Commercial Manager

Position Summary

Reports to: Design Build Director
Working in close collaboration with the Design Build Director and core project team, the Commercial Manager will provide guidance and leadership to develop, implement, and drive contract/claim management and risk mitigation strategies by business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for all commercial matters, including contracts, subcontracts, procurement, DBE compliance, change management, and insurance oversight.
• Identify and analyze potential commercial risks and liabilities associated with proposals, ongoing projects, and supplier agreements.
• Draft or amend contracts and commercial agreements.
• Review and negotiate all commercial agreements, including requests for quotation, requests for proposals, confidentiality agreements, pre-bid agreements, purchase orders, subcontracts, and contracts, and provide recommendations during estimating, pre-award, construction, and post-construction phases.
• Lead or support negotiation and resolution of contract disputes, claims, and settlements with clients and subcontractors, ensuring alignment with legal counsel and JV leadership.
• Review project specifications, ensure contractor compliance, and manage change orders and compensatory claims.
• Maintain compliance with contract deliverables and key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring the project meets financial, scheduling, and performance obligations as defined in the prime contract.
• Support the preparation of contract notices, change requests, and claims/disputes in accordance with applicable provisions and interpretations.
• Manage billing and payment request processes to ensure timely and accurate submissions.
• Manage all project-related insurance and bonding requirements, coordinating with brokers and insurers to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, monitoring renewals, handling claims and endorsements, and supporting resolution of insurance-related issues.
• Provide commercial support to the project team, including risk identification and mitigation strategies.
• Prepare internal and external monthly reports on commercial, contractual, DBE, and compliance matters.
• Support contract close-out processes, including retention release and obtaining all compliance certifications.
• Interface with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders, including legal, finance, cost estimating, insurance, tax, treasury, and risk teams, to ensure alignment on commercial priorities.
• Develop and implement appropriate commercial strategies and ensure compliance with contract type and delivery methods.
• Develop and implement contract-management and purchasing instructions, policies, procedures, and systems.
• Provide on-demand contractual clarifications/position statements to project team members as required, as well as understanding and interpretation of the contract language, and practical application of contract documents.
• Ensure flow down of the prime contract terms to other related contracts and ongoing projects.
• Support the development of communication strategies with the sponsor and public authority, considering legal and commercial implications.
• Coordinate with team members to establish agendas to be addressed with the authority at commercial meetings you attend.
• Supervise and support project administrative personnel, ensuring appropriate training, qualifications, and competency.
• Prepare and manage contractual correspondence and notices in accordance with contract requirements.
• Research and evaluate vendors/contracts to ensure compliance with the state and federal regulations.
• Evaluate vendors to ensure their performance is aligned with established specifications.
• Deliver training, presentations, or workshops on contract administration, change and delay management, and corporate policies as needed.
• Contribute to the revision and upkeep of operating policies and procedures.
• Obtain legal department input as needed for the resolution of contract and compliance matters.
• Career Development: Provide leadership to Commercial staff and direct reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Law, Business, or related discipline; MBA or JD preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in commercial or contract management within the construction industry, including at least 7 years on large heavy civil infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience with Civil Rights Compliance, DBE participation programs, change management, insurance, and financial controls.
• Experience working in a joint venture is preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of construction contract administration, finance, and risk management.
• Strong negotiating skills with proven ability to manage commercial/contractual matters with subcontractors, clients, and partners.
• Effective communication and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines.
• Previous experience working on Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) or other major transit infrastructure projects strongly preferred.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and interact with executives, project directors, and external stakeholders.