Senior Commercial Manager - #194895

Locations Liverpool, United Kingdom / Manchester, United Kingdom / Warrington, United Kingdom Country United Kingdom Contract type Permanent Work pattern Full Time Market Environment and society Discipline Project programme and commercial management Job ref 15549 Recruiter contact Danielle Judd

Location/s: Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington; UK
Recruiter contact: Danielle Judd

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit

Mott MacDonald’s Advisory and Programme Delivery (APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors.

We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients’ key challenges, combining our world-leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.

APD delivers services to projects ranging in scale and complexity up to £20bn, through the technical disciplines of programme management, project management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, estimating, infrastructure finance, management consulting, digital consulting and education, health and care management.

Environment & water

Our multidisciplinary experts help water, wastewater, and government organisations find sustainable, cost-effective solutions to the challenges of climate change, net-zero, water scarcity and environmental protection.

We work with around half of the UK’s regulated water and wastewater companies, and our work stretches across the entire project lifecycle - from pre-contract cost estimating and benchmarking, to post-contract quantity surveying and commercial assurance.

For project and programme management, we deliver capital projects on behalf of our clients, both internal and external that range from several hundred thousand pounds in value to major projects and programmes worth over £0.5bn.

Overview of the role

This role is required to lead the Mott MacDonald United Utilities Lot 1 Commercial Assurance Service, delivering independent commercial assurance across UU’s capital programme. The Quantity Surveyor will verify contractor/consultant costs, assess NEC compliance, and ensure that commercial processes are robust, transparent, and aligned with UU governance. The role is essential in protecting value for money and supporting our client’s regulatory and audit obligations. The role will be required to lead a multi-disciplinary team and will be responsible for winning and delivering work through the Lot 1 AMP8 framework.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Lead and be responsible for the delivery of projects under the Lot 1 Commercial Assurance Service, to time and budget
• Manage resources to match Service requirements
• Be responsible for the commercial performance of projects delivered under the Lot
• Ensure all internal BMS/governance activities are undertaken
• Provide timely performance data to the Account Lead and input into Account reviews
• Lead on Lot 1 business development activities to win profitable work inline with portfolio expectations

Cost Assurance & Audit (Lot 1 Core Function)

• Lead detailed cost assurance reviews of contractor/consultants accounts and AFP’s across AMP7/AMP8 projects
• Validate Defined Cost, People Rates, Fee Percentages, and Disallowed Costs in line with NEC3/NEC4 and UU’s Commercial Assurance Framework
• Conduct forensic analysis of labour, plant, materials, subcontractor/consultant costs, and overheads
• Review and challenge Compensation Event quotations against the Schedule of Cost Components (SCC)
• Produce structured assurance reports with findings, recommendations, and required corrective actions

Commercial Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all commercial activity aligns with United Utilities’ governance processes and audit requirements
• Support the maintenance of a robust audit trail for internal audit, external audit, and regulatory scrutiny (e.g., Ofwat)
• Monitor contractor adherence to NEC processes, including Early Warnings, Compensation Events, communications, and programme submissions
• Provide independent commercial insight to UU project managers, quantity surveyors, contract managers, and senior stakeholders

NEC Contract Management

• Apply deep knowledge of NEC3/NEC4 ECC/ PSC (Options A, C, E) to assess contractor/consultant submissions and entitlement
• Support the assessment and negotiation of Compensation Events
• Review Project Manager Instructions, Defined Cost records, and subcontractor flows for NEC compliance

Financial Controls & Reporting

• Support UU’s cost forecasting, budget validation, and financial governance processes
• Identify cost risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for value improvement
• Contribute to monthly commercial assurance dashboards and governance packs
• Track trends across projects to inform UU’s commercial strategy and continuous improvement

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work collaboratively with UU’s Commercial, Engineering, Project Delivery, and Finance teams
• Engage constructively with Delivery Partners and Tier 1 contractors and Subconsultants while maintaining independence
• Present assurance findings to senior leadership, governance boards, and audit forums
• Own relationships with key Client stakeholders and convert opportunities into fee earning commissions in line with internal governance

Candidate specification

Essential:

• Strong experience as a Quantity Surveyor within utilities, water sector, infrastructure, or major capital programmes
• Proven experience delivering commercial assurance, cost audit, or NEC cost verification services
• Deep working knowledge of NEC3/NEC4 ECC, especially Options A, C, and E
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to interrogate complex cost data
• Excellent understanding of Defined Cost, SCC, Disallowed Costs, and NEC compensation event mechanisms
• Ability to produce high quality assurance reports and communicate findings clearly
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with cost management systems

Desirable:

• Experience working on United Utilities or other UK water company frameworks
• Understanding of Ofwat expectations, regulatory reporting, and capital efficiency drivers
• Professional membership or progression toward RICS, ICES, or equivalent
• NEC ECC Project Manager Accreditation
• Experience supporting internal/external audit processes

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.