Commercial Lead

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

12/10/2024

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

Guiding Principles

• We value our people and our reputation.
• We are locally dedicated with international scale.
• We are future-focused and challenge the status quo.
• We foster collaboration in everything we do.
• We have an empowering culture and hold ourselves accountable.
  
  

In our commercial function our job is clear “To help our teams manage the risks and realise the opportunities in bidding, winning and delivering great projects.”. This is underpinned by the following:-

• Providing leadership in Commercial matters; directly with clients, making business easy and WSP easy to do business with.
• Developing Commercial best practice, process and resources (careers) in support of WSP’s strategy.
• Demonstrating the value from the Commercial Role
• Focussing and action on strategic themes of governance, risk and opportunity with all stakeholders.
• Providing dispute resolution support to the business.
  
  

A Little More About Your Role…

Reporting to the Commercial Director (CD) for your Disciplne] the Commercial Lead will support the Project Director on the delivery of major portfolio projects and in conjunction with the business Operations Director lead the wider commercial function within your Energy discipline to minimise commercial risk and maximise financial returns in line with the Discipline’s objectives.

Responsibilities

Project Delivery / Working Capital Management

Working With The Discipline Operations Director

• Undertake a commercial review of Framework call off / task order opportunities.
• Provide input to the Discipline’s risk and opportunity register on a regular basis with particular focus on additional fee claims, working capital recovery and disputes.
• Ensure that contract and project reviews are undertaken following the company’s policies and procedures.
• Provide support to the Discipline, working closely with the Legal Team where required, to:
• Prosecute claims for additional fees.
• Recover disputed working capital.
  

Work Winning

Take a leading role in shaping major bids and strategic pursuits, working collaboratively with the discipline Ops Director and the bid price modelling team.

• Undertake a commercial review of tenders to compliment the legal team review. Participate in the tender query process and develop the commercial pricing strategy. Inform the business Authority to pursue / submit process. Contribute to the development of the wider commercial offer.
• Take a lead role in the negotiation of contract terms / Joint Venture arrangements. Assist the process of appointing Sub Consultants and suppliers.
  
  

Professional Indemnity Management

Working With The Commercial Director

• Ensure that potential claims and subsequent management thereof is undertaken following the company’s policies and procedures.
• Working closely with the Legal Team, ensure that the business proactively manages and supports resolution of potential and actual claims based on the agreed strategies.
  
  

Client Facing Support

Working with the Discipline’s Operations Director provide support in:

• Change Management (programme and value) in compliance with the contractual and business obligations, including directing and supporting the Discipline’s Contract Managers in the:
• minimising of risk exposure
• preservation of contractual entitlements
• timely issue of all relevant notices
• generation and maintenance of registers and reports
• review of client communications
• timely issue of robust responses.
• Dispute resolution - liaising closely with the Legal Team.
• Working capital recovery.
  

Continual Improvement

Be an active member of the WSP Commercial Team contributing to decision making and identifying business improvement opportunities; and contributing to the development of an enhanced commercial culture in the business.

As a Member Of The Discipline Operational Leadership Team

• Raise commercial awareness and performance in the Discipline through regular feedback, meetings, and training.
• Review and implement improvements to processes and systems.
  
  

What We Are Looking For You To Demonstrate…

• Leading People - Acts as a “change leader” by encouraging others to embrace change and face new challenges. Has a positive, curious, creative mindset and can work and collaborate across all levels. Demonstrate excellent inter-personal skills with good leadership and management abilities.
• Commercial – Has in depth experience of commercial disputes and settlements.
• Operations - Has an established knowledge of operational performance, management and monitoring.
• Inclusion and Performance - Promotes and engages diverse persepctives fostering inclusion in every area of business operations. Demonstrates courage in decision making and supports, coaches and develops others through respectful, actionable constructuve feedback. Provides encoragement and development to allow all to reach their full potential and achieve maximum performance.
• Strategic Thinking and Direction – ability to operate and develop a business; forward thinking, capable of visualising and planning for the longer term; capable of identifying, communicating, engaging and drives the implementation of commercial improvement strategies.
• Projects - Possess a broad range of project experience at a multi-disciplinary level.
• Communication and Influence - Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively and positive influence at all levels as well as internally and externally. Actively champion sharing knowledge, ideas and intelligence. Strong presentation skills, able to lead and facilitate workshops, training sessions and one to one learning.
• Problems (business and projects) – Able to scan performance and trends to take preventative actions and support areas/projects where problems could manifest. Able to identify actions across people, process and practice to minimise problem areas and drive improvements.
  
  

Professional Experience

• Clear understanding of core expectations for a high-profile client facing business
• Proven people and commercial management skills; able to develop/maintain excellent relationships
• Excellent communication and listening skills with the ability to influence and deal with conflicting priorities and to offer positive solutions
• Clear commercial acumen with understanding of consultancy services and models and key drivers to improve performance.
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills and abilities with focus on people management, delegation, accountability and succession.
• Coming from an relevant industry, consultancy or client organisation would be beneficial
  
  

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can. Apply today.

About Us

We are WSP - Join us and make your career future ready!

In today’s world it’s important to work for a company that has clear purpose, giving back to communities and supporting what is truly important in the world.

When considering a career move its vital to work for a business that is aligned to your values and goals, a place where you can belong.

To find out more about our business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: Who We Are | WSP

What’s In It For You

Work-life balance?

WSP recognises that work is only one part of your life and making time for other things is important – whether that’s for your families, friends, or yourself.

Our hybrid working policy allows the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own home as well as collaborating in our contemporary offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Diversity?

We want our people to achieve rewarding careers, bringing their whole selves to work. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing diversity to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.

Our employee resource groups VIBE (LGBTQ+ employees), CREED (Championing Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity) and our Gender Balance Group, in tandem with WSP’s Neurodiverse Community Group, WSP Connect Group (visible and non-visible disabilities) help us promote the right environment for you to reach your full potential.

Health & Wellbeing?

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

Med24 gives you and your family unrestricted telephone access to an NHS doctor where you can call day or night or have a face-to-face video consultation.

Flex your time?

For improved work life balance, WSP offers the “WSP Hour” which enables you to take one hour per day to do as you wish and make up the time earlier or later that day. We also offer part time and flexible working arrangements plus the option to flex your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development?

We appreciate that development and training is important to you and that’s why we have a supportive environment that invests in your development, whether that’s chartership, training or mentoring.

APPLY NOW AND BE THE FUTURE OF WSP!

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.

Please note WSP reserves the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date.