Commercial managers coordinate commercial teams and collaborate with contract managers to

resolve contractual and commercial issues. This involves contract negotiation, project planning,
and risk management. Commercial managers are also great communicators and strategic
thinkers who develop plans that coincide with business targets, and their main duty is to
oversee expenses and revenue to create financial returns and business growth. This role can
be very fast-paced and requires candidates who are self-motivated.

Commercial Manager Duties and Responsibilities

Commercial managers work for a variety of different organizations, which affects the
exact duties they take on. Based on job listings we analyzed, a commercial manager’s
duties typically involve:

Develop Relationships with Clients

Commercial managers build relationships with clients to establish new contracts. They
also develop strong relationships with different departments within their company to
ensure everyone is working toward the same targets and goals.

Create Plans for Business Growth

Developing strategic plans to encourage business growth is a regular duty of

commercial managers. They use analytics to create action plans that are based off data
and statistics, and interpret results against targets.

Develop Pricing Structures

Commercial managers develop risk assessments and pricing structures for products to
work toward commercial efforts. Financial planning and budgeting is an important
aspect of this job.

Oversee and Direct Contractors

Commercial managers are responsible for overseeing staff, suppliers, and contractors
to ensure that deadlines are met. If issues arise with contractors, commercial managers
work with them to resolve the problem as quickly as possible so as not to affect the
schedule.

Monitor Regulations
 Commercial managers make sure stakeholders adhere to and understand contractual
obligations, and also determine when processes violate regulations. They assess risks
and make recommendations based on analysis of all factors affecting a business
situation.

Commercial Manager Skills and Qualifications

Commercial managers are organized negotiators who are extremely motivated to hit
targets and goals. Typically, employers require a bachelor’s degree in business,
marketing, commerce, or a similar subject, as well as the following abilities:

 Commercial awareness – commercial managers should have a good understanding of the

state of the current market in their industry. They should be constantly updating this knowledge,
which includes keeping up to date with the latest contract laws and regulations
 Mathematics – commercial managers often deal with administrative financial tasks, such as
overseeing revenue, so they need good math skills
 Interpersonal skills – an important aspect of this job is developing relationships with clients
and external points of contact, so commercial managers need great communication skills
 Teamwork – commercial managers typically work as part of a team and collaborate closely with
other departments, so it’s important that applicants for this role have the ability to work well with
others
 Time management – meeting deadlines for projects and tasks is key in this job, so applicants
must be organized and able to manage their time effectively

Commercial Manager Education and Training

The minimum requirement to become a commercial manager is a bachelor’s degree in

business, marketing, or a subject related to commerce. Employers also expect
candidates to have a good understanding of and experience with market research and
negotiation. Applicants for this job must demonstrate talents for commercial awareness,
client liaising, project management, and team leadership.

Commercial Manager Salary and Outlook

The median annual salary for commercial managers is over $84,000, according to
PayScale. Commercial managers in the 10th percentile earn around $37,000 annually,
while the highest paid earn around $143,000 a year. The higher end of this salary
includes bonuses that can reach up to $26,000 and commissions that can exceed
$45,000. A large majority of employers offer dental plans and medical insurance as part
of their benefits package. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this sector will
grow by 10 percent through 2026.