately
- Ensures decisions are documented and compliant
- Develops ability to assess risk in commercial context
Stakeholder & Client Engagement
- Builds constructive client and internal relationships
- Communicates clearly on timelines, risks, and expectations
- Supports management of challenging conversations
- Maintains professionalism under pressure
Communication & Clarity
- Communicates clearly and succinctly
- Structures information into key points and actions
- Escalates issues with context and proposed solutions
- Produces clear and accurate commercial documentation
Personal Effectiveness
- Accountable and reliable delivery mindset
- Calm and organised under pressure
- Proactive and willing to learn
- Demonstrates professional integrity and ethical conduct
- Collaborates with colleagues to inform decision-making
Disclaimer
Please be advised that effective January 1, 2025, CBRE Project Management and Turner &Townsend were consolidated into a single global business entity. As a candidate applying for a position, you should be aware that while your initial employment may be with CBRE GWS, you will subsequently transfer directly to Turner & Townsend at a date to be determined.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location