Senior Commercial/Contracts Manager

About the role

Mace is seeking a Senior Commercial/Contracts Manager to lead contract administration on a landmark aviation project in Rwanda. You will work closely with the Project Director, cost consultants and contractors to ensure commercial performance aligns with project objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead contract administration across all major works packages, applying NEC/FIDIC procedures, early warnings and compensation events.
• Manage the monthly commercial cycle – review contractor payment applications, assess valuations and recommend certified amounts.
• Maintain the Cost Value Report, forecast final account positions and report commercial performance to the Project Board.
• Identify, quantify and manage commercial risks and opportunities; keep the commercial risk register up‑to‑date.
• Review contractor claims, variation requests and extensions of time, providing robust commercial responses.
• Advise on contract strategy, procurement decisions and commercial exposures.
• Oversee change control from a commercial perspective, ensuring all changes are authorised, costed and recorded.
• Lead commercial negotiations at key milestones, including interim settlements and final account agreement.
• Mentor junior commercial staff and contribute commercial input to tender documents and bid evaluations.

Required profile

• Minimum 15 years’ commercial/contracts management experience on major capital projects.
• Experience with both design‑and‑build and traditional procurement routes.
• Degree in Quantity Surveying or Commercial Management; MRICS or MCIOB preferred.
• Experience on internationally financed infrastructure projects in Sub‑Saharan/East Africa is an advantage.
• Highly analytical with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple workstreams.

Required skills

• NEC4 ECC contract administration
• FIDIC Yellow/Red Book contract administration
• Quantity surveying and cost value reporting
• Commercial risk management