Commercial Lead

Dowds is a long established, multidisciplinary engineering and construction Building Services Engineering company headquartered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1978, our expertise spans the full lifecycle of complex-built environments from initial design and systems integration through to installation, commissioning, and handover. Across specific sectors: life science, commercial, education and healthcare.

Operating at a gold standard for best managed company and investors in people, our vision is to set the standard for excellence, driving progress, responsibility, and lasting impact. While keeping our clients and our people at the heart of what we do.

We are seeking

Dowds Group is seeking an experienced Commercial Lead to provide commercial leadership and governance across our Facilities Management (FM) portfolio in Northern Ireland. This is a senior role with responsibility for protecting margin, strengthening commercial controls, and supporting project teams to deliver profitable, well ‑ governed contracts.

You will act as the commercial authority across FM contracts, leading change control, forecasting, and financial performance reporting, while managing and developing a commercial team.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Lead commercial governance across all FM contracts, ensuring robust controls and compliance
• Manage variations and change control, ensuring timely agreement and margin protection
• Support Project Managers on budgets, forecasts, and cost management
• Review and validate client and vendor invoices, ensuring accuracy and contractual compliance
• Produce and maintain commercial dashboards, KPI reporting, and margin analysis with variance reporting
• Act as the primary commercial interface with clients and key supply chain partners
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning across the FM portfolio
• Provide commercial input and support to tenders, bids, and renewals
• Identify commercial risks and opportunities, advising on mitigation and improvement actions
• Lead, manage, and develop a commercial team, setting clear expectations and driving performance

What we are looking for

• Proven experience in a senior commercial role within Facilities Management, construction, or a related services environment
• Strong track record of commercial governance, cost control, and margin management
• Experience supporting Project Managers with forecasting, budgeting, and financial performance
• Confident managing change control, variations, and contract administration
• Experience reviewing and validating client and supplier invoices
• Strong analytical capability, including KPI reporting, dashboards, and variance analysis
• Experience managing and developing commercial or finance teams
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• Experience working within FM service contracts (hard, soft, or integrated)
• Tendering and bid support experience within public or private sector FM

Why Join Dowds

• 41 Days Holiday
• Early Finish Fridays
• Private Medical
• Bonus
• Pension
• Plus, many more

Dowds is an Equal Opportunities Employer