Senior Commercial Manager

Mace•Branchburg Township, NJ

About The Position

At Mace, the purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition by creating responsible places and bringing transformative impact to people, communities, and societies. Within its consult business, Mace combines practical expertise and project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project. The Senior Commercial Manager will lead commercial, contractual, financial, and risk management activities for the Hudson Tunnel Project, a major transportation infrastructure program in North America. The role is responsible for effective administration of major construction contracts and for protecting the project's commercial interests while supporting delivery of scope, schedule, quality, safety, and budget objectives. Working with project leadership and engineering, construction, procurement, legal, and stakeholder teams, the role oversees commercial strategy, contract management, cost control, change management, claims avoidance and resolution, and commercial governance across design and construction packages. The position also leads and develops commercial and contract management personnel, supports workforce planning and resource allocation, and promotes accountability, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Mace welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and is open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable for the role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Business, Finance, Law, or a related discipline.
At least 15 years of commercial management experience on major infrastructure, transportation, tunneling, rail, transit, or heavy civil projects.
Demonstrated experience managing contracts valued in excess of $500 million.
Experience with complex public-sector infrastructure programs and alternative delivery methods.
Proven experience in change management, claims management, commercial negotiations, and contract administration.
Strong understanding of construction contracts, procurement practices, and project delivery methodologies.
Familiarity with project controls, cost management systems, scheduling, and earned value reporting.
Strong commercial acumen and advanced financial and analytical capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Knowledge of FIDIC, NEC, Design-Build, CM/GC, EPC, or comparable contract frameworks.
Professional certification such as MRICS/FRICS, CCM, PMP, PSP, or Certified Cost Professional (CCP).

Responsibilities

Develop and implement commercial management strategies for assigned project packages and contracts.
Advise project leadership on contractual rights, obligations, risks, and opportunities.
Lead commercial teams supporting design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
Establish and maintain commercial governance processes, procedures, and reporting requirements.
Administer major construction, design-build, professional services, and supplier contracts.
Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, project requirements, and applicable regulations.
Lead contract reviews, negotiations, amendments, and commercial closeout activities.
Monitor contractor performance against contractual deliverables and key milestones.
Oversee cost forecasting, budgeting, cash flow management, and financial reporting.
Monitor project expenditures and commitments against approved budgets.
Identify cost-saving opportunities and implement value-engineering initiatives where appropriate.
Support project controls teams in maintaining accurate cost and commercial performance data.
Lead evaluation and negotiation of contract variations, change orders, and compensation events.
Establish processes for tracking, pricing, evaluating, and approving changes.
Resolve commercial impacts arising from design development, site conditions, and construction activities in a timely manner.
Collaborate with project teams to minimize commercial exposure associated with changes.
Develop strategies to prevent claims and disputes.
Manage preparation, evaluation, negotiation, and settlement of contractor and subcontractor claims.
Coordinate with legal counsel and executive management on high-value or complex disputes.
Maintain records supporting contract administration and claim resolution.
Identify, assess, and manage commercial and contractual risks throughout the project lifecycle.
Maintain project risk registers and mitigation plans for commercial matters.
Support procurement and project teams in evaluating commercial risks related to contracts and procurement activities.
Recommend risk transfer and mitigation strategies to leadership.
Build working relationships with project owners, contractors, consultants, funding agencies, and regulatory stakeholders.
Participate in executive meetings, commercial reviews, and governance forums.
Support reporting for senior management, public agencies, and funding partners.
Facilitate collaborative resolution of complex commercial issues among stakeholders.
Lead, mentor, and develop commercial and contract management personnel.
Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Support workforce planning and resource allocation across project commercial functions.