Senior Commercial Manager – Bidding and Pre-Construction MEP

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

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

Safety first - Going home safe and well
Client focus - Deliver on our promise
Integrity - Always do the right thing
Create opportunity - For our people to excel

This role is part of our in-house Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health Subcontractor, Mace MEP, within the Bidding and Preconstruction team.

As Senior Commercial Manager in the Bidding and Preconstruction team, you will be responsible for leading the commercial strategy on all tenders, with oversight of cost planning, risk management, procurement and contract negotiations. Key duties include developing competitive pricing, ensuring governance compliance, administering commercial procedures such as the Cost Value Report, engaging effectively with clients and supply chain partners, and providing financial leadership to deliver successful outcomes for Mace MEP bids. You will collaborate closely with the bidding and pre-construction lead, present to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), support pre‑construction commercial planning and delivery, guiding and assisting the team to produce commercially robust bids.

Key Job Roles & Responsibilities:

Lead the commercial strategy across major tenders, ensuring competitive, compliant, and profitable submissions.
Define the commercial approach (contract terms, risk position, procurement route, cost strategy) in collaboration with the Bid Lead and Preconstruction Director.
Ensure alignment with business targets, margin expectations, and risk appetite.
Draft and issue any necessary tender, technical and contractual correspondence.
Preparation of cost plans, estimates, and pricing models, validating assumptions, productivity rates, allowances, and risk provisions.
Challenge and interrogate estimating outputs to ensure accuracy, completeness, and competitiveness.
Manage value engineering and alternative solutions to strengthen the commercial position.
Lead risk workshops and drive a formal risk management process during tender development.
Chair monthly project cost report and risk meetings
Assess client requirements, contract amendments, programme positions, logistics constraints, and design maturity to quantify risk exposure.
Model opportunities and develop mitigation strategies that improve margin and win probability
Lead review of client contract terms, schedules, payment mechanisms, LADs, bonds, warranties, and insurance requirements.
Prepare contract commentary and negotiate positions with clients or legal teams.
Commercially manage the design consultants and any specialist fees
Ensures the team acts with in commercial and legal procedures and agreements.
Ensure all commercial aspects meet governance requirements before Gateway approvals and final sign‑off
Engage with key supply chain partners to obtain market intel, benchmark rates, and shape the winning solution.
Address any subcontractor contractual claims and change.
Produce monthly client application should it be needed.
Approve any invoices and issue IPC’s.
Oversee tender enquiries, negotiation, comparisons, and recommendations.
Build and manage the tender financial model, including preliminaries, indirect costs, overheads & profit, risk allowances and inflation.
Ensure pricing aligns with programme, logistics, methodology, and phasing of works.
Track bid movements and provide transparent reporting to Senior Leadership Team.
Represent the commercial position in client meetings, clarifications, mid bid interviews, and post‑tender meetings/negotiations.
Work collaboratively with multi‑disciplinary team environments (design, planning, M&E, sustainability, delivery) to ensure a coherent and compelling bid.
Support the bid team in shaping win themes, differentiators, and commercial narratives.
Support the buildability and methodology development from a commercial perspective.
Validate programme durations and preliminaries based on market norms and project specifics.
Ensure pre-construction activities align with contractual obligations and commercial targets.
Maintain strong awareness of market trends, inflation, supply chain capacity, and cost movements.
Lead benchmarking exercises comparing cost data, rates, productivity, and project metrics.
Use insights to inform competitive positioning in tenders.
Ensure consistency in commercial processes, tender quality, and compliance with company governance standards.
Be responsible and capable to act as a line manager should the need arise, demonstrating leadership and oversight in managing team members and contributing to the ongoing development and performance of the department.
Seek opportunities to sell Mace and Mace MEP services and win work.
Working 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’ll need to have:

Strong financial skills and commercial acumen.
Contract law savvy with the ability to mitigate risk and manage key contract clauses.
Degree in Quantity Surveying/Commercial Management (or equivalent).
MRICS/CIOB.
SMSTS and CSCS card.
Experienced in delivering projects in excess of £25m+ MEP value.
Experience in the relevant construction sector.
Demonstrated track record of successful projects/contribution.
Good knowledge of the BSRIA BG6 design process.
Proficiency knowledge in building services or a specified engineering discipline.
The drive for high standards and ensuring consistency in our approach.
Ability to draw on leadership style to build high performing teams.
Provide senior commercial leadership to bidding teams, mentoring estimators, quantity surveyors and junior commercial staff.
Strategic approach to management of projects.
Capability to deal with various stakeholders and utilise effective stakeholder management skills.
Strong presentation skills; presents clearly and confidently with their audience in mind.
Experience using Oracle.
Strong in all Microsoft Office tools (Excel costing models, PowerPoint for presenting, Word for technical narratives, OneNote/Teams for coordination).
Good communication skills - written, oral and listening.
Innovative and adaptable; not fazed by challenges and open to new ways of working.
Strong analytical skills - numeric, statistical and written detail.
Collaborative and inclusive - harnesses the power of the collective for impact/progress.

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

Senior Commercial Manager – Bidding and Pre-Construction MEP

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