KONE is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to support operations teams in managing the financial and contractual aspects of our projects. This role is responsible for identifying commercial risks, resolving contractual issues, supporting bid preparation, and ensuring all parties adhere to contract terms and financial obligations. The Commercial Manager plays a key role in safeguarding KONE’s financial interests, recognizing business opportunities, and ensuring strong commercial governance across projects.
Responsibilities and key activities:
Contract & Commercial Management
- Protect KONE’s financial and commercial interests with customers, subcontractors, and suppliers to achieve business objectives.
- Conduct thorough assessments of contractual and commercial risks and recommend appropriate actions.
- Review customer contract terms and conditions during tender and execution phases, identifying liabilities, proposing revisions, and ensuring KONE’s rights are fully protected.
- Ensure consistent enforcement and compliance with contractual obligations, including issuing notices, managing claims, submitting payment applications, and negotiating contract variations.
- Collaborate with project teams to manage disputes, limit potential liabilities, and negotiate with customers when required.
- Support project close-out activities including snagging, handover requirements, and resolution of invoice disputes.
Financial & Operational Support
- Drive timely payments and implement strategies to mitigate bad debt risks.
- Analyze overdue accounts, lead review meetings, and coordinate recovery actions.
- Oversee internal credit risk ratings (traffic light process) and communicate changes for CRM updates.
- Liaise with customers and internal teams to resolve major receivable delays, negotiate complex terms, and support claims and settlement agreements.
Bids & Business Development
- Support tendering teams in preparing accurate and competitive bids.
- Collaborate across departments to develop consistent and compliant project tenders.
- Identify potential business opportunities through commercial insights and project interactions.
Legal & Compliance
- Manage and coordinate bond calls and collection-related legal cases with external law firms.
- Work with the legal team to analyze changes in laws, regulations, and contract trends, assessing their impact on the business.
- Ensure all stakeholders understand contractual obligations and financial implications.
Coaching & Internal Support
- Provide training and guidance to employees on commercial best practices and contract management.
- Support project teams with day-to-day commercial and contractual issues.
Professional requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in the construction industry.
- Strong knowledge of project operations, financial processes, and contract management.
- Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret contract-level financial data and implement corrective actions.
- Excellent operational and analytical skills, with the ability to identify trends and root causes.
- Advanced commercial awareness, negotiation abilities, and communication skills. Strong contractual knowledge and familiarity with construction processes.
- Solid understanding of local jurisdiction laws and regulations.
- Experience preparing, negotiating, and managing contracts.
- Fluent in spoken and written English.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.
Read more on www.kone.com/careers
