Senior Contracts Advisor

ABOUT JSM

At JSM Group, we are a leading specialist infrastructure engineering company. We design and install the complex power networks, digital infrastructure and specialist systems a future-focused worldwide marketplace needs — from high-power grid connections to critical utilities, data centres to renewable energy.

From High-Power grid connections to Critical Utilities. Data Centres to Renewable Energy, our full turnkey solution teams manage the full scope to help advise and deliver complex infrastructure projects at speed, on time and with reduced legislation, technical and commercial risks.

ABOUT THE TEAM

You'll join our Commercial & Contracts team, which plays a critical role in the successful delivery of infrastructure projects across the UK. As the business continues to grow, this is a key role in shaping how we manage contractual risk, support strategic decision-making, and keep our projects on track.

You'll work closely with project teams, supply chain partners and senior leadership across Commercial, Operations and Finance, reporting to the Group Legal Director while embedded within our operational and commercial functions.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role exists to act as a trusted advisor on contract and risk matters — ensuring contracts across our infrastructure and utility projects are clearly understood, effectively managed, and aligned with business objectives.

Day to day, you will:

• Lead on contract strategy and negotiations across high-value infrastructure and utility projects (typically £5M–£75M)

• Review, advise on and shape commercial agreements, supplier terms, construction contracts, NDAs and more

• Work proactively with internal teams to identify and manage contractual risk early

• Manage the full contract lifecycle — from initial heads of terms to final closeout

• Act as a sounding board for the business on live project issues, including dispute avoidance and early resolution strategies

This role is based at our Potters Bar Head Office with hybrid working.

ABOUT YOU

You'll do well here if you recognise yourself in this:

• You're hungry to grow and you take personal responsibility for your work and your development.

• You're comfortable with complexity and you'd rather solve a hard technical problem than avoid it.

• You work well across disciplines — you know good delivery depends on civil, power and digital teams pulling in the same direction.

• You use sound judgment under pressure and you're straight with people about risk and programme.

• You're confident translating legal language into clear, commercially focused advice for non-legal stakeholders, and you're not afraid to challenge where you see risk.

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Strong experience in contract and commercial management within infrastructure, utilities or construction (ideally Quantity Surveying)

• Track record of negotiating and managing high-value, complex project contracts

• Experience supporting dispute resolution, including negotiation and mediation

Desirable

• Background as an ex-Commercial Manager or someone senior in Quantity Surveying, looking to apply that expertise in a broader contracts and risk-focused role

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Experience working with NEC, JCT and FIDIC contract forms

• Confident identifying where commercial and contractual risk lies, and comfortable challenging where needed

• Able to communicate clearly and effectively with both commercial and non-commercial stakeholders

Desirable

• Formal legal, commercial or quantity surveying qualification, or working towards professional membership (e.g. RICS, CICES)

If you meet most but not all of the above, we'd still like to hear from you. We'll look at what you've delivered and what you're capable of, not just the list.

ENGINEERED TO BELONG

At JSM Group, we're not just shaping the future of utilities, we're raising the bar for what a great place to work looks like.

Our values aren't words on a wall. They drive every decision we make and every project we take on, pushing us to go further, do better, and leave a real mark on the industry.

We want people who are hungry to grow, ready to take on complex challenges, and excited to work alongside clients and partners who are changing the landscape of the utility sector across the UK, Europe and beyond.

In return, we give you the room to develop fast, the work to stretch you, and the platform to build a career that actually means something — and here's what that looks like in practice:

WHAT WE OFFER

In addition to an industry competitive salary, we offer:

• Hybrid working

• Performance-linked bonus, where applicable

• Pension — up to 4% employer matched

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2 paid volunteering days

• Health cash plan (BUPA) — cashback on dental, optical and physiotherapy

• Healthcare plan (Benenden Health) — faster medical advice, private diagnostics and treatment alongside the NHS

• Employee assistance programme

• Funded training and development through our Training Centre and Competency Cloud, professional membership and a clear route to chartership or higher authorisation

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

JSM Group is an equal opportunities employer. We're building teams that reflect the communities and clients we work for, and we believe better engineering comes from bringing different experience into the same room.

We're committed to making our recruitment process accessible. If you need an adjustment at any stage — to the application, the interview format or the assessment — tell us and we'll sort it. Every application is assessed on skills, experience and potential.