Commercial Manager - Estimating and Contracts
About The Position
FabLogix, part of Kelso Industries, is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead the estimating department and oversee commercial development of module manufacturing proposals valued from $50 million to $300 million for the data center, life science, and semiconductor markets. The position serves as the commercial gatekeeper between the estimating team and company leadership, conducting bid reviews before final review by the President and leading proposal strategy and development. The Commercial Manager owns commercial terms for customer contracts, manages key client relationships through pursuit and contracting, and works with in-house legal on contract review and negotiation. The role also establishes and maintains standard bid tabs, estimating tools, and processes to promote consistency, accuracy, and speed. The Commercial Manager leads and develops the estimating team, oversees pricing, risk contingency, and margin positioning, and coordinates proposal input across engineering, project management, fabrication, procurement, and quality. The role works with operations and project management to align proposal assumptions with executable budgets, collaborates with finance on pricing and cash flow assumptions, and provides market and competitive intelligence to leadership. The position is based in Duncan, South Carolina, is full-time, and reports to the President.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of experience in estimating, commercial management, or proposal development within modular construction, industrial fabrication, or large capital project delivery.
- Demonstrated experience leading proposal development for large-scale projects valued at $50 million or more.
- Strong command of commercial contract terms and experience negotiating directly with legal counsel.
- Leadership experience managing an estimating team and establishing standardized estimating tools and processes.
- Skill in pricing strategy, risk assessment, and margin management for complex proposals.
- Proficiency with estimating and bid tab software, ERP systems, and proposal management tools.
- Strong business judgment, attention to detail, and ability to work under deadline pressure.
- Strong relationship-building, communication, analytical, and leadership abilities.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with projects in the data center, life science, or semiconductor markets.
Responsibilities
- Lead, manage, and develop the estimating department, including staffing, workload allocation, and performance management.
- Establish estimating standards, processes, and timelines to support consistent, accurate, and competitive proposals.
- Develop and maintain standard bid tab formats and supporting estimating tools.
- Build team capability and bench strength to support a growing proposal pipeline.
- Review all proposals before final review and approval by the President, checking accuracy, completeness, and commercial soundness.
- Lead proposal strategy and development for module manufacturing pursuits valued from $50 million to $300 million.
- Oversee pricing strategy, risk contingency, and margin positioning for major proposals.
- Coordinate proposal input from engineering, project management, fabrication, procurement, and quality.
- Present bid packages, assumptions, and commercial risk positions to executive leadership before submission.
- Own key client relationships throughout pursuit, proposal, and contracting, and serve as the primary commercial contact during clarifications, negotiations, and award.
- Build client trust to support repeat pursuits and preferred-partner status.
- Review customer contract commercial terms, including pricing, payment, warranty, liability, indemnification, and liquidated damages.
- Work with in-house legal to negotiate and finalize contract terms and resolve commercial risk before execution.
- Track and communicate contractual commercial obligations to project teams after award.
- Support change order and claims positioning from a commercial terms perspective.
- Partner with project management and operations to align proposal assumptions with executable project budgets.
- Collaborate with finance on proposal pricing models, margin targets, and cash flow assumptions.
- Provide market and competitive intelligence to leadership to inform pursuit strategy.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Career advancement pathways.
- Autonomy and flexibility in an entrepreneurial environment.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
