Commercial Manager - Data Centres

Managing Quantity Surveyor – Data Centres

North Hertfordshire / London | Data Centres | Permanent

This is a role for a senior commercial lead who wants proper influence across major data centre projects, not just a reporting title.

You will be based from the business’s Hertfordshire office, with travel into London and project sites as required. The role needs someone who can be close to the senior commercial team, support the Head of Commercial properly, and take ownership across the wider project position, not just one isolated package.

You will be commercially overseeing technically demanding data centre schemes, working across CSA, M&E, connectivity, technical infrastructure and associated specialist packages. The role is not designed for someone to be buried in the day-to-day package detail on site. It needs someone who can understand the wider project, see the commercial risk, support the team, manage contract position and help the business make strong decisions.

A CSA background can work well for this role, provided you have strong exposure to M&E environments and understand how building services affect cost, programme, risk, procurement and project delivery. You do not need to come from a purely M&E background, but you do need to be commercially comfortable around M&E packages and the pressures that come with data centre work.

A key part of the position will be assisting the Head of Commercial with upstream contract negotiation. You will be involved in reviewing contract terms, identifying risk, supporting negotiation strategy, protecting the business commercially and making sure the company is not accepting unnecessary exposure before projects move into delivery.

The business operates in the data centre sector, delivering complex M&E, CSA, connectivity, technical infrastructure and associated specialist services. The work is fast-moving, high value and commercially detailed, so this would suit someone who is comfortable working in a demanding environment where accuracy, pace and judgement matter.

The Role

You will report into the Head of Commercial and take ownership of commercial governance across assigned projects, making sure costs, forecasts, variations, risks, opportunities and final accounts are properly managed.

You will oversee the all-round commercial position on projects, working across different workstreams rather than sitting solely within one discipline. This will include supporting project teams, reviewing risk, challenging cost movement, monitoring procurement and making sure the business has a clear view of where each project stands commercially.

You will also support on upstream contract reviews and negotiations, working with the Head of Commercial to assess terms, challenge risk, review amendments and help shape the business’s commercial position before and during project delivery.

A major part of the role will be leading the commercial team, setting standards, allocating workload and making sure each project has the right level of support. You will be expected to mentor junior staff, hold people accountable and create a strong commercial culture across the team.

You will work closely with Project Managers, Operations Directors, clients and supply chain partners to protect margin, manage contractual exposure and ensure the business is making strong commercial decisions from bid stage through to completion.

What You Will Be Doing

* Leading and supporting Quantity Surveyors across multiple data centre projects.

* Overseeing the wider commercial position across CSA, M&E, connectivity and specialist technical packages.

* Supporting the Head of Commercial with upstream contract negotiation, contract reviews, amendments and risk assessment.

* Reviewing main contract terms, identifying commercial exposure and helping shape negotiation strategy.

* Managing project budgets, forecasts, cost plans, CVRs, valuations and profit and loss reporting.

* Reviewing commercial risk, contractual exposure, variations, notices, claims and final accounts.

* Supporting bids and future opportunities by assessing commercial viability and identifying risk early.

* Developing procurement strategies and reviewing subcontractor and material order processes.

* Reviewing and approving commercial documentation, subcontract agreements and purchase orders.

* Providing regular commercial updates, financial reporting and risk summaries to senior management.

* Working with project teams to ensure cost control, cash flow, margin and programme alignment are properly managed.

* Supporting audits, project reviews, contract reviews and post-project lessons learnt.

* Maintaining strong client and supply chain relationships while protecting the commercial position of the business.

What You Will Need

* A strong background in quantity surveying or commercial management within data centres, CSA, M&E, technical infrastructure or complex building services environments.

* A CSA background can be considered, provided you have strong exposure to M&E-led projects or technically complex environments where building services are central to project delivery.

* You do not need to be a pure M&E specialist, but you do need enough M&E awareness to understand commercial risk, procurement pressure, programme impact and the importance of services coordination.

* Experience working with main contract terms, upstream negotiation, contractual risk and commercial governance.

* Experience leading or mentoring other Quantity Surveyors.

* Strong commercial judgement across cost control, forecasting, procurement, variations, final accounts and contract risk.

* The ability to work closely with project, operational and commercial leadership.

* Confidence dealing with clients, subcontractors, suppliers and internal stakeholders.

* Good negotiation, communication and influencing skills.

* Strong numeracy, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure.

* Experience with ERP systems, SharePoint, Office 365 and commercial reporting tools.

* A Quantity Surveying or Construction Management qualification would be useful, but strong relevant experience is the priority.

* A full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel when required.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants to be more than the commercial lead on one package.

You will have visibility across multiple schemes, direct access to the Head of Commercial and the chance to influence both project delivery and upstream contract position.

The role gives you a proper seat at the table. You will be involved in the detail that matters: contract risk, procurement, margin, cash flow, team performance and the commercial decisions that shape whether projects are genuinely profitable.

The data centre market remains one of the strongest sectors in construction, and good commercial leaders who understand complex technical environments are in high demand.

For someone who enjoys contract detail, team leadership, negotiation, risk management and high-value projects, this is a very strong move.

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