Commercial Manager
Yondr Group · Germany
About Yondr
Yondr is a disruptor. We challenge convention and simplify complexity. A global developer, owner operator and service provider of data centers, we deliver complex data center capacity needs for the world’s largest tech companies. Our exponential growth sees us looking for extraordinary people to help accelerate us towards our vision: a tomorrow without constraints.
But we can’t do this without you.
About the Role
You are a strategic, driven and experienced commercial manager within the facilities management, construction, project delivery, critical environment and/or data center sector, with the skills, clarity of thought, and ambition to turn our vision into reality.
You are a strong believer in the transformative power of technology and equally, the importance of everyday interpersonal connections and listening. You are a team player, with ambition to grow into an engaging and motivating leader, capable of creating the conditions for people to deliver and realize their potential.
In this role, based in Frankfurt, Germany with regular travel to our sites in Europe, you will:
- Act as the commercial lead responsible for the effective finance and commercial management of the contracts and facilities in Europe providing an effective reporting function, and assisting the operational management team in delivering a world class service to its clients
- To be fully conversant with all contractual agreements and funding arrangements in order to measure and guide contract performance, ensuring business process and practice is conducted in accordance with company policy
- To develop strong working relationships with the wider commercial team, operational management team, internal business units, directors and outsourced service partners to be able to provide commercial support and advice to the senior management team, minimizing risk and liabilities
Main responsibilities
Business Management
- At Yondr, we believe in the simplest and most elegant solution to a problem, and you do too. You are conscientious and respectful of people’s and businesses’ time and resources, and you will seek the most straightforward path to the best results.
- Ensure compliance, identify and manage the financial and commercial risks and opportunities with all obligations and continuously be alert to new issues and their financial and commercial impact
- Control and communicate expenditure and maximize income to achieve or exceed budgeted financial performance
- Provide commercial management and business support for project works at the data centers, including financial billing, supply chain and contract management
- Review all contractual agreements and funding arrangements to ensure that obligations are recorded and monitored in line with company policies and procedures
- Work with the operational team to manage the financial and commercial aspects of the project, including variations, lifecycle expenditure, benchmarking, market testing, ensure that funds are being expended in line with the relevant contractual documents
- Regularly review the risk register and ensure mitigating actions are completed in conjunction with the management team
- Set-up and implement financial and commercial dashboards and monthly, quarterly and annual reporting of area of responsibility
- Develop, interpret and manage complex KPI/SLA models within service contracts, ensuring performance mechanisms are measurable, reportable and aligned to contractual obligations
- Be responsible for the management and completion of the billing processes, management and working capital for the project and support finance colleagues as and when required
- Lead on negotiation and resolution of commercial claims
- Support and/ or lead contract negotiations in conjunction with the Site Operations Manager and Commercial Director
- Perform any ad-hoc duties at the discretion of the Site Operations Manager or Commercial Director
- Contribute to the production delivery and agree budgets, forecasts and monthly Profit and Loss
- Support the needs of the business from an insurance perspective, with guidance from the Commercial Director
Procurement
- A pragmatic partner, you will align stakeholders, simplify decisions and drive fair, auditable outcomes.
- Lead and support procurement and tendering activity across Europe, ensuring compliant and auditable sourcing aligned to company policy and delegated authority
- Develop category and supplier strategies with Operations, Finance and Legal to improve cost, service performance, risk management and standardisation
- Prepare and manage RFQ/RFP documentation, scope alignment, bidder engagement and clarifications to ensure like-for-like commercial evaluation
- Lead commercial evaluation, including pricing analysis, contractual risk, assumptions and exclusions, and ensure recommendations are clearly documented
- Negotiate supplier terms including pricing, payment mechanisms, indexation, performance KPIs/SLAs, liabilities, change control and exit provisions
- Ensure contracts are awarded and mobilized with clear scope, deliverables and governance, and that obligations are transferred into ongoing contract management and reporting
- Support supplier performance reviews, renewals and re-tenders, ensuring value for money, continuous improvement and appropriate management of supplier risk
- Maintain purchasing controls and data integrity (PO compliance, approvals, procurement categories and vendor master data) to support accurate reporting and audit requirements
People Management
- A natural collaborator, you will work well with others, inspire and be inspired, and lead with generosity, integrity and humility. You will:
- Be responsible as the commercial manager to the customer, and third-party suppliers, as part of the operations management team
- Provide finance and commercial support to the operational staff, including risk management support to the senior leadership team in order to maximize returns and minimize risk to the business
- Develop and support the operations team to ensure they have a solid appreciation of the contract requirements including supply chain management
- Establish and maintain good responsive communication with the customer, supply chain and any other end clients
- Demonstrate a clear effective alignment with the operational objectives and the commercial interests of the business
- Work collaboratively with other team members and colleagues across the business
Effective Monitoring
- You will take pride in being a part of our business, and in doing so, you will work to protect it and ensure it is always capable of delivering on its vision and promise. You will:
- Create, maintain and enforce policies, process, procedures and governance to manage commercial risk
- Continuous updating and improvement of internal commercial website of KPI/SLA and financial performance
- Set up effective commercial management controls for the third-party service providers to ensure delivery is aligned to top contract requirements
- Stay abreast of changes in law and commercial practice
Qualifications and Experience
- Degree qualified (desirable) / professional qualifications
- Member of relevant industry body e.g. RICS, IWFM, IFMA, CIPS (desirable)
- Experience in establishing, managing and leading a large project/ service contract and/ or multiple smaller projects/ service contracts
- Contract negotiation with a value in excess of €5m
- Experience in dispute and claims resolution both with the client and supply chain
- Experience in developing, interpreting and managing complex KPI/ SLA models in service contracts
- Experience in the application of complex payment mechanisms and financial/ contract reporting
- Data center sector and facilities management experience (highly desirable)
- Commercially focused with a proven track record of delivering high-quality results whilst maintaining positive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced regional and global business
- Proactive, diligent, able and willing to think ahead Ability to understand the wider picture whilst devoting attention to detail
- Accurate with figures and reports, proficient analytical skills and a measured approach to decision making
- Vendor appraisal, comprehensive understanding of procurement and tendering processes and building external supplier relationships
- Experience operating client side (highly desirable)
Person Specification
- Passionate about what you do and committed to commercial excellence
- Leads and holds people to account
- Results orientated and prepared to take ownership of outcomes
- Support the success of other people
- Role model our values
- Excellent external radar so that they pick up on trends / innovations that will add value to the business
- Manages clients and stakeholders skillfully and with integrity
At Yondr, we want to enhance the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging of our workforce to reflect the world we live in. Our roles are potential opportunities for everyone; all interested parties, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, or gender, are welcome to apply. We ensure all candidates have equitable access and consideration throughout the hiring process.
Yondr is committed to fostering a welcoming, safe and inclusive work environment. We provide support through our benefits, which are inclusive of all backgrounds.