Commercial Manager – Property (Supply Chain) in Derby

Location: Hybrid, based from Derby, Manchester or Warrington

Salary: £53,805 – £66,465 dependent on experience + 12.5% bonus + excellent benefits

Rolls‑Royce SMR is on a mission to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. As the UK’s leading Small Modular Reactor programme, we’re building a British solution to a global energy challenge and shaping one of the country’s most significant green export opportunities.

Our Supply Chain Commercial function is critical to enabling the delivery of our first SMR and the growth of our wider property footprint. The Property workstream is expanding rapidly, supporting real estate transactions, construction activities and service provision across a diverse and strategically important portfolio.

To support this, we are recruiting a Commercial Manager – Property to lead commercial activity, negotiate contracts and provide strategic commercial guidance across our property and estates categories. Reporting into the Supply Chain Commercial leadership team, this role will shape contracting strategies, manage commercial risk and support the development of a scalable commercial framework aligned to our property roadmap.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead commercial and contracting activity across property-related categories including real estate services, construction projects, facilities management and energy procurement.
• Draft, negotiate and execute contracts across all stages of the RIBA Plan of Work—from initial design through construction and project completion.
• Develop contracting strategies, ensuring appropriate models, risk allocation, pricing structures and terms are selected to support business objectives.
• Provide post‑contract commercial management, ensuring delivery against cost, schedule, performance, compliance and risk requirements.
• Work closely with Property, Engineering, Project Delivery, Finance, Legal and wider Supply Chain teams to drive early engagement and informed decision‑making.
• Ensure commercial governance, compliance and documentation are robust and aligned to internal processes.
• Support continuous improvement across commercial policies, templates, processes and tools in a rapidly growing function.
• Present commercial recommendations, risks and insights to senior stakeholders, ensuring clear and compelling communication.

This is a key role supporting our property strategy, operational readiness and the successful delivery of safe, efficient and compliant real‑estate solutions. You'll bring strong commercial acumen, confidence working with complex contracts and an ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced and high‑growth environment.

What you’ll bring

• Strong experience drafting, negotiating and managing contracts with third parties, ideally within real estate, construction, facilities management or engineering services.
• Knowledge of JCT, NEC and Professional Services agreements.
• Understanding of the RIBA Plan of Work and its application to construction and property transactions.
• Commercial strategy experience including pricing models, risk allocation, contract mechanisms and negotiation leadership.
• Experience working in regulated or engineering‑led sectors (e.g., nuclear, energy, aerospace, defence, rail, infrastructure).
• Strong relationship‑building skills with confidence influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to interpret and present commercial information clearly.
• Strong organisational skills and experience working to demanding timescales.
• A degree in Business, Law, Finance or similar is desirable; MCIPS or legal/commercial qualifications are advantageous.

Location & Ways of Working

This role can be based from our Derby, Manchester or Warrington office. Hybrid working is standard, with regular weekly office attendance expected. Some travel may be required depending on project and supplier activity.

What’s in it for you?

• Salary: £53,805 – £66,465 depending on experience.
• Benefits include:

• 12.5% performance‑related bonus
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 to build a personalised package
• Pension – 12% employer, 6% employee
• Holidays – 28 days + public holidays (option to buy/sell up to 4 days)
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA
• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
• £250 one‑off home‑office setup payment

You’ll join a forward‑thinking, inclusive and innovative organisation offering:

• A flexible and supportive working environment
• Opportunities for career progression and professional development
• A culture that values diversity, innovation and continuous learning

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you. Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

Our Application Process

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check