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- Tasks: Support commercial strategy and build relationships with supply chain partners.
- Company: Join South West Water, a leader in the UK water sector focused on sustainability.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, discretionary bonus, health benefits, and a competitive pension.
- Other info: Great opportunity for graduates to enter the industry and grow professionally.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career with hands-on experience in a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and excellent communication; degree in relevant fields preferred.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose. South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes. We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals include lowering our carbon footprint, planting 300,000 trees, restoring peatlands, and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.
We’re looking for an Assistant Commercial Manager to join our Commercial Management team—our centre of excellence responsible for delivering consistent, high-quality commercial management across day‑to‑day activity and major one‑off programmes. Reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager, you’ll support the delivery of our commercial strategy, develop strong collaborative relationships with supply chain partners, and help ensure our contracts are delivered safely, efficiently and to specification. This role is also a fantastic opportunity for a graduate looking to enter the industry—whether your degree is in Civil Engineering, Commercial Management, Quantity Surveying, Business Management, Business Studies or Finance. You’ll gain hands‑on commercial experience, supported by experienced mentors in a high-performing team.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Support the development, monitoring and reporting of commercial KPIs and improvement targets.
- Maintain and quality‑check commercial data within our commercial model database.
- Assist in improving frameworks, contract documentation and commercial processes.
- Produce monthly and quarterly reporting for operational and strategic forums.
- Support procurement and tendering activity to ensure compliant and timely contract awards.
- Assist with project budgets, forecasting, accruals and financial reporting.
- Assess and certify contract payment applications.
- Build knowledge and capability in the NEC suite of contracts.
- Provide estimating input and support the scope process.
- Maintain commercial trackers, registers and risk management processes.
- Work closely with Group Procurement to ensure alignment across contractual arrangements.
- Liaise with the contractor to finalise and issue works orders.
- Assist with concluding final accounts.
What We're Looking For
- Strong analytical thinking and data‑handling skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Commercial awareness and a proactive, collaborative mindset.
- The ability to build effective relationships across teams and suppliers.
- Experience of construction contracts or estimating is helpful, but not essential.
What’s In It For You
- Generous holiday allowance + bank holidays
- Discretionary bonus
- Competitive contributory pension
- Share‑save scheme
- Health benefits
Assistant Commercial Manager in Devon employer: Pennon Group Plc
Contact Detail:
Pennon Group Plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Commercial Manager in Devon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their goals, especially around sustainability and community impact, so you can show how you align with their mission during your chat.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, but keep it natural. We want you to sound confident and genuine, not like a robot reciting lines. Use examples from your experience to showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Commercial Manager in Devon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Assistant Commercial Manager role. Highlight any relevant coursework or projects from your degree that showcase your analytical thinking and commercial awareness.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about joining South West Water and how your background makes you a great fit for the team. Don’t forget to mention your proactive mindset and ability to build relationships.
Showcase Your Skills: In both your CV and cover letter, be sure to highlight your data-handling skills and any experience with commercial processes. If you've worked on projects involving contracts or budgeting, share those details to demonstrate your readiness for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to see your application and get you started on your journey with South West Water!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pennon Group Plc
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Assistant Commercial Manager, you'll be dealing with KPIs and commercial data. Brush up on your analytical skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data in past experiences. Bring examples of how you’ve monitored or improved performance metrics.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
This role requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Prepare to demonstrate how you've built relationships in previous roles. Think of specific instances where your communication made a difference in a project or team dynamic.
✨Understand the NEC Contracts
Familiarise yourself with the NEC suite of contracts, even if you haven't worked with them before. Being able to discuss these contracts will show your proactive approach and willingness to learn, which is key for this position.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Collaboration
Collaboration is crucial in this role. Prepare examples of how you've worked effectively with teams or suppliers in the past. Highlight your ability to support procurement and tendering activities, as well as any experience you have in managing stakeholder relationships.