Commercial Lead

Southern Water; Falmer; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking two Commercial Leads in Falmer to provide strategic commercial leadership across major infrastructure projects delivered through alternative financing and delivery models.

You will shape commercial strategies, negotiate long-term contracts, assess risk, and work with regulators, investors and internal teams to secure value for money throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Significant commercial and contract negotiation experience on large, complex infrastructure projects.
• Experience in regulated infrastructure sectors such as water, energy or transport.
• Experience developing commercial strategies and supporting competitive procurement activities.
• Strong understanding of commercial risk allocation and value-for-money principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the project level commercial and contracting strategy for DPC, DBFOM and/or SIPR projects.
• Develop, negotiate and manage complex long-term commercial agreements and procurement arrangements.
• Shape commercial models, payment mechanisms and risk allocation strategies.
• Provide commercial input into business cases, investment approvals and assurance activities.
• Manage commercial risks and ensure robust governance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Assess financial models, funding structures and value-for-money outcomes.
• Monitor contractual compliance and resolve complex commercial issues.
• Build relationships with regulators, investors, delivery partners and internal stakeholders.
• Support the development of commercial strategy across the wider Major Projects portfolio.

Skills

Commercial negotiation

Regulated infrastructure experience

Commercial strategy development

Risk allocation

Stakeholder management

Analytical and problem-solving

Degree in relevant field

Education

Degree in commercial/ legal/ finance/ eng/ project management

Job description

Closing Date

27/10/2026

Job Title: Commercial Lead

Location: Falmer

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full time – 37hrs per week

Salary: Competitive

About the role

We're looking for two experienced Commercial Leads to provide commercial leadership across major infrastructure projects delivered through alternative financing and delivery models, including Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) and the Specified Infrastructure Projects Regulations (SIPR).

You'll lead the development of commercial strategies, contracting approaches and risk allocation frameworks that support the successful delivery of strategically important infrastructure investments. Working across the full project lifecycle, you'll help secure value for money, maintain regulatory compliance and support successful procurement and partnerships with investors and delivery partners.

Reporting to the Head of Commercial, Major Projects, you'll work closely with Project Management, Technical, Legal, Finance and Regulatory teams, providing commercial leadership on some of Southern Water's most significant infrastructure projects.

What you will be responsible for

• Leading the project level commercial and contracting strategy for either DPC, DBFOM and/or SIPR projects.
• Developing, negotiating and managing complex long-term commercial agreements and procurement arrangements.
• Shaping commercial models, payment mechanisms and risk allocation strategies.
• Providing commercial input into business cases, investment approvals and assurance activities.
• Managing commercial risks and ensuring robust governance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Assessing financial models, funding structures and value-for-money outcomes.
• Monitoring contractual compliance and resolving complex commercial issues.
• Building strong relationships with regulators, investors, delivery partners and internal stakeholders.
• Supporting the development of commercial strategy across the wider Major Projects portfolio.

What you’ll bring to the role: Essential

• Significant commercial and contract negotiation experience on large, complex infrastructure projects.
• Experience working within regulated infrastructure sectors such as water, energy or transport.
• Experience developing commercial strategies and supporting competitive procurement activities.
• Strong understanding of commercial risk allocation, project finance and value-for-money principles.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Degree qualified, or equivalent professional experience, in a commercial, legal, financial, engineering or project management discipline.

Desirable

• Experience within the UK water sector and knowledge of Ofwat regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of DPC, SIPR, PPP, PFI, PF2, MIM and/or RAB delivery models.
• NEC3 and NEC4 contract experience.
• Relevant professional qualification (RICS, CICES, CIPS, ICES, APM, legal or finance).
• Formal training or qualifications in negotiation, procurement or project finance.

About Southern Water

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation

"At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need."

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information

In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre‑employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.