Commercial Head

Department: Projects
Location: Shirakol, West Bengal (On-site)
Employment Type: Full-time
Experience Range: 15+ Years
Compensation: Upto 40 LPA

Role Overview

The Commercial Head will lead the commercial function for IAC’s construction, infrastructure, landscaping, and real estate-related projects. The role will be responsible for establishing commercial discipline across projects, managing contractual and financial exposure, and ensuring that major project decisions are commercially sound.

The position will work closely with senior management, project teams, finance, procurement, architects, consultants, contractors, and vendors to protect organisational interests and support efficient project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial Planning & Cost Management

• Establish commercial frameworks for project budgeting, cost planning, expenditure tracking, and financial controls.
• Review project estimates, BOQs, budgets, committed costs, actual expenditure, and cost forecasts.
• Analyse cost deviations, variations, and scope changes and provide recommendations to management.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimisation while maintaining required quality and project standards.
• Prepare commercial MIS and periodic reports for senior management review.
• Assess the commercial feasibility and financial implications of major project proposals and development initiatives.

2. Contract & Claims Management

• Lead the preparation, review, negotiation, and administration of contracts, work orders, rate agreements, and commercial arrangements.
• Ensure contractual terms adequately protect IAC’s financial and operational interests.
• Manage variations, extensions, claims, amendments, and contractual settlements.
• Monitor contractual obligations and identify potential commercial and contractual risks at an early stage.
• Coordinate with relevant internal and external stakeholders to resolve contractual disputes and claims.

3. Vendor & Contractor Commercial Management

• Lead commercial evaluation and negotiations with contractors, consultants, vendors, and service providers.
• Establish commercial evaluation criteria for major vendor and contractor engagements.
• Review contractor and vendor performance against agreed commercial and contractual terms.
• Monitor payment milestones, deliverables, commercial commitments, and closure of contractual obligations.
• Develop and maintain a commercially competitive network of contractors, consultants, and service providers.

4. Commercial Governance & Risk Management

• Establish standard commercial processes, approval mechanisms, documentation requirements, and control systems.
• Ensure commercial decisions are supported by appropriate documentation, approvals, and financial analysis.
• Identify potential financial leakages, contractual exposures, and commercial risks across projects.
• Develop mitigation strategies and escalate material risks to senior management.
• Strengthen commercial governance systems to support IAC’s long-term expansion.

5. Strategic & Management Support

• Provide commercial inputs to senior management on major investments, development plans, procurement decisions, and project strategies.
• Participate in high-value negotiations and strategic discussions with external stakeholders.
• Support management in evaluating alternative commercial models and project execution approaches.
• Provide data-driven recommendations on matters affecting project profitability, cost, risk, and long-term value.

Key Outcomes

• Strong commercial governance across IAC’s major projects.
• Improved visibility and control over project costs and contractual commitments.
• Effective management of commercial risks, variations, and claims.
• Optimised project costs through structured commercial planning and negotiation.
• Timely and accurate commercial reporting to support management decisions.
• Robust commercial systems capable of supporting IAC’s planned expansion.

Must-Have Requirements

• Graduate/Postgraduate degree in Commerce, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in commercial management, contracts, project controls, or a related function, preferably within construction, infrastructure, or real estate.
• Proven experience managing commercial functions for large-scale projects.
• Strong understanding of project costing, BOQs, contracts, variations, claims, and commercial controls.
• Demonstrated experience in high-value commercial negotiations and contract administration.
• Strong financial analysis, negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Experience working directly with senior management on complex commercial matters.
• Ability to work on-site at IAC’s Shirakol campus.

Preferred Skills

• Professional qualification in Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Finance, Contracts, or a related discipline.
• Experience with large residential, institutional, infrastructure, or mixed-use development projects.
• Familiarity with ERP, project management, and commercial management systems.
• Knowledge of contractual dispute resolution and risk management.
• Experience in establishing commercial processes and governance frameworks in a growing organisation.

Growth Opportunity

The role offers an opportunity to lead and develop the commercial function supporting IAC’s large-scale campus development and future expansion. The selected candidate will work closely with senior leadership and have significant responsibility for building commercial systems, strengthening project governance, and managing high-value commercial engagements.

About India Autism Center

India Autism Center (IAC) is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to build a comprehensive ecosystem of support, training, research, and lifelong residential living solutions for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

Through our residential facility, professional training initiatives, community engagement efforts, and knowledge development work, we aspire to enable greater independence, dignity, and quality of life for individuals with autism across India.