Commercial Director, Major Projects

Company Description

Are you ambitious and looking to make the right move in your career?  Now is the perfect time to join Egis.  Egis is experiencing substantial growth in North America, made up of over 1,000 engineers, architects and planners across Canada and the USA. This strategic move underscores our commitment to investing in North America, propelling our expansion to new heights. 

Our values showcase everything we believe in:

A Responsible Company - We care about people, and we care about our impact; acting responsibly wherever we work and whatever we do.  

A People-First Company - This is an environment of mutual respect where every team member matters, no matter who they are. 

A Creative Company - Creativity is in our DNA. This is the fuel that helps us tackle the major challenges of our time.  

The more important question you likely have is: Are we the right company for you? 

Joining Egis is an opportunity to make a valuable, positive impact on the world, while growing and developing as a person. Our culture is very collaborative, and we care about people and our impact.  We take great pride in being responsible for our clients, for each other and for our planet and its people. You’ll work and innovate in an environment where high standards and personal consideration go hand-in-hand.

Learn more about the exciting opportunity below where you’ll be part of projects renowned for technical excellence, ambition and sustainability.

Job Description

About The Role

The Commercial Director is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing all commercial aspects of major projects within a Joint Venture (JV) environment. Acting as the JV's commercial representative, the Commercial Director ensures effective contract administration, change management, risk and claim management, and compliance with all contractual and quality requirements. This role provides strategic guidance and mentorship to commercial staff, supports process improvements, and ensures that all commercial management activities are completed efficiently and in accordance with company policies and relevant project standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Representation

1. Serve as the JV’s commercial representative towards the Client, Owner, and external third parties.
2. Provide direct guidance, mentorship, and leadership to contract and risk management staff on the project.
3. Coordinate with senior project staff to drive continuous process improvements and implement best practices.
4. Action and manage initiatives and requests from the Project Director (PD) and Executive Committee (EC).

Contract Administration

1. Draft, review, negotiate, and facilitate approval of all design service agreements (DSA) and subcontractor agreements.
2. Draft and/or review all contractual correspondence with Clients and subcontractors, involving legal representatives as needed.
3. Update and maintain all project agreements, incorporating approved amendments and change orders.
4. Advise and monitor the project management team regarding compliance with, or deviations from, contract terms.

Subcontract Management

1. Develop detailed scopes of work, invoice templates, and schedules for inclusion in subcontractor agreements, in conjunction with the project management team.
2. Monitor subcontractor performance and compliance.
3. Track and verify subcontractor insurance compliance by obtaining certificates of insurance annually.
4. Oversee financial administration of subcontractor contracts, including billings, holdbacks, claims, and change orders.

Change Management

1. Develop and manage processes for identifying, quantifying, documenting, submitting, and tracking change orders, with input from discipline leads and the Design Manager.
2. Participate in monthly forecasting and coordination meetings with the Project team and Client to identify potential change orders.
3. Work with the project controls group to ensure labor hours and costs are accurately recorded for potential or pending change order work.
4. Prepare documentation and conduct training sessions to communicate key contract terms and scope inclusions/exclusions to the Project team.

Client Invoicing & Financial Management

1. Prepare and submit, or oversee the preparation and submission of, client invoices and supporting documentation in compliance with the DSA.
2. Manage the JV’s cashflow and working capital requirements, preparing recommendations for injections, repayments, or profit distributions as needed.
3. Approve all payment releases to subconsultants, vendors, and JV Parties.

Risk & Claim Management

1. Implement a risk management framework to identify and track potential, emerging, and realized risks on the Project.
2. Ensure contingency budgets reconcile with project risk analysis outcomes.
3. Lead and manage all claim-related documentation and communication, including preparation of counterclaims, in conjunction with the Project’s legal representative.
4. Liaise with legal, claim, risk, and insurance resources of each JV Party as required.
5. Work with the Design Manager to develop documentation tracking quantity changes throughout the project lifecycle.

Insurance & Auditing

1. Satisfy insurance requirements outlined in the DSA and project agreement, including facilitating placement of project-specific policies if applicable.
2. Develop the financial audit scope for the JV, procure a financial auditor, and act as the main point of contact.
3. Collaborate with the Project management team to address any findings from the financial audit.

Project Controls & Reporting

1. Develop and report on key performance indicators related to contract performance.
2. Support the development of presentations, coordinate communications, and ensure effective engagement with project stakeholders.
3. Monitor the timeliness and quality of submissions to the Client and other project stakeholders.
4. Develop and establish the financial, administrative, commercial, and organizational framework for project delivery.
5. Prepare project reports and status updates for internal and external stakeholders.
6. Ensure regular project meetings are held and clients are kept informed on progress, with timely issuance of meeting minutes, action logs, and decision requirements.
7. Ensure project plans and schedules are prepared, managed, and updated as necessary, and that all deliverables are appropriately represented.

Document & Resource Management

1. Oversee and approve the structure of the document control system.
2. Establish and maintain a rigorous document management system, ensuring all stakeholders have required access and project records are complete.
3. Liaise with accounting and finance teams to track resource hours and other expenditures against fee budgets, reporting internally on status, progress, and risk.
4. Assess and develop subordinate staff, arranging training and development as needed.
5. Maintain the resource plan for delivery of services, coordinating with discipline leads for billing, change management, and internal accounting.

Qualifications

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field.
2. Minimum 15 years’ experience in Commercial Management.
3. Bilingual in French and English is an asset.
4. Previous leadership training and experience is an asset.
5. Chartered status or membership in a relevant professional body (e.g., RICS, APM, CIMA) is highly desirable.
6. Previous experience in the infrastructure industry is an asset.

Skills and Competencies

1. Strong understanding of budgeting, financial management, and cost control, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
2. Expertise in contract negotiation and commercial agreement management, ensuring favorable terms for the organization.
3. Strong leadership skills, with the ability to lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams including legal, procurement, and project management.
4. Knowledge of risk management processes, including identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial and contractual risks.
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex commercial data to stakeholders at all levels.
6. Skilled in negotiating contracts and resolving disputes, ensuring all parties’ interests are aligned and risks are minimized.

Additional Information

Egis Canada is an equal opportunities employer offering a competitive salary and benefits to those with the skills suited to the needs of our clients. 

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

This role is eligible for a referral bonus in line with the Referral Program.  If you have been referred, please provide the name of the employee who has referred you at the time of your application.

At Egis, we embrace innovation to tackle challenges and utilize AI in our recruitment process under stringent ethics and compliance policies and in alignment with our values of being a Responsible Company, a People First Company and a Creative Company. Committed to diversity, growth and collaboration, we may leverage AI to support the recruitment process.