Commercial & Regulatory Lead

An opportunity exists for an experienced Commercial & Regulatory Lead to play a critical role on a major multi-billion-dollar infrastructure program currently entering its delivery phase.

This position will lead the commercial and regulatory function across a complex infrastructure project environment involving multiple delivery partners, contractors, and regulatory stakeholders. The successful candidate will operate at a strategic level, overseeing commercial governance, managing contractor interfaces, and ensuring contractual obligations and regulatory requirements are effectively managed throughout project delivery.

This is a highly senior role suited to an individual with proven experience managing commercial outcomes on large-scale infrastructure or PPP-style projects, with the ability to anticipate and manage complex contractor claims, commercial negotiations, and high-value contractual matters.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the commercial and regulatory function across a major infrastructure delivery program.
• Support the executive project leadership team in managing commercial obligations under complex project agreements and concession arrangements.
• Oversee commercial interactions with delivery partners, contractors, and joint venture entities to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and project milestones.
• Manage and review contract notices, claims, variations, and payment mechanisms, ensuring the organisation’s commercial position is protected.
• Anticipate and mitigate commercial risks, particularly those associated with high-value contractor claims and dispute scenarios.
• Lead commercial negotiations to resolve issues, amend agreements where necessary, and achieve commercially balanced outcomes.
• Provide strategic oversight of financial and regulatory submissions, including engagement with relevant regulatory bodies and annual review processes.
• Coordinate across multiple workstreams and stakeholders to ensure consistent commercial strategy and governance across the broader program.
• Provide executive-level reporting on commercial performance, risks, and emerging issues.

Key Challenges

• Managing commercial strategy on a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure program involving complex contractual and regulatory frameworks.
• Navigating relationships with multiple project partners, contractors, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Anticipating and managing large-scale contractor claims and potential dispute scenarios while maintaining constructive working relationships.
• Balancing commercial outcomes, regulatory obligations, and project delivery objectives in a highly scrutinised environment.

Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience leading commercial management on major infrastructure, energy, transport, or PPP projects.
• Proven experience operating at a director or senior leadership level within complex project delivery environments.
• Strong expertise in contract management, commercial negotiations, and dispute avoidance strategies.
• Experience managing high-value contractor claims and complex commercial negotiations on large-scale construction or infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multiple stakeholders including contractors, delivery partners, executive leadership teams, and regulators.
• Strong understanding of regulated infrastructure environments or concession-style project models is highly desirable.
• Excellent commercial judgement, negotiation capability, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in high-pressure environments involving significant commercial exposure.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in law, engineering, commerce, finance, construction management, or a related discipline.

Additional Information

• This role will be based in Sydney, with a hybrid working arrangement.
• Occasional travel to project sites may be required.
• The position will work closely with a multidisciplinary project team supporting one of the most significant infrastructure programs currently underway.

Additional information

• Location: Sydney (Hybrid)
• Contract: 24-month engagement
• Rate: $1973 per day - $2691 per day + super