Commercial Director

About John Holland Queensland Building

John Holland's Queensland Building business delivers complex commercial, public and social infrastructure projects across the state.

As we continue to grow our Queensland presence, this is an opportunity for an established commercial leader to take ownership of the upstream commercial position on a major building project and directly influence its successful delivery.

About the role

We are seeking an accomplished project based Commercial Director to lead the upstream commercial function on a major, complex building project in Queensland.

Embedded within the project leadership team, you will have primary accountability for the project's upstream commercial strategy, head contract position, client interface, risk profile and commercial resolution. You will be supported by a full project commercial team responsible for day-to-day downstream procurement, subcontract administration, variations and supply-chain management.

This is a senior project leadership appointment for someone accustomed to operating at the senior end of a Tier 1 commercial environment, protecting complex contractual positions, managing high-value commercial risk and leading negotiations with sophisticated clients and key stakeholders.

Working closely with the Project Director and key functional leaders, you will set the project's commercial direction, provide clear advice on upstream contractual matters and support disciplined, timely decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

What you will do

- Lead the project's upstream commercial strategy, with primary accountability for the head contract, client commercial interface and risk position, and oversight of overall commercial outcomes through the project commercial team.

- Protect and administer the project's head contract position, ensuring notices, entitlements, variations, extensions of time and other contractual obligations are identified, documented and progressed effectively.

- Lead major upstream claims, negotiations and commercial resolutions, including dispute avoidance and, where required, formal dispute processes.

- Partner with the Project Director and project leadership team, providing commercial advice and constructive challenge to support timely, well-informed decisions and effective client engagement.

- Lead and provide direction to the project commercial team, with downstream procurement, subcontract administration, variations and supply-chain management delivered through the Commercial Managers and broader team.

- Maintain strong commercial governance, forecasting and risk visibility, ensuring the project commercial team's management of downstream performance and reporting supports the upstream strategy, head contract position and overall commercial outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you will have

- Significant senior project commercial leadership experience with a Tier 1 building contractor, ideally as a Commercial Director or Senior Commercial Manager on a major project.

- A proven track record leading upstream commercial and head contract matters on major, complex building projects, ideally valued in the hundreds of millions through to billion-dollar scale.

- Deep expertise in head contract administration, contractual entitlements, client negotiations, claims, variations, extensions of time, risk allocation, dispute avoidance and commercial resolution.

- Experience leading sizeable project commercial teams, with the judgement to focus on critical upstream matters while maintaining appropriate oversight of downstream performance.

- The presence and commercial judgement to operate effectively with Project Directors, executive leaders, clients, JV partners, consultants, legal teams and other senior stakeholders.

- A relevant tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Law, Engineering, Commerce or a related discipline, supported by extensive major-project delivery experience.

What we offer

- Competitive salary and benefits, including salary continuance and salary sacrifice options

- Flexible work arrangements and generous leave, including 18 weeks paid parental leave

- Career development through technical, leadership and emerging talent programs

- Opportunities to work on some of Australia's most iconic projects

- A diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels they belong

- Wellbeing support and benefits designed to help you thrive

What's in it for you

This is an opportunity to join John Holland in a senior project leadership role and take ownership of the upstream commercial position on a major Queensland building project.

You'll work alongside an experienced project leadership team, lead high-value client and head contract matters, and be supported by a full commercial team managing downstream procurement and subcontract administration.

Your leadership will directly influence the project's commercial position, delivery outcomes and client relationship.

At John Holland, our purpose is simple: we transform lives with everything we do.

We know building is about people - our customers, our employees and the communities we work in every day.

That's what sets us apart: deep expertise, proven capability and a genuine commitment to creating better outcomes for people along the way.

With expertise spanning engineering, construction and operations, we're delivering the projects and services that keep communities moving. From rail, roads and bridges to hospitals and stadiums, we've helped shape Australia through iconic projects. You'll even see us operating buses, trains and trams.

Be part of a team that's up for the challenge of transforming lives.

John Holland does not accept speculative or unsolicited CVs sent to our internal recruitment team or hiring managers by recruitment agencies.