Commercial Manager

DLR Group•Chicago, IL

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

Join the team at DLR Group as a Commercial Manager. In this brand-new role to our firm, you will help shape how we elevate the human experience by design, bringing commercial insight to the creative process so great ideas can become successful, buildable realities. In this pivotal role, you will protect the commercial integrity of our projects while championing design excellence, bridging creative ambition with financial, contractual, and risk considerations. From early concept through construction, you will provide strategic leadership across every phase of project delivery, helping teams make informed, thoughtful decisions that balance innovation, value, and long-term success. If you’re energized by the opportunity to partner with talented designers, influence meaningful work, and help bring exceptional ideas to life, we’d love to hear from you!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of 10 years of commercial management experience within the design and construction industry, including work on large, complex projects exceeding $500M in construction cost.
Deep understanding of contract structures, commercial terms, project delivery workflows, and risk allocation across the design and construction lifecycle.
Demonstrated ability to assess complex issues, solve problems thoughtfully, and communicate clearly with project teams and stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands in a fast-paced project environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and Adobe/Bluebeam.

Nice To Haves

Brings a proactive, self-starting approach and thrives as a collaborative partner across multidisciplinary teams.
Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust, adapt communication style, and work effectively with a diverse range of colleagues, clients, and partners.
Comfortable balancing creative ambition with commercial practicality to help deliver exceptional design outcomes within sound business parameters.
Experience advancing commercial discipline and risk-aware decision-making in highly collaborative, design-driven environments.

Responsibilities

Develop a project-specific risk roadmap at kickoff, aligning contract terms, commercial strategy, and execution plans while equipping key team members with practical risk management processes.
Proactively identify, communicate, and evaluate commercial, contractual, design, and delivery risks throughout the full project lifecycle.
Partner with project managers, client leaders, and legal counsel to prepare, negotiate, and manage variations and requests for additional services.
Deliver guidance and targeted education that strengthens commercial awareness and supports risk-conscious decision-making across project teams and stakeholders.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance the consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness of commercial execution firmwide.
Foster strong collaboration among project teams, commercial leadership, and legal partners while promoting a culture of commercial discipline and risk literacy across the firm.