Commercial Bid Manager- SI EA

Job Title / Role: Commercial Bid Manager

Organization: SI EA - Lead Country South Africa

Location: Midrand, South Africa

Reporting Manager: Country BU Finance Manager

The Business 

Smart Infrastructure Electrification & Automation (SI EA) is a global business unit with a complete portfolio offering in electrification and automation, strong presence in relevant geographies and vertical markets. It serves its customers with products, systems, solutions and services to enable and drive transformation of electrical networks through IoTzation, innovation and disruption.

Role Headline

The Commercial Bid Manager is responsible for the commercial leadership of bids, tenders and complex project opportunities. The incumbent provides commercial guidance throughout the bid lifecycle, including financial modelling, contract negotiations, risk and opportunity management, cross-border tax considerations, governance approvals and claim management to ensure sustainable and profitable business growth. This role acts as the commercial counterpart to Sales, Engineering, Project Management, Legal, Tax and Finance functions. 

Responsibilities of the Role

Commercial Bid Management

• Lead the commercial preparation of complex bids and tenders.
• Consolidate financial, commercial, tax and contractual inputs into winning proposals.
• Develop commercial bid strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Support mandate approval and governance processes including PM@Siemens and LoA approvals.
• Ensure bid compliance with internal and external requirements.

Contract Negotiation

• Lead commercial contract negotiations with customers, consortium partners and subcontractors.
• Develop optimal commercial structures balancing competitiveness and risk allocation.
• Support legal teams in negotiating contract terms and conditions.
• Negotiate payment terms, securities, guarantees, liabilities, indemnities and commercial obligations. 

Tax and Cross-Border Commercial Support

• Assess tax implications of project execution models and business structures.
• Evaluate cross-border transactions and permanent establishment risks.
• Collaborate with Tax, Legal, and Finance teams on international project opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with local and international tax requirements during the bid phase. 

Commercial Risk & Opportunity Management

• Identify, quantify, evaluate and manage commercial risks and opportunities.
• Develop mitigation plans and commercial contingency strategies.
• Support project teams in managing financial exposure throughout the project lifecycle.
• Participate in governance reviews and approval processes.

Financial Management

• Review project financial models, cash flow forecasts and profitability analyses.
• Evaluate commercial business cases.
• Support pricing strategies and margin optimization.
• Monitor commercial performance throughout the bid and execution phases. 

Qualifications and Experience

• BCom Accounting, Finance, Economics, Commerce or equivalent.
• CIMA, CA(SA), MBA, CFA or similar professional qualification advantageous
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in commercial bid management, commercial project management, contract management or finance.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating customer contracts.
• Experience working with multinational and cross-border projects.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement processes advantageous.
• Experience in engineering, infrastructure, rail, energy, automation, or technology environments preferred. 

Technical Competencies

• Contract Management
• Bid Management
• Commercial Negotiation
• Project Finance
• Financial Modelling
• Cross-Border Tax Awareness
• Commercial Risk Assessment
• FIDIC / NEC Contract Knowledge
• Governance & Compliance

Attributes and skills

• Strong commercial acumen.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Advanced analytical capability.
• Strong stakeholder management.
• Ability to work in a highly matrixed environment.
• High level of integrity and accountability.
• Ability to manage complex commercial issues under pressure.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Our culture:

Our culture embraces different perspectives, open debate, and the will to challenge convention. Change is a constant aspect of our work. We aspire to lead the change in our industry rather than just react to it. That’s why we invite you to take on new challenges, test your ideas, and celebrate success.

The company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets under the Employment Equity Act will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an equal opportunity employer we encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.

We care about your data privacy and take compliance with the POPI Act, GDPR as well as other data protection legislation seriously. For this reason, we ask you not to send us your CV or resume by email. We ask instead that you create a profile in our talent community where you can upload your CV. Setting up a profile lets us know you are interested in career opportunities with us and makes it easy for us to send you an alert when relevant positions become open