Senior Commercial Manager, Major Projects Ontario

The Opportunity: 

WSP is currently seeking a Senior Commercial Manager to join our Transportation Systems team located in the Province of Ontario. Reporting to the Commercial Director, Major Projects, this position will be responsible for managing the contractual agreements for major rail and transit projects, including negotiating, supporting, and managing the contracts. This position involves extensive contact with clients, sub-consultants, and project team(s); therefore organizational & communication skills are paramount for success.

The Senior Commercial Manager is responsible for providing leadership, expertise and oversight to ensure corporate and project commercial objectives are met at policy levels.

As a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure team, you will be given opportunities to use your transferrable skills to define processes, create execution plans, mentor junior team member(s), and be the commercial lead for corporate initiatives and/or one major or multiple projects as may be the case. You will be supported by management to develop work plans and professional skills to become a strong leader in the consulting environment.

Why choose WSP? 

• Canadian success story - we're proud to wear the red and white of this beautiful country and show the world what Canada has to offer.
• Enhance the world around you - from the environment to the highways, to the buildings and the terrain, WSP is the fabric of Canada.
• Outstanding career opportunities - we're growing and pushing ourselves every day to be greater than yesterday - we're open to your ideas and trying new things.
• A phenomenal collaborative culture. Come find out for yourself what it's like to be a part of our journey.

We offer attractive pay, flexible work options, comprehensive and employee-focused benefits including virtual healthcare and a wellness platform as well as great savings programs, and a clear vision for the future.

#WeAreWSP

What you can expect to do here: 

• Work within an existing Commercial & Risk Management team in support of the Transportation Systems group.
• This role will be expected to liaise with senior WSP leadership including executives in a clear, concise manner to provide key oversight of project(s) as they progress.
• Draft, prepare, review, and manage contracts, including teaming agreements, Memorandum of Understanding, Joint Venture Agreements, Internal Consulting Agreements, Consultant Agreements and Subconsultant/Subcontractor Agreements.
• You'll be supporting the opportunity selection process, as required, assisting the bid teams with i) bid/no bid evaluations, ii) preliminary risk reviews, iii) identification of internal delegation of authority triggers that require approval, iv) partner/ subcontractor screening and selection process.
• Support/participate with project teams during negotiations on Major Projects (and lead, as required)
• You'll be supporting the bidding process for various underlying operations and major project proposals, as required, assisting/leading the bid teams in i) reviewing request for proposal documents advising on commercial strategy, ii) reviewing and qualifying commercial sections of client terms and conditions in line with business commercial expectations and input, in conjunction with in-counsel legal reviews, iii) defining project risk profiles, iv) obtaining internal approvals for proposal submissions, v) negotiation of teaming agreements.
• You'll supporting post tender client contract/subcontract commercial/contract negotiations and corresponding approvals for contract signage, once negotiations are finalized.
• You'll be conducting miscellaneous commercial analysis for continuous improvement, further efficiency, and effectiveness as part of business initiatives.
• You'll be advising project teams and corporate stakeholders with interpretation and clarification of contract and scope requirements interfacing with in-house legal counsel where required.
• You'll be supporting development and approval process for as-sold budgets and work breakdown structures used to manage and track commercial performance during project execution.
• You'll be maintaining organized and up to date records of commercial project information.
• In conjunction with Project Controls and Finance teams, you will help manage and provide general oversight of the financial health of a project i) including revie for accuracy of reporting of both schedule and cost performance, ii) proactively mitigating unplanned variances, iii) oversight for compilation of billing drafts, monthly invoices, managing sub-consultant receivables where required.
• You'll be leading/supporting change management processes during project execution, including proactively identifying deviations from agreed-to scope, developing change narratives and justification, assessing and quantifying schedule and cost impacts, compiling final change packages, and maintenance of project change logs.
• You'll be leading/supporting the resolution of project disputes and/or claims, including gathering and interpreting project records, quantifying damages, and preparing briefing notes.
• You'll be coordinating project-close out processes including subconsultant vendor evaluations, progressive learning documentation, and obtaining necessary waivers and release from clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

 What you'll bring to WSP:

• 10+ years of commercial/contract management experience in a similar role;
• Strong background in Design Bid Build (DBB) and Design Build (DB) Project Delivery models;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, as the role requires continuous interaction with corporate and project leadership and team members as well as external clients/stakeholders.
• Adaptability and flexibility including the ability to manage proposal/project deadline pressure, ambiguity, and set personal priorities.
• Knowledge of construction contracts and Canadian construction law is an asset.
• Post-secondary diploma or undergraduate degree (project management, construction management, quantity surveying, engineering, finance, or business) is preferred.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with people from many different disciplines with varying degrees of technical experience, competence in clear, concise, and tactful communication with senior management, clients, peers, and staff. 

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 

• Supply Chain Management Professional Certification (SCMP) would be considered as an asset, or similar certification.
• Fluency in French language is beneficial to the role, however, not required.
• Experience working with rail and transit projects considered an asset. 
• Experience in contract administration and claims management an asset.
• Experience in both Owner and Contractor roles an asset.
• Knowledge of Oracle (or similar ERP system) is beneficial to the role.
• Strategic, conceptual analytical thinking and decision-making skills. 
• Demonstrated willingness to learn. 
• Adaptability and flexibility including the ability to manage deadline pressure, ambiguity, and change. 
• Experience in a Consulting Engineering environment is an asset.