Utilities Commercial Manager

A Snapshot

As the Utilities Commercial Manager, you will report directly to the Associate Commercial Director, Utilities and work closely with the Utilities Project Team, Development, Design, Delivery, Procurement, Legal, Finance and Cost Management teams to support the delivery of AirTrunk's hyperscale data centre developments.

In this role, you will provide commercial and contracts leadership across the full lifecycle of Utilities infrastructure work packages, including high voltage, power, grid connection, transmission / distribution, water, recycled water and utility provider infrastructure arrangements. You will support both early-stage commercial strategy and in-flight delivery, ensuring Utilities packages are procured, contracted, administered, reported and closed out in a commercially disciplined and delivery-focused manner.

You will take responsibility for commercial input into utility provider arrangements, work orders, purchase orders, consultant agreements and infrastructure delivery contracts. This includes supporting procurement strategy, contract negotiation, contract interpretation, claims management, variation assessment, cost reporting, forecasting, risk visibility and resolution of commercial issues.

The role requires strong commercial judgement, practical delivery focus and the ability to work across complex technical, commercial and stakeholder interfaces. You will be expected to balance contractual entitlement, delivery outcomes, programme risk, budget visibility and long-term project objectives.

You will also support the continued development of the Utilities Commercial function by applying and improving commercial controls, reporting discipline, contract administration practices and governance at a project, package and portfolio level.

Your Day to Day

• Develop and support procurement and commercial strategies for Utilities infrastructure packages, including HV, grid connection, authority works, utility provider interfaces, water infrastructure and related enabling works.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial scope, key contract terms, work orders, purchase orders, variations and contractual correspondence for Utilities and data centre infrastructure packages.
• Manage the full contract lifecycle from procurement and contract award through to contract kick-off, delivery administration, performance monitoring, claims management, final account and close-out.
• Support project teams in identifying and managing commercial risks associated with energisation, authority approvals, utility provider delays, design interfaces, long-lead procurement, scope gaps, cost escalation and programme constraints.
• Assess and manage contract claims, including variations, time-related claims, payment claims, invoices, EOT claims and other commercial entitlements, ensuring alignment with contractual rights, evidence, approvals and commercial objectives.
• Provide input into Utilities cost management, budget ownership, cost reporting, forecasting, cashflow and cost-to-complete visibility across in-flight and future projects.
• Work closely with Delivery, Design, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Cost Management and regional project teams to ensure Utilities commercial positions are aligned, documented and actionable.
• Support the handover of procured Utilities packages into delivery, ensuring key assumptions, risks, obligations, approvals, scope boundaries and commercial positions are clearly understood.
• Monitor supplier, contractor and utility provider performance from a commercial perspective, escalating emerging risks, claims, delays, budget impacts and governance issues early.
• Maintain commercial visibility across live Utilities packages, including procurement status, contract commitments, variations, claims, risks, approvals, reporting obligations and close-out requirements.
• Travel as required to AirTrunk data centre sites to support project initiation, commercial reviews, project WIPs, contract negotiations, claims resolution, delivery reviews, audits and project close-out.
• Apply and improve commercial controls and contract governance at a project and package level, ensuring compliance with approval authorities, contract lifecycle requirements, AirTrunk commercial frameworks and documentation standards.
• Identify recurring commercial, process or governance gaps across the Utilities portfolio and implement practical improvements that support delivery, visibility and consistency without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

Requirements

• You have successfully delivered projects in a contracts, commercial, transaction or project commercial management role within a complex construction, infrastructure, utilities, energy, water, transport, development or major projects environment.
• Utilities, high voltage, grid connection, transmission / distribution, water infrastructure, authority interface or energy infrastructure experience will be highly regarded.
• You have experience supporting procurement strategy, contract negotiation, contract administration, claims management, variation assessment, cost reporting and commercial close-out across complex infrastructure or development projects.
• You can interpret and apply complex contractual frameworks while maintaining a practical understanding of delivery, programme, stakeholder and budget impacts.
• You have strong commercial judgement and can balance contractual entitlement, risk allocation, project objectives, stakeholder relationships and long-term business outcomes.
• You are comfortable working with incomplete information, identifying key risks, forming a commercial view and progressing issues to resolution.
• You have experience working with cross-functional teams, including Delivery, Design, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Cost Management, consultants, contractors and external utility or infrastructure providers.
• You can operate independently, proactively and with accountability, bringing matters to closure rather than simply identifying issues.
• You have strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear commercial recommendations, contract correspondence, briefing notes, reporting inputs and negotiation positions.
• You have intermediate to advanced capability across Excel, Word and commercial / project systems, with the ability to support reporting, cost visibility and contract administration requirements.
• You hold a degree in Engineering, Law, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Business, Commerce or a related discipline.
• As a global role, you bring an authentic and collaborative approach, with the ability to build trusted relationships across diverse regions, cultures, stakeholder groups and delivery environments.
• You demonstrate strong influencing and negotiation skills, with a track record of effective business partnering to achieve commercial, contractual and delivery outcomes.