Commercial Technical Lead

Join to apply for the Commercial Technical Lead role at Uisce Éireann Irish Water.

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland's national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland's social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland's water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Role

The Commercial Function within the Infrastructure Delivery Directorate is responsible for providing the Directorate with the expert commercial and contract management knowledge that is required to deliver the Capital Investment Plan. As the commercial center of excellence driving consistency in the commercial management of contractual arrangements, this team works to minimise risk and increase efficiency in the delivery of the CIP. They are responsible for building commercial competence and capability within the directorate, increasing and evidencing value, whilst reducing commercial, quality and supervisory risk from the way in which the portfolio is delivered. There are three core departments within the Commercial Function, namely Commercial & Contract Management, Estimation and Cost Intelligence and Construction Services.

The Commercial and Contract Management Team are responsible for all aspects of contract and commercial management, including managing, monitoring and reporting on commercial performance, which encompasses cost control, forecasting accuracy, risk and contingency management, change control processes and commercial disputes. This team will work closely with Infrastructure Portfolio Delivery teams, providing the expertise required to make accurate and appropriate commercial decisions on projects or programmes.

Reporting to the Contract and Commercial Manager, the Commercial Technical Lead – QS will be a subject matter expert in the contractual provisions of their particular project or programme and will be required to provide advice and support to the delivery portfolios on the impact, or potential impact, of projects changes. The Commercial Technical Lead will be required to provide expertise and advice on claims or disputes as they arise, and will work with stakeholders, internally and externally to avoid disputes in the first instance, and to provide assistance in the timely resolution of same. The Commercial Technical Lead shall also be part of the payment cycle, providing advice and/or assistance in the calculation of amounts due to contractors in accordance with the contractual provisions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Commercial and contractual support in the management of projects and programmes across the Infrastructure Delivery Directorate.
• Acting as the subject matter expert in the contractual provisions of particular projects and programmes as required.
• Review applications for payments from contractors to ensure adherence to the contractual provisions, and calculating amounts due in respect of claims or non-standard items.
• Where required, support Supply Chain in the commercial evaluation and analysis of tenders for Infrastructure Delivery contracts to ensure best practice.
• Conduct commercial analysis to support value engineering proposals as they arise.
• Carry out regular reviews of projects and programmes to assess value for money by benchmarking and assessment of programme/project costs across the portfolios.
• Build and develop claims settlement risk models and input into dispute resolution strategies.
• Input into risk management strategies, workshops, etc. to identify and manage programme and project risks.
• Manage and maintain a database of costs and rates to enable analysis and benchmarking of construction and service provider costs to ensure costs are appropriate.
• Support the Commercial Lead in monitoring the operation of applicable KPIs and input into further development of same.
• Liaise and consult with the Programme/Project Managers and Portfolio & Governance team on the relevant commercial aspects of Infrastructure Delivery contracts.
• Support the Delivery teams on effective contractual dispute resolution processes including conciliation and arbitration as required, ensuring timely resolution of issues. Where necessary manage complex cases on behalf of Project Manager.
• Monitor the closeout of final accounts supporting the Project Managers and Commercial Lead on any significant contractual issues.
• Provide input and support to the management of contractual legacy issues.
• Liaise and collaborate with:
  • Commercial and Procurement
  • Shared Services Procurement and Central Sourcing Team
  • Asset Management & Sustainability
  • COO – Asset Operations
• Raise and escalate issues relating to commercial contracts affecting portfolio delivery, as appropriate.
• Drive for high performance, setting the standard for continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with standards and processes.
• Provide visible leadership for your team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team.
• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.
• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation wide objectives.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business
• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.
• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives.
• Provide visible leadership for your team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team.
• Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Relevant third level qualification and or accreditation is desirable
• A minimum of 5 years' experience in the water, utilities or similar industries is desirable and or relevant experience
• Ability to develop and maintain effective strategic partnerships with key stakeholders internally and externally
• Proven track record with dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion along with the ability to communicate complex information to others
• Highly motivated individual, working to the highest professional standards and with proven ability to deliver results
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and potential improvements, and propose and implement solutions
• Demonstrate adaptability and the ability to change focus and direction in line with business strategy and requirement.
• Ability to continuously develop and improve ways of working and improving ways of working and points of escalation
• Proactively identifying new areas of improvement and using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job

The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is 02/09/2025.

Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.

Please be advised that if successful you will be placed on the salary range based on your skills and experience. Please note the Market reference point (midpoint) of the range is generally the upper end of the offer where someone is deemed to be fully competent to take on the duties of the role, and leaves room for the employee to progress through the pay range as their experience develops further.

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process we welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Other

Industries

• Utilities

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