Commercial Manager

Experience in electrical engineering or electrical construction is essential. Applicants must have the right to work in the EU and hold a valid passport for travel to EU project locations.

Commercial Manager

Salary: 120,000 - €180,000 per year, depending on experience, plus performance-related bonus
Location: Ireland / UK / Europe as required
Reporting to: Managing Director
Job type: Full-time

The role

Lead commercial management across Centum’s projects and operations, from tender and estimation through delivery and final account. Take responsibility for contracts, cost control, forecasting, cash flow, procurement oversight, variations, claims and commercial risk.

Work closely with Quantity Surveying, Planning, Finance and project delivery teams to protect margin and give senior management a clear view of performance across the business.

Know the contracts, know the numbers and know where the risk sits. Challenge unsupported forecasts, act early on margin erosion and make sure every commercial position is backed by evidence.

Key responsibilities

• Lead contract reviews, negotiations and commercial agreements, ensuring scope, assumptions, terms, obligations and risk are clearly understood.
• Ensure project teams understand contractual requirements, notices and submission deadlines.
• Oversee labour, materials, plant and subcontractor costs, earned value, cost-to-complete, final margin and cash-flow forecasts.
• Identify margin erosion and commercial exposure early; agree recovery plans and track them through to completion.
• Lead the Quantity Surveying function and maintain consistent commercial processes, controls and reporting across projects.
• Work with Planners and delivery teams to keep programmes, resource assumptions and commercial forecasts aligned.
• Lead change management covering variations, dayworks, scope changes and client instructions.
• Ensure contractual notices, including Early Warnings where applicable, are issued within the required timescales.
• Ensure variations and claims are properly evidenced, priced, submitted, negotiated and progressed.
• Oversee applications for payment, certifications, retentions and outstanding payments; coordinate receipts and forecasts with Finance.
• Support Extension of Time claims and other commercial claims with the relevant project specialists.
• Review procurement decisions and supplier or subcontractor terms against budgets, programmes, cash flow and contractual exposure.
• Provide accurate, evidence-based reporting on costs, earned value, cash flow, variations, claims, risks, opportunities and forecast outcomes.
  
  

What we are looking for

Senior commercial leadership experience within electrical engineering or electrical construction is essential. You must be confident making informed decisions across multiple projects and holding teams to consistent commercial standards.

• Strong contractual knowledge across UK, Irish and/or European projects.
• Proven experience managing cost control, forecasting, cash flow, variations, claims and Extensions of Time.
• Experience leading Quantity Surveyors and commercial teams.
• Strong negotiation skills and confidence dealing with clients, contractors and professional advisers.
• Advanced Excel skills, particularly in forecasting, cash flow and margin analysis.
• Experience with job-costing systems, commercial reporting and project dashboards.
• Clear communication, sound analytical judgement and the ability to maintain control under pressure.
  
  

Bring the evidence

Experience matters. Evidence earns trust. Tell us what you personally owned and the results you delivered.

• Project and portfolio values, electrical scope, team sizes and your commercial authority.
• Examples of protecting margin, improving cash flow or resolving contractual exposure.
• Variations, claims or final accounts you personally led through to an agreed outcome.
• Reporting or control improvements you introduced and the results they produced.

Anonymised examples and figures are welcome. We may follow up with references; confidential employer, client or employee records are not required.

How success is measured

Reliable forecasts, protected margin, timely notices and applications, evidenced change recovery, controlled procurement exposure and clear visibility of cash flow and commercial risk.

Responsibility and judgement

Lead commercial decisions and negotiations within delegated authority. Set commercial standards, challenge unsupported positions and escalate material contractual, payment or margin risks promptly to the Managing Director.

Why join Centum

Join a growing engineering business operating across Ireland, the UK and Europe. You will work closely with senior management and project teams, influence commercial strategy and help establish consistent standards across an expanding portfolio. We value capability, reliable results and the willingness to keep learning.

Apply today

Apply with your CV and a brief summary of relevant experience and results.