Associate Director - Commercial Contracts Manager

At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities, and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture and priorities, visit our strategy site.

Within our consult business, we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project.

The project:

The role is within an offshore windfarm delivery team for a government-funded semi-state organization. The organization develops, manages, and operates Ireland’s electricity grid. They are responsible for the safe, secure, and reliable supply of Ireland’s electricity, bringing power from where it is generated to where it is needed throughout Ireland, onshore and offshore. While they are not responsible for generating electricity or building wind farms, they are responsible for connecting electricity generation infrastructure, such as offshore and onshore wind farms, into our national electricity grid.

The Irish Government is taking major steps to make Ireland carbon neutral by 2050. These steps include a commitment to increase the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources. Ireland’s climate action plan places offshore wind at the centre of the state’s commitment to producing up to 80% of our energy from renewable sources by 2030, by installing around 5GW of offshore wind capacity in the maritime zone. As part of the phase 2 south coast offshore programme, the company plans to develop an offshore electricity transmission system to deliver up to 900MW of electricity from Offshore Wind Farm(s) (OWFs) off the south coast of Ireland. We are currently seeking a programme commercial lead in the offshore phase 2 team.

The programme commercial lead will play a key role in the Phase 2 offshore delivery team, forming part of the core team and reporting to the head of function offshore Phase 2. The programme commercial lead must possess significant and demonstrable experience in undertaking similar roles on high-value and complex programmes, preferably in the offshore renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. It is expected that the candidate will be educated to degree level in a project management, cost management, engineering, or construction industry discipline. Strong analytical and IT skills, particularly with the MS Office Suite, including Power BI, are desirable.

Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:

Safety first - Going home safe and well:

• You will be a leading advocate of Mace's value of safety first, and be accountable for leading and maintaining exceptional safety, quality, cost, programme, sustainability and project compliance standards.
• You will possess advanced technical expertise in local health and safety rules and regulations relevant to project portfolio.
• You will champion a diverse and inclusive working environment, and understand the importance of the wellbeing of the people you manage.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise:

• You will lead the delivery of key assignments and defined business areas, providing strategic direction and monitoring delivery aligned with overall vision and objectives.
• You will direct preparation of contract documents, warranties, bonds and licenses to achieve formal execution by appropriate parties.
• You will proactively identify costing associated with design changes, contract awards, construction activities and client charges, and present these to clients.
• Lead, direct, manage, and take ownership of all commercial aspects of programme delivery.
• Manage relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, providing a leadership role to the wider programme team.
• Ensure all commercially focused activities and outputs are delivered to meet programme objectives, including financial and commercial reporting, capital/revenue planning, funding requests, estimating, capital approval requests, commercial benchmarking, cost performance management, and reporting.
• Ensure robust cost control measures are adopted and reported.
• Lead the successful development, implementation, and continuous review of the Programme Commercial Strategy and Estimating Strategy.
• Support any refresh activities of the Programme’s Procurement Strategy, advising on any enhancements required.
• Support supplier and market engagement activities.
• Support tender review, evaluation, and negotiation processes.
• Support the development, implementation, and continuous review of the Contract Strategy, aligning with the Procurement Strategy and proposed contract packaging structure.
• Collaborate with Finance and Procurement teams on procurement strategies, market engagement, and developing approaches to safeguard the company’s interests and commercial risk.
• Lead the successful implementation of all commercial management services on the programme, managing and working with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure delivery standards.
• Bring best-practice commercial management approaches to the programme.
• Develop cost efficiencies and Value for Money approaches across the Programme, including earned value analysis and reporting.
• Support contract management and negotiation with consultants, suppliers, and contractors.
• Liaise with the Programme Director to review, assess, and evaluate contractor delivery in accordance with project processes, contractual terms and conditions, and commensurate with contractual entitlement.
• Identify and advise on commercial risk/claims.
• Provide support, where required, in the negotiation of contracts/framework agreements.
• Provide strategic leadership with respect to programme funding at corporate and European levels.
• Lead commercial/financial reporting processes to internal and external stakeholders.

Integrity - Always do the right thing:

• You will lead operations that are fiscally and ethically viable, influencing the achievement of business objectives that align with business and legislative compliance obligations.
• You will work collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition, and share responsibility for the proactive identification and management of the associated carbon emissions and reductions during the delivery of work.
• You will commit to making a positive impact for our people, our clients, and our planet, and take ownership for holding others to account who do not uphold the Mace values.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel:

• You will mentor, coach, and develop teams, demonstrating effective leadership to ensure excellence in delivery against plans, championing a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities.
• You will actively network, innovate, and seek understanding of best practice, utilising the full depth of knowledge of Mace group, the centres of excellence, Mace way control centre and knowledge hub.
• You will lead cost consultants to identify and execute opportunities that improve cost management procedures, templates and products to enhance services provided to stakeholders.

You’ll need to have:

• A degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of significant and demonstrable experience in leading commercial management on multi-billion programmes, preferably in the Offshore Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Sectors.
• Qualification - Chartership, NFQ 8, Relevant Leadership and Management Training.
• Professional membership(s) with industry-recognized bodies such as SCSI, RICS, APM, ICE is desirable.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and organisational skills are essential for this role, with the ability to forge and maintain strong working relationships.
• Proactive ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams, including consultants and contractors.

You’ll also have:

• Degree in quantity surveying/cost management (or equivalent).
• Professional membership i.e. MRICS/RICS (or equivalent) and moving towards fellowship, or equivalent demonstrable professional or personal development.
• Strong Bidding and business development experience.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Sound knowledge of value engineering, life cycle costing, contract law and contractual frameworks relating to construction.
• Management experience within large, diverse teams.
• Experience of managing relationships with key senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of how carbon and sustainability considerations will shape the outlook of the projects you are working on.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all of the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.

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