About North East Link 

The Spark Consortium has been selected to deliver the Central Package of the North East Link Project - Victoria's biggest road project.

The Spark Consortium’s Design and Construction Contractor - which comprises Webuild, CPB Contractors, GS Engineering and Construction and China Construction Oceania - will deliver the twin three-lane tunnels and key interchanges for the project.

The Central Package will be delivered as a Public Private Partnership and provides three-lane twin tunnels that will close the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network from the M80 Ring Road to an upgraded Eastern Freeway, reducing journey times and diverting heavy vehicles away from local roads. Up to 135,000 vehicles will use North East Link every day, reducing congestion in the north-east while maintaining local roads.

About the Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a Commercial Lead to join us on North East Link Project where you will lead and support the Commercial Team by providing leadership, support, training and development opportunities while ensuring that financial and operational commitments are met or exceeded. You will ensure that opportunities for the strategic development of the contract are exploited to deliver increased turnover and profitability and supporting the project decision making. In addition, you will have the desire to perform the role with the highest level of professionalism and integrity, always representing the organisation in a positive light.

This role will be accountable for:

• Lead the team to ensure all procurement activities are undertaken in accordance with the program, procurement schedule, policy, process, procedures, and Delegations of authority.
• Responsible for any contractual issues within the portfolio of contracts under the team’s responsibility.
• Oversee and lead the end of month commercial reporting and forecasting process to ensure timely and accurate budgeting, forecasting and cash flow reporting.
• Monitor and report on supplier performance against contractual milestones, upstream requirements and key performance indicators.
• Lead and manage contract claims and disputes in conjunction with Project Managers.
• Assisting the Project Manager in the preparation and review of the subcontracts monthly report including providing workings completed, programme and cost data.
• Developing and managing work schedule to deliver required outputs to expected quality and within timeframes.
• Reviewing all incoming and outgoing contractual correspondence.
• Reviewing and updating management on contractual risks and critical issues including variations/ claims and disputes.
• Ensuring contract payments are prepared and received on time by the Commercial team and all subcontractors / suppliers are paid what they are entitled to in a timely manner.
• Responsible for reviewing payment claims, and certifying/approving payment certificates, in accordance with the Security of Payment Act.
• Providing guidance to team to address contractual matters with client/consultants/ subcontractors/suppliers and negotiating variations, claims, EOT and mitigating any contractual disputes.
• Ensure all contract administration processes are implemented and maintained in accordance with company policy, guidelines and processes.
• Supervise the contract administration team to ensure all contract agreements are administered in accordance with the conditions and provisions of the contract agreements (including correspondence, variations, claims and payments).
• Overseeing the preparation of the project suite of subcontracts and supplier contracts if required.

Minimum requirements for this role are:

• Tertiary educated in Engineering, Law, Quantity Surveying or Construction Management or equivalent experience CPA or CA qualification desirable
• 15+ years of relevant experience
• Ability to effectively prioritise and manage time and workload of the team and communicate clearly both to management and to direct reports.
• Robust understanding of relevant legislation.
• Detailed knowledge and demonstrated high level experience in project management, planning, budgeting, and cost control.
• Excellent organisational skills, with flexibility and ability to set priorities and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with a wide variety of internal and external audiences.
• Strong Microsoft skills, in particular Excel

What we offer:

• Monthly social events
• Reward and recognition program
• Flexible working arrangements
• Strong culture charter
• Ongoing career support and development opportunities

If these opportunities are of interest to you, please click on the ‘Apply now’ button to register your interest and please also subscribe to ‘Job Alerts’ to be notified of upcoming opportunities with SPARK.

Whilst we are keen to hear from candidates with proven infrastructure project experience or experience working for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Contractor to be a part of an iconic construction project in Melbourne, Victoria, we also will consider applicants who are seeking to enter or re-enter the industry.

SPARK is committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) and actively seeks to remove barriers people may face in gaining a successful position on the North East Link Central Package. We value diversity, inclusion and equity through providing a working environment where all employees feel included, valued, and free to bring their different skills, experiences and perspectives.