Costain Group PLC
Senior Commercial Manager
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Senior Commercial Manager – Engineering Services
Costain’s strong pipeline of work across its sectors and strategic ambitions to become an engineering-led business requires a Senior Commercial Manager to join our in-house Engineering Services team. This full-time role is responsible for managing and improving our contractual engagement and commercial governance while ensuring business profitability.
You will report directly to the Group Director of Engineering Services and will have the option to work in a hybrid arrangement based in London, Manchester, or Aberdeen.
About Costain
We deliver integral, cutting-edge infrastructure solutions that improve lives across critical sectors in the UK, including energy, water, transportation, and defence. Our mission is to be the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company by:
- Enhancing client operational performance through increased capacity, customer service, safety, and efficiency
- Focusing on major projects aligned with national strategic needs, regulatory commitments, or critical performance requirements
Our solutions span the entire lifecycle of assets, from strategic consultancy and digital optimisation, to asset management and complex design delivery.
Costain values diversity and believes diverse perspectives spark innovation. Even if you don’t meet all criteria, we invite you to apply—your unique experience could be transformative for our team.
Responsibilities
Commercial Strategy & Leadership
- Lead the commercial function within Engineering Services, establishing robust processes for contract negotiations and commercial governance
- Ensure adherence to procurement strategies and regulations
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Contract Management
- Oversee Internal Trading Agreements and Sub-contract Professional Services Agreements for engineering and design services
- Ensure alignment with contractual obligations and payment mechanisms
Risk & Opportunity Management
- Identify commercial risks and opportunities early in the project lifecycle to prevent scope creep and budget overruns
- Maintain alignment with contractual payment terms and service delivery
Financial Reporting
- Manage Work in Progress (WIP), monthly Cost-Value Reconciliations (CVR), and profit and margin reporting
- Coordinate internal cost allocation and cross-charging between consultancy and sector business units
Procurement
- Select, manage, and engage external designers and sub-contractors, ensuring their terms align with primary contractual obligations
Change Control
- Rigorously implement change management processes to document, cost, and approve variations in engineering design scope
Sector Knowledge
- Develop a deep understanding of engineering design phases and their implications for large-scale construction projects
Continuous Improvement
- Drive innovation in commercial procedures to support Costain’s growth strategy
Key Requirements
Essential Experience & Skills
- Significant experience in commercial management, blending consultancy-based (fee-driven) and contract-based (delivery-focused) roles in the construction/engineering sector
- Proven financial and commercial acumen with analytical problem-solving skills
- Ability to collaborate across stakeholder groups, including design engineers, project managers, and clients
- Technical minute-taking and report-writing skills for financial descriptors, payment applications, and contractual discussions
- Experience with contract-related risks, fees, rates, and profitability analysis
- Expertise in financial monitoring systems, including cost-value reconciliation, work-in-progress tracking, and profit & loss reporting
- Ability to draft and negotiate contractual correspondence
- Sound understanding of procurement strategies and contractual frameworks (NEC3/4 preferred)
- Proven team leadership and capability to inspire performance beyond targets
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Desirable Qualifications
- RICS membership (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) or CICES accreditation
- CICES Full Membership (Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors)
Role-Specific Desirables
- Commitment to commercial continuous improvement that aligns with organisational growth
- Passion for strategic evolution within Costain’s commercial sphere
Note on Feedback: Due to high applicant volumes, we aim to provide feedback only post-interview. We are Disability Confident and encourage applications from all backgrounds. For further information, visit Disability Confident.
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