Commercial Manager - Estimating and Contracts
About The Position
FabLogix, part of Kelso Industries, is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to lead the estimating department and own the commercial development of module manufacturing proposals ranging from $50 million to $300 million for the data center, life science, and semiconductor markets. The role serves as the commercial gatekeeper between the estimating team and company leadership, conducting bid reviews before the President’s final review, leading proposal strategy and development, and owning the commercial terms of customer contracts. The Commercial Manager owns key client relationships through pursuit and contracting, works with in-house legal on contract review and negotiation, and establishes and maintains standard bid tabs, estimating tools, and processes to drive consistency, accuracy, and speed. The position is based in Duncan, South Carolina, and reports to the President.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
- 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 of $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 on complex proposals.
- Proficiency with estimating and bid tab software, ERP systems, and proposal management tools.
- Strong business judgment and attention to detail under deadline pressure.
- Ability to balance competitive pricing with acceptable commercial risk.
- Strong communication skills, including presenting complex proposals and risk positions to executive leadership.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with large-scale 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 for consistent, accurate, and competitive proposals.
- Develop and maintain a standard bid tab format 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, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and commercial soundness.
- Lead proposal development and strategy for module manufacturing pursuits ranging from $50 million to $300 million across data center, life science, and semiconductor markets.
- Oversee pricing strategy, risk contingency, and margin positioning on 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 and manage key client relationships throughout the pursuit, proposal, and contracting process.
- Serve as the primary commercial point of contact for clients during proposal clarifications, negotiations, and award.
- Build long-term client trust to support repeat pursuits and preferred-partner status.
- Review customer contract commercial terms and conditions, 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 following award.
- Support change order and claims positioning from a commercial terms perspective.
- Partner with project management and operations to ensure proposal assumptions translate into 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.
- Clear pathways for career advancement.
- Autonomy and flexibility in an entrepreneurial environment.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
