Commercial Manager
Forbes Bros. Group of Companies · Edmonton, AB
Forbes Bros. Group of Companies delivers transmission, distribution, substation, and related power infrastructure projects across Canada and the United States.
Our work spans field construction, project delivery, operations, and corporate support in an environment where safety, execution, and reliability matter.
The Opportunity
Help protect project margin and strengthen commercial performance across major transmission, substation, and infrastructure projects.
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the Commercial Manager is a shared services role supporting the Major Projects portfolio. Reporting to the Director, Commercial Management, you’ll work closely with Operations, Project Directors, Finance, Market Development, Supply Chain, and project commercial teams to manage contractual risk, preserve entitlement, and align commercial activities with project execution.
This opportunity suits an experienced commercial professional who understands construction delivery and can turn complex contract requirements into practical direction. You’ll influence project outcomes while helping strengthen commercial processes and capabilities across the portfolio.
What You’ll Do
- Manage contractual risk: Review and interpret prime contracts and major subcontracts, identify exposure early, and work with Legal and project leadership on mitigation strategies. Help teams meet contractual notice and documentation requirements.
- Support pre-award strategy: Partner with Market Development on contract negotiation strategy, commercial risk evaluation, and pricing assumptions.
- Align contracts with field execution: Lead contract review sessions during project mobilization so operational teams understand key obligations, risk allocation, and commercial priorities.
- Drive change management: Oversee the validation, pricing, documentation, and submission of change orders. Help teams preserve entitlement, document scope and schedule impacts, and resolve outstanding changes to protect cash flow and margin.
- Coordinate procurement: Support Supply Chain and project teams with vendor qualification, bid evaluations, subcontracting strategies, long-lead materials, and supply chain risks. Ensure subcontracts reflect applicable prime contract obligations.
- Monitor commercial performance: Work with Project Directors and Finance to assess commercial exposure, cost-to-complete forecasts, contingency use, and margin risks. Align commercial records with project controls, financial reporting, and revenue recognition.
- Support claims and dispute avoidance: Maintain clear documentation and contractual compliance, and assist with formal claims preparation and resolution when required.
- Strengthen commercial practices: Mentor project personnel, support training for operational leaders, and help improve commercial systems, standardized workflows, supplier frameworks, and lessons-learned practices.
What You’ll Bring
- Ten or more years of commercial, contract management, or procurement leadership experience in heavy civil, powerline, transmission, or industrial construction.
- Strong understanding of EPC, unit-rate, lump-sum, and cost-reimbursable contract models.
- Demonstrated experience leading change order strategy and preserving contractual entitlement on high-value projects.
- Strong knowledge of supply chain risk, subcontract negotiation, and commercial governance.
- Experience partnering with Operations and Finance to protect margin in construction environments.
- Ability to interpret complex contractual language and translate requirements into clear, practical direction.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to present commercial risks and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Proficiency with project controls or construction management systems such as SAP, Viewpoint, Primavera, Procore, or similar platforms.
A degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field is preferred.
Work Environment & Schedule
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta, supporting the Major Projects portfolio.
- Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Travel: Visits to project sites may be required.
Forbes Bros. Group of Companies and its affiliated entities are committed to providing a respectful and accessible recruitment process.
Employment is subject to the requirements of the applicable role, location, project, and employing entity. Depending on the position, this may include verification of work authorization, background screening, driver abstract, drug and alcohol screening, credential verification, client/site access requirements, and other pre-employment conditions permitted by applicable law.
Applicants who require accommodation during the recruitment process are encouraged to contact the recruitment team.