Commercial Manager

Commercial Manager

About Inland Rail

The Inland Rail Program is a 1600km rail infrastructure project stretching from Brisbane to Melbourne incorporating new and existing rail track. The program includes the upgrading of existing standard gauge track, the enhancement of existing standard gauge track to cater for double stacking and the construction of new standard gauge links comprising of viaducts, tunnels, rail track, crossings and bridges. More information relating to the project can be found here: Inland Rail

About the opportunity

As the Commercial Manager, you will take the lead in managing and administering contracts to support Beveridge to Albury with the successful delivery of our Approved Project Works. This role involves overseeing commercial and contractual aspects, resolving complex issues, and ensuring compliance with governance and performance standards. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, contractors, and stakeholders to drive project outcomes and manage commercial risks effectively.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Developing and implementing procedures for the proactive and effective management and administration of Project contracts to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, and that Inland Rail is aware of and effectively utilises and benefits from its contractual rights.
• Responsibility for and management of Contract Administrators (including Senior Contract Administrators), ensuring the day-to-day administration of Project contracts is in accordance with established policies and procedures, including ensuring that Contract Administrators effectively and efficiently administer key contractual processes including progress claim verification and payments, variations and claims.
• Responsibility for contractual correspondence and contract documentation prepared by Contract Administrators and/or the Project delivery team, ensuring all such correspondence and documents meet Inland Rail’s standards and expectations regarding quality, commerciality and are on approved templates.
• Where required, ensuring appropriate commercial terms are negotiated with contractors and service providers and providing commercially sound advice to the Project delivery team to ensure contract and commercial risks are effectively managed.
• Establishing processes for ongoing monitoring and review of suppliers, service providers and contractors in conjunction with the Project delivery team and Contract Administrators to ensure they meet and respond to relevant contractual requirements.
• Monitor transaction compliance. i.e. deliverables, costs, forecasting, invoicing, etc.
• Responsibility for effective management of potential or actual Project claims and disputes by implementing proactive strategies to avoid or resolve them efficiently and effectively and ensuring all such claims and disputes are escalated and appropriately reported on.

About You

To be successful in this role you will need to be a strategic thinker, be well versed in collaboration, influencing while being resilient and being adaptable to move with the program when it changes direction.

To ensure success in this position, applicants will be able to demonstrate:

• Tertiary qualifications in a field such as business, commerce, engineering, project management, law or another relevant discipline.
• An excellent understanding of contract law with experience in various procurement strategies and contract types in a large business environment (in particular, ITC contracts), ideally working in rail and on major infrastructure projects.
• Significant experience with purchasing, contracts and finance systems in a large national company and a good knowledge of the relevant process flows.
• Ability to effectively manage Contract Administrators and project delivery teams, work as part of a team and to step up, meet deadlines and provide additional support within the team as and when required to do so.
• Clear and concise oral and written communications skills and the ability to communicate with all levels of the organisation, external party representatives and management.
• A sound understanding of the obligations under the relevant State Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Acts.
• Developed skills in negotiation, influencing and problem solving.
  Strong cost and program reporting requirements for a large complex civil project including forecasting final costs.
• Experience in assessing and negotiating loss and expense claims.

Desirable Selection Criteria

• Knowledge of and experience with financial and purchasing systems, particularly Ci Financials (Technology One) and Prism.
• Knowledge and understanding of Document Management Systems such as Aconex.
• Experience with Incentivized Target Cost (ITC) Contracts and pain share / gain share models.

What you’ll be joining

• You will join one of the largest infrastructure programs in Australia.
• This project will generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local investment, boosting regional economies and communities right along the alignment.
• Inland Rail is proud to have over 40% female representation and we would like to see these numbers grow.
• Inland Rail is an Agile working environment in our State-of-the Art office embracing flexible working conditions.
• Inland Rail adopted a collaborative approach to the delivery of the project, leading all parties involved to work toward the same goal. This fosters the displayed behaviours of Respect, Honesty, Integrity and Reliability.

Our Organisation and Culture

Inland Rail is an equal opportunity employer. Inland Rail will transform how we move goods around Australia – better connecting producers to markets and creating new opportunities for businesses, industries and regional community. The values that drive us and the work we deliver in the program incorporate Future Thinking, Active Engagement, No Harm and Results. We welcome like-minded individuals who value our culture.

At Inland Rail, we celebrate, support, and thrive on attracting people from all horizons and walks of life for the benefit of our employees, our program, and our community. Inland Rail is proud to be an equal opportunity and an affirmative action employer. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to submit their details to us.

All employment is decided based on suitability to the role, cultural fit, merit, and business needs.

Apply Now

If this opportunity sounds like the challenge you have been looking for please apply online today.

As part of the application process, you will be required to undergo pre-employment criminal history, reference and medical checks, including drug and alcohol testing. Inland Rail is a drug and alcohol-free working environment.

Applications close: Sunday 5th Jan 2025.

Please note that applications are reviewed from point of advertising so don’t delay your application.