(Senior) Cost and Commercial Manager

Are you a strategic, results-driven, and hands-on (Senior) Cost and Commercial Manager looking for an opportunity to lead, innovate, and shape the future of cost management on a global scale?

The Challenge
We are seeking an experienced (Senior) Cost and/or Commercial Manager to establish and lead a global Cost and Commercial Management Team within our dynamic engineering firm. This role is critical in shaping and driving commercial excellence across project design and construction, ensuring profitability while maintaining the highest quality standards.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, possessing a strong background in cost management, contract negotiation, and commercial operations within engineering or related industries. This individual will play a key role in optimizing financial performance, mitigating risks, and fostering best practices in cost and commercial management on a global scale.

Your responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the global Cost and Commercial Management Team.

• Establish best practices for cost estimation, financial planning, and commercial risk management across global operations.

• Collaborate with senior leadership to align commercial strategies with the organization’s overall goals and the unique needs of project design and construction phases.
  

Develop and implement the vision, strategy, and roadmap for the global Cost and Commercial Management Team.

Establish best practices for cost estimation, financial planning, and commercial risk management across global operations.

Collaborate with senior leadership to align commercial strategies with the organization’s overall goals and the unique needs of project design and construction phases.

Cost and Commercial Management

• Lead the preparation of detailed cost models, budgets, and forecasts for the design and construction of complex engineering projects.

• Build our (global) cost database and gather relevant (cost)data.

• Oversee procurement strategies and supplier negotiations to maximize value and minimize risks.

• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure financial health and operational efficiency of projects.

• Provide expertise in value engineering to optimize project costs while maintaining design intent and client objectives.

Lead the preparation of detailed cost models, budgets, and forecasts for the design and construction of complex engineering projects.

Build our (global) cost database and gather relevant (cost)data.

Oversee procurement strategies and supplier negotiations to maximize value and minimize risks.

Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure financial health and operational efficiency of projects.

Provide expertise in value engineering to optimize project costs while maintaining design intent and client objectives.

Team Building and Development

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing (global) team of cost and commercial management professionals.

• Provide training and development programs to ensure the team stays updated with industry trends and practices in design and construction management.
  

Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing (global) team of cost and commercial management professionals.

Provide training and development programs to ensure the team stays updated with industry trends and practices in design and construction management.

Contract Management and Compliance

• Negotiate and oversee contractual agreements with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers throughout the design and construction lifecycle.

• Ensure compliance with international regulations, contractual obligations, and company policies.

Negotiate and oversee contractual agreements with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers throughout the design and construction lifecycle.

Ensure compliance with international regulations, contractual obligations, and company policies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for commercial issues, providing guidance and solutions to project teams and clients.

• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote collaboration and transparency across all stages of project delivery.

Serve as the primary point of contact for commercial issues, providing guidance and solutions to project teams and clients.

Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote collaboration and transparency across all stages of project delivery.

This is you

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or relevant field, i.e. Quantity Surveying, Business Administration.

• Professional certifications (e.g., RICS, AACE, PMP) are highly desirable.

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or relevant field, i.e. Quantity Surveying, Business Administration.

Professional certifications (e.g., RICS, AACE, PMP) are highly desirable.

• Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive experience in cost and/or commercial management roles, ideally in the design and construction of engineering or infrastructure projects.

• Experience in setting up or leading a new team or department is a strong advantage.

• Proven track record of managing (large-scale), complex projects (across multiple geographies) is a plus.

Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive experience in cost and/or commercial management roles, ideally in the design and construction of engineering or infrastructure projects.

Experience in setting up or leading a new team or department is a strong advantage.

Proven track record of managing (large-scale), complex projects (across multiple geographies) is a plus.

Skills

• Deep knowledge of cost estimation tools, financial analysis, and contract management frameworks specific to design and construction projects.

• Excellent negotiation and problem-solving abilities.

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to build and manage diverse, global teams.

• Experience with relevant software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Primavera, or similar ERP/project management tools).

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

Deep knowledge of cost estimation tools, financial analysis, and contract management frameworks specific to design and construction projects.

Excellent negotiation and problem-solving abilities.

Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to build and manage diverse, global teams.

Experience with relevant software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Primavera, or similar ERP/project management tools).

Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

Key Attributes

• Strategic mindset with a hands-on approach to execution.

• Strong organizational and project management capabilities.

• Results-driven and able to operate effectively under pressure.

• Adept at navigating and managing cultural and operational differences in a global environment.

Strategic mindset with a hands-on approach to execution.

Strong organizational and project management capabilities.

Results-driven and able to operate effectively under pressure.

Adept at navigating and managing cultural and operational differences in a global environment.

 We offer

• A position of 32-40 hours per week with a salary to match. 

A position of 32-40 hours per week with a salary to match. 

• Challenging projects for leading clients in the Netherlands and internationally. 

Challenging projects for leading clients in the Netherlands and internationally. 

• A work environment in which innovation and sustainability are put into practice daily. 

A work environment in which innovation and sustainability are put into practice daily. 

• Attention to your own development and vitality with ample training and development opportunities, bicycle and sports arrangements, flexible working hours, 33 vacation days and the possibility of purchasing additional days. 

Attention to your own development and vitality with ample training and development opportunities, bicycle and sports arrangements, flexible working hours, 33 vacation days and the possibility of purchasing additional days. 

• Hybrid working, where you have the opportunity to alternate between working from home and the office. 

Hybrid working, where you have the opportunity to alternate between working from home and the office. 

• A team where cooperation and collegiality are priority, and where we interact informally. 

A team where cooperation and collegiality are priority, and where we interact informally. 

• Sustainability is in our genes. This is expressed, for example, in a mobility policy where health and sustainability are most important. Many of our offices are located near public transport hubs, cycling is encouraged, and your travel expenses are reimbursed 100% on the basis of public transport. 

Sustainability is in our genes. This is expressed, for example, in a mobility policy where health and sustainability are most important. Many of our offices are located near public transport hubs, cycling is encouraged, and your travel expenses are reimbursed 100% on the basis of public transport. 

About Deerns 
As an independent engineering firm, Deerns specializes in consultancy, design and implementation supervision in the fields of installation engineering, building physics, energy supply and sustainability. Our areas of expertise contribute to sustainable, intelligent and future-proof buildings that optimally support our clients' processes. We are responsible for designing the installations and realizing good comfort and a pleasant climate in a wide variety of buildings; from offices, to airports and from hospitals to data centers. 
 
In addition, Deerns has been named a World Class Workplace for 2024! 

Want to know more? 
Would you like to know more about working at Deerns? Then contact Maarten Borgmeijer (Corporate Recruiter) at +31 6 11 66 75 44. Would you like to know more about the role itself? Then please contact Leandra Rodenhuis (Unit Director) at +31 6 27 06 10 66

Have you become enthusiastic? Please respond with your CV and motivation via the application button. You will receive a response within three working days. Acquisition in response to the vacancies on our website is not appreciated. CVs and/or proposals that are e-mailed to us unsolicited will not be processed!