Senior Commercial Manager

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance. We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C) which consists of three routes – North West, Central and West Coast South – and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services.

Brief Description: The North West & Central (NW&C) Route Commercial services team provides commercial support to Regional and Route Customers across NW&C, including Maintenance, Operations, Property and Asset Protection teams. This role supports the West Coast South (WCS) Maintenance and Operations team in delivering their strategic and operational objectives through line management of the commercial team within the Maintenance Delivery Units, and through working closely with senior WCS Maintenance stakeholders. Working alongside the other Route Senior Commercial Managers, this role will be responsible for managing a large portfolio of frameworks and contracts across the Region. It requires strong supplier and contract management experience, along with understanding of Network Rail governance processes. The focus of the role is on post contract, but you will also be required to support pre-contact works. You will also be leading on contract variations and uplifts, and responsible for resolving any disputes that arise under these agreements. The Route stakeholders are often challenging and identifying efficiencies and cost savings is a priority across the board. This role can be based from Birmingham or from one of the WCS Maintenance Delivery Units (Bletchley, Stafford and Euston), and will require regular travel across these locations, along with travel to Manchester and Milton Keynes as required. The expectation is 3 days per week in the office, between these locations.

About the role (External):

• Commercially manage relationships with contractors and suppliers to maximise the benefit for Network Rail.
• Act as the primary interface with Route business users to communicate the benefits of new contracts and suppliers.
• Act as the key commercial interface with Route providing appropriate professional support, guidance and leadership.
• Assess commercial risk and implement suitable control measures where required.
• Support the efficient and effective implementation of category strategies at Route level.
• Take a leading role and advise on the management and resolution of variations, commercial disputes and claims.
• Implement appropriate controls to monitor compliance with company commercial policies and procedures.
• Review supplier performance against agreed Key Performance Indicators and take appropriate corrective action where required.
• Support the compliant and efficient provision of procurement services to Route.
• Lead the commercial administration for any third-party contractual arrangements that are undertaken by the Route.
• Work with relevant teams to provide commercial input into the business planning and maintainer renewals processes.

In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:

• Knowledge of the construction industry and related supply chains, including commercial and contract administration processes.
• Knowledge of construction contracts and experience of contract management and resolution of disputes.
• Effective and proven negotiation skills with the ability to influence decision-making.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent and professional qualification.
• 5 years’ relevant railway and/or construction experience.
• Knowledge of railway commercial contract management.

We would also like but it isn't crucial to have/to be:

• Computer literate including the ability to utilise in-house and external software (e.g. Oracle E-Business Suite, Bravo, CEMAR).
• Able to effectively communicate at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Proven ability to manage and drive successful business change programmes.
• Membership in an appropriate professional organisation.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a commercial role.
• Good leadership skills.
• Highly numerate.

How to apply (External): Closing date: Friday 04 April 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. We may close the advert early if we receive a large volume of applicants. Click apply now to apply. Hybrid working opportunity! There will be a blended approach of working from home with office attendance required in line with business commitments. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.