Commercial Manager, Projects

• Full Time, Max Term to 31/07/2026
• Great Salary of $185,000 + Super + NFP Salary Packaging Benefits
• Location: Flexible State Location with Work from Home Options
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we stand together with anyone who needs us, for as long as they need us. Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your opportunity

Mission Australia Housing is seeking a commercially astute and purpose-driven professional to lead and advise on the commercial aspects of major housing procurement projects. This unique role will see you working across complex, large-scale developments - from early-stage structuring and negotiation through to contract close and operational transition - helping to ensure that Mission Australia Housing and Mission Australia achieve strong, values-aligned outcomes. You’ll engage with a range of stakeholders including government, developers, builders, financiers, and advisors, navigating project finance arrangements to secure outcomes that are commercially sound and socially impactful.

When not embedded in major project delivery, you’ll play an important role within our Commercial Contracting & Compliance team, helping to build commercial capability across the organisation. This includes providing expert guidance on business-as-usual activities, supporting project leads, developing contract management tools, and improving processes that underpin our housing operations. If you thrive at the intersection of social purpose and commercial acumen, this is your opportunity to make a real difference.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead or support commercial negotiations for major housing procurement projects, ensuring Mission Australia Housings' objectives and preferred risk allocations are achieved.
• Act as the commercial lead post-contract close, guiding projects through financial close and into operational delivery.
• Work with internal legal teams and external lawyers to translate commercial terms into robust and compliant contract documentation.
• Engage and manage relationships with key external stakeholders, including government agencies, developers, financiers, and advisors.
• Provide expert commercial advice to project and operational teams, supporting both major projects and business-as-usual activities.
• Develop and implement commercial tools, training and processes, helping uplift contract and commercial capability across the business.
• Escalate and resolve complex commercial issues through appropriate project governance and decision-making frameworks.
• Support project planning and tracking, ensuring commercial deliverables align with key procurement and financial close milestones.

Requirements for success

• 10 years + experience in a similar role
• Proven experience in commercial negotiation and project structuring, ideally within housing, infrastructure, or large-scale procurement environments.
• Strong understanding of project finance and risk allocation, particularly in multi-party projects involving government, developers, and financiers.
• Ability to work collaboratively with legal teams and external advisors to ensure commercial terms are clearly articulated and contractually sound.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and build trust across diverse partners.
• Sound knowledge of procurement, contracting, and legal principles, including familiarity with governance frameworks and escalation processes.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide clear, commercially grounded advice.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or contribute to project delivery, managing milestones and commercial outcomes across multiple workstreams.
• Alignment with Mission Australia’s purpose and values, with a commitment to social impact and working within a mission-led organisation.

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Your benefits

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities 
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave 
• Extra leave including: Mission Australia Thank You Day & Work Anniversary Day off

Our culture  

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.  

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email talentattraction@missionaustralia.com.au or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at Deadlycareers@missionaustralia.com.au  

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia. 

How to apply

Click ‘Apply’ and send your application today!

As a committed Circle Back Initiative employer, we will respond to your application.

Applications are shortlisted as they are received. Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. Thank you