Laing O'Rourke
Senior Commercial Manager

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Are you an experienced Senior Commercial Manager looking to work on a landmark project?
Have you delivered commercial success on major infrastructure, science & research, healthcare, or life sciences schemes?
Would you like to join a company that invests in your development and actively supports further education and professional training?
If so, we'd love to hear from you!
The Senior Commercial Manager Opportunity
Laing O'Rourke has secured the £920m main works contract to deliver a critical government science and research infrastructure project at the UK Government's flagship biosecurity campus in Weybridge, Surrey.
We are now seeking a Senior Commercial Manager to join our project team, based in Central London, and play a key role in the successful commercial delivery of this high-profile and nationally significant programme.
What will the role look like?
Responsibilities
As a Senior Commercial Manager, you will provide strategic commercial leadership across a major project, driving commercial performance, managing risk and opportunity, and ensuring robust financial control and contractual compliance throughout the project lifecycle. Key responsibilities include:
- Lead the commercial management of a major project, including subcontractor oversight and engagement with clients and project teams.
- Drive effective change control, ensuring variations are identified, valued, negotiated and commercially recovered in a timely manner.
- Identify, manage and mitigate commercial risks and maximise opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
- Lead, mentor and develop commercial team members, providing support and guidance to Surveyors and Assistant Surveyors.
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary project teams to support successful project delivery and client satisfaction.
- Oversee interim applications, valuations, payments and commercial agreements.
- Manage subcontractor accounts, including procurement, administration, negotiation and final account settlement.
- Prepare and manage claims, ensuring contractual entitlements are protected.
- Lead commercial reporting activities, including contract reviews, cost forecasting and Business Plan Review (BPR) submissions.
- Provide expert contractual and commercial advice to project teams and stakeholders.
- Negotiate with clients, subcontractors and consultants to achieve positive commercial outcomes while maintaining strong relationships.
- Ensure robust contract governance, risk management and commercial controls are maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
- Communicate key risks, opportunities and change impacts clearly and proactively to senior stakeholders.
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What skills & experience are we looking for?
- Degree (or higher) qualification in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management.
- Membership of RICS is desirable, but not essential.
- Strong working knowledge and practical application of NEC contracts.
- Experience delivering projects within science & research, life sciences, healthcare, or major infrastructure environments.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence at all levels.
- A proactive, collaborative approach with a strong commercial mindset and attention to detail.


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At Laing O'Rourke, we recognise the benefits of flexible working and are committed to supporting talented individuals from all backgrounds. We welcome applications from candidates seeking part-time or alternative working arrangements and will consider flexible options where they can be accommodated within the needs of the role and project.
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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