Major Projects-Commercial Lead
Client: Southern Water
Location: Hybrid - 2-3 days office-based in Durrington (Worthing) or Falmer (Brighton)
Contract: Permanent | Full-time (Mon-Fri)
Salary: £55,000 - £82,000 per annum (depending on experience)
About the Role
Southern Water is seeking experienced Major Projects Commercial Leads / Managers to provide leadership and expertise across commercial workstreams for high-profile schemes within our major projects portfolio. This role is pivotal in ensuring successful market delivery and procurement of major projects, while safeguarding value for money and efficient risk allocation for customers and shareholders.
You will play a key role in projects selected for competitively delivered / externally financed delivery models, navigating internal governance, regulatory processes, and managing a broad range of stakeholders to promote constructive dialogue.
Key Responsibilities
Contract Structuring, Negotiation & Management: Develop commercial models, risk allocation, bespoke contract provisions, and payment mechanisms aligned with regulatory guidance.
Business Case Development: Provide commercial input into project approvals, financial models, and value-for-money assessments.
Risk Management: Mitigate risks or allocate them to parties best able to manage them.
Financial Efficiency: Assess financial models and commercial contracts for cost-effectiveness.
Compliance Monitoring: Ensure adherence to agreed commercial terms.
Stakeholder Management: Establish clear communication channels and resolve potential conflicts early.
Strategic Planning: Contribute to a robust commercial strategy for major projects aligned with Southern Water's broader objectives.
Essential Experience & Knowledge
Proven experience in commercial/contract negotiation and successful financial close of multi-£100m contracts in project finance / PPP environments.
Background in regulated sectors such as water, energy, rail, or other infrastructure.
Expertise in DBFOM / PPP / PFI agreements, UK contractual standards (PF2, MIM), and comparable projects.
Strong understanding of investor, financing, and contracting markets for alternative procurement models.
In-depth experience in business case development, market engagement, and procurement of large-scale complex projects.
Familiarity with the Tender Process Cycle for externally financed PPP/PFI projects, including bid strategy and evaluation metrics.
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