Senior Commercial Manager (Building Services)

A little more about your role…

You will be central to the highly collaborative Services South team; based across the Heathrow office primarily.

Your role will be at the heart of our high performing team, using your skills and expertise to help us continue driving forward in terms of both technical quality and service efficiency; whilst leading the teams senior engineers in their day to day project management activities.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leadership: Leading and mentoring commercial team members, ensuring effective coordination between commercial, project, and technical teams. Providing clear commercial direction to support delivery outcomes aligned with programme, budget, and contractual requirements.
• Commercial Management: Developing and managing commercial strategies and controls across projects, including cost planning, forecasting, and reporting. Supporting the setup of projects within financial systems (including Task 99 structures), ensuring appropriate allocation of budgets, cost tracking, and financial governance across workstreams.
• Financial Management: Producing and overseeing financial reports, including cost forecasts, revenue tracking, invoicing, cash collection, and contribution to monthly project reviews. Identifying commercial risks and opportunities and supporting actions to maintain or improve project financial performance.
• Business Development: Leading or supporting the commercial aspects of tender bids, including pricing strategies, commercial risk assessments, and contractual inputs. Working with wider WSP teams to support cross-selling opportunities and ensure commercially robust proposals.
• Client Relations: Building and maintaining relationships with clients, supporting commercial discussions, negotiations, and agreement of changes. Working collaboratively with project and client teams to achieve commercially sound outcomes while supporting overall project objectives.
• Compliance: Supporting adherence to contractual obligations, governance processes, and financial controls. Contributing to audit requirements, maintaining clear commercial records, and supporting compliance with internal policies and client-specific commercial frameworks.

Your Team

• Our team is comprised of approximately 60 engineers working across the Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health specialisms
• Our team is split across our Brighton, Southampton, Heathrow, Basingstoke and Guildford offices giving the flexibility or work in either location on any given day. Many of our team choose to alternate the office they work in to suit personal and client needs.
• As part of our team, you would be working on some of our major projects predominantly at Heathrow Airport. This will be as part of a multi-disciplinary offering and so experience in building services, structural and civil engineering disciplines will be an advantage.
• You will be reporting to our Director that manages the various Frameworks at London Heathrow.
• You will be able to utilise graduate, assistant, senior and principal engineers in supporting roles around you, as well as dedicated BIM and Sustainability specialists to contribute to the successful delivery of your projects.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Extensive experience in commercial management, cost control, and financial planning within the construction or Building Services sector, within aviation or major infrastructure environments.
• Experience in managing commercial processes, systems, and tools (including cost management systems, forecasting tools, and enterprise resource planning), ensuring robust financial control across projects and programmes.
• In-depth understanding of commercial and contractual management, including administration of NEC/JCT contracts, change control, variations, and claims management.
• Proven ability to lead commercial activities independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing clear commercial direction and influencing project outcomes.
• Experience in managing the commercial aspects of technical projects within property and buildings, with a clear understanding of how design and delivery decisions impact cost, risk, and margin.
• Ability to represent WSP in commercial discussions with clients, contractors, and supply chain partners, supporting negotiations and ensuring commercially sound outcomes aligned with client objectives.
• Have financial acumen, including experience in forecasting, cost reporting, margin management, and identifying commercial risks and opportunities.
• Recent, demonstrable experience in leading commercial management across complex projects, including managing contractual risk, supporting dispute resolution, and driving improved commercial performance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the commercial management of Building Services and multi-d projects and frameworks at Heathrow, providing strategic direction across the project lifecycle
• Influence business and project decisions to optimise commercial outcomes, balancing risk and opportunity
• Provide early commercial input into bids, pricing strategies, and delivery models
• Act as a trusted advisor to Project Directors and senior leadership on commercial matters

Contract Management & Administration

• Oversee the administration of contracts (e.g. NEC, bespoke Heathrow forms), ensuring alignment with contractual obligations and risk positions
• Lead contract negotiations, variations, and change control processes, ensuring robust commercial governance
• Provide clear interpretation of contract provisions to project teams, supporting informed decision-making
• Manage and respond to contractual correspondence, notices, and claims

Financial Management & Reporting

• Lead financial monitoring and reporting across projects, including cost management, revenue forecasting, and margin analysis
• Ensure that financial data is accurate, consistent, and aligned with project and business reporting requirements
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities affecting financial performance and provide actionable insights
• Support the development of robust cost plans and financial controls

Risk & Opportunity Management

• Identify commercial risks and opportunities at project and portfolio level
• Develop and implement mitigation or enhancement strategies to protect and improve commercial performance
• Maintain clear visibility of risk exposure and ensure alignment with governance processes
• Support resolution of disputes and commercial challenges through structured negotiation

Supply Chain & Procurement

• Oversee procurement strategies for Building Services packages, ensuring value for money and alignment with project objectives
• Manage relationships with key suppliers and subcontractors, including performance monitoring and issue resolution
• Ensure that supply chain engagements are commercially robust and compliant with contractual requirements

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with internal teams, clients, and supply chain partners to support effective commercial decision-making
• Build strong relationships with Heathrow commercial and programme teams
• Provide clear commercial advice to non-commercial stakeholders, supporting informed and balanced decisions

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop commercial team members, supporting professional development (e.g. MRICS progression)
• Promote consistency and best practice in commercial management across the team
• Support recruitment and capability planning in line with business needs