Commercial Manager

The Commercial functions vision is; realizing returns, managing risk, maximizing opportunities

As Wood continues to grow and diversify to meet the demands of an ever-changing world, the commercial function plays a leading role in ensuring we unlock our full potential, capture the value we create, and are correctly rewarded for this by our clients. 

To achieve this, we challenge the norm and look for new ways of working, we are curious and seek out value add innovation, we embrace change, and we are courageous and confident in managing risk. At the heart of everything we do is the application of good commercial acumen and governance for which we are well-known and respected. 

At a high level, the job objectives are:

To provide strong commercial leadership and control for key O&M contracts in West Africa. Act as the primary commercial and contractual interface with the client, ensure robust governance of the main contract and all subcontracts, protect margin and cash, drive disciplined commercial performance, and support operational delivery while ensuring compliance with local content and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary commercial and contractual point of contact with client and key client stakeholders.
• Lead commercial discussions, negotiations, variation management, and claims with the client.
• Maintain strong, professional client relationships while protecting Wood’s commercial position.
• Ensure timely escalation of material commercial issues to the Commercial Manager – Africa with clear options and recommendations.
• Own the commercial administration of key contracts, including compliance with key terms, qualifications, and Wood’s Contracting Policy.
• Ensure all contracts and subcontracts reviewed and approved before award or handover to vendors / operations.
• Manage the variation, change order, and claims process end-to-end, ensuring proper documentation, pricing, recovery, and commercial protection.
• Oversee subcontract commercial performance, enforce back-to-back terms, and monitor subcontractor claims and risk exposure.
• Drive timely billing, certification, and recovery of receivables. Maintain clear visibility of aged debt and escalate payment issues early.
• Provide commercial oversight of project performance, including margin, cash flow, DSO, contingencies, and overall commercial health.
• Support Project Monthly Reviews (PMRs) with clear commercial analysis, variance explanations, and actionable recommendations.
• Own the commercial risk registers.
• Ensure residual commercial risks are identified early, quantified, mitigated, and escalated with clear options.
• Work closely with Project Controls to ensure risk and contingency positions are accurately reflected in forecasts.
• Support the commercial aspects of local content compliance and ensure commercial processes do not create non-compliance risk.
• Act as the project commercial interface with Tax, Legal and Finance 
• Ensure commercial activities remain aligned with local regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Line manage the Project Controls Lead 
• Ensure consistent, high-quality commercial data, cost control, forecasting, risk registers, and reporting outputs into PMRs and upward reporting.
• Oversee the commercial handover of vendors and subcontract packages to operations once contracts are awarded and mobilised.
• Lead the commercial aspects of package and contract close-out, including final accounts, retention release, and demobilisation cost recovery.

Qualifications

Qualifications: 

 West Specific requirements: 

• JD (or international equivalent) 
• Currently licensed, admitted to practice, and in good standing in the United States, Canada, and/or one or more Latin American countries. 

 East Specific requirements: 

• Degree required in one of: Law, Quantity Surveying, or Business Degree •             Legally qualified (preferred but not required) 

 Knowledge, skills and experience: 

• Significant commercial / contracts experience in oil & gas, preferably O&M, duty holder, or FPSO environments. 
• Strong experience managing client relationships and complex contracts in West Africa (Angola experience highly preferred). 
• Proven ability to lead variation, claims, and subcontract commercial processes.
• Expert knowledge of contract terms, contract principles, and drafting and rollout of contracting policies. 
• Solid understanding of commercial risk management, margin protection, and cash control.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent understanding of Client contract structures, principles, and policies. 
• Previous experience with IOCs in West Africa. 
• Knowledge of local content, tax, and labour frameworks in West Africa.
• Relevant Client-Facing Contracting Experience: Minimum 6-10+ years. 
• Supervisory Experience: 2-6 years (preferred & subject to the role) 

 Personal attributes: 

• Excellent negotiating skills. 
• Commercially astute and protective of margin and cash.
• Decisive and able to escalate early with clear options.
• Leadership, people management, and motivational skills. 
• High integrity and strong governance mindset.
• Strategic thinker who can contribute to the management and improvement of the overall operation.