Commercial Manager

Rolls-Royce SMR; England; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Commercial Manager to play a crucial role in customer engagement for an innovative nuclear power project. This is an opportunity to drive contractual negotiations, manage key relationships, and contribute to pioneering energy solutions in a dynamic start-up environment. The position promises significant responsibilities including contract management, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement requiring strong leadership and negotiation skills.

Benefits

Performance related bonus

Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum

12% employer pension contribution

28 days holiday plus public holidays

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance – 6x pensionable pay

One-off payment of £250 for home office purchases

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in Business Management, Law, or Finance.
• Experience in contract drafting and negotiation with customers.
• Proven track record of managing teams and negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead on a variety of commercial activities.
• Develop and oversee compliance with company policies.
• Provide support to junior team members.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract Management

Stakeholder Management

Risk Assessment

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Degree in Business Management, Law or Finance

Job description

Ref: 356

Department: Commercial Management

Location: Derby, Manchester, Warrington

Employment type: Full-time

Salary: £48,000 - £62,500

Closing date: 26/06/2025

Role Related

Role Title – Commercial Manager – Customer

Salary - £48,000 - £62,500

Locations – One of the following locations as primary with hybrid working: Derby, Warrington OR Manchester

We are now recruiting for the exciting role of Commercial Manager – Customer, to be involved in an industry leading, cutting-edge project for a new type of power station.

We are Rolls-Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once-in-a-career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

The role provides the unique opportunity to work in an exciting new nuclear age helping to set up our business for success, working with strategic customers and developing meaningful relationships with some of largest entities across the globe.

The market potential for Rolls-Royce SMR across the globe is huge and to deliver our strategic priorities requires a strong relationship with customers, developers, technology providers and other third-parties in the customer space. The Customer Commercial Team is responsible for securing a first order, supporting future orders, and managing ongoing commercial requirements associated with our customer engagements.

Key results & what can be achieved in the role

• The role will require the successful candidate to manage and lead on a variety of commercial activity, including the negotiating and delivery of contracts in line with business strategy, requirements and budget.
• Developing and managing risk mitigation and developing and ensuring compliance with company policy and process.
• Providing support and sharing experiences with junior members of the team.
  
  

Key selection criteria

Contract drafting and negotiation

• You’ll have experience drafting, negotiating, and executing contractual documents with customers. You’ll have experience negotiating terms directly and build positive relationships with customers. You will be working with complex nature or high value outcomes whilst assessing the risk to the business.
• Experience of negotiating on company templates as well as reviewing and working on Customer forms of contracts or industry forms/models in respect of contract terms and conditions and other commercial elements of a contract is essential.
  
  

Contract Management

• In-Contract management (including face to face) with our first Customer. Whilst establishing a positive collaborative commercial relationship from the outset with our customer. The role also requires strong internal stakeholder management to ensure the successful management and delivery of our first customer order.
  
  

Development of Commercial Function

• A priority activity is the development and maturity of the commercial function in a newly formed business including leading activities and improvements in relation to governance, processes, policies, training and the development of contract templates and guidance.
  
  

Internal Interface

• You will be interfacing with internal stakeholders, individual and departments within the Company at all levels for a variety of purposes. You ideally will have already gained experiencing in influencing, challenging, decision making within a challenging and ambiguous environment. As well as being part of a multi-functional project team setting up and contributing to the successful delivery of our Customers commitments.
  
  

Presenting Information to Stakeholders

• You will already have existing experience in taking information, understanding, and presenting it in an appropriate and compelling format, which includes formal communications to the appropriate stakeholders both internal and external.
  
  

Training & Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (ideally Business Management, Law or Finance)
• Proven track record of successfully managing a team
• NEC Contracting expertise (advantageous)
• Proven good interpersonal and organisation skills.
• Demonstrated track record of meeting personal objectives and working within demanding timescales
• Experience with managing and negotiating contracts
• Experience of dealing with Customers (experience of working with UK Government is welcomed but not essential)
  
  

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.

Pay And Benefits

We anticipate paying a salary of between £48,000 - £62,500 DOE plus:-

• Bonus - Performance related target opportunity 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum, enabling you to create a bespoke package
• Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
• Holidays - 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days.
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care
• Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
• £250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases
  
  

Company Related

We are Rolls-Royce SMR

Rolls-Royce SMR is a rare employer because it blends the world-class brand of Rolls Royce with an exciting start-up that has a hugely challenging mission. We’re doing work that contributes to the survival of the planet. Because of our mission, there’s a pace and energy that is palpable, and our leaders draw you in with their passion, energy, and determination.

We’re one of a handful of employers who can genuinely say we’re a strengths-based organisation – our people are here because of what makes them great, and our job is to help them make the best contribution of their careers doing work they love.

The start-up mentality coupled with our strengths-approach to people means there are opportunities to grow in ways and jobs you probably would be barred from doing in more traditional companies.

Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will have the capacity to generate 470MW of low carbon energy, equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years, helping to support the roll out of renewable generation and overcome intermittency issues

Our Culture

At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture. Find out more about our inclusion pledge.

Rolls-Royce SMR is a place where everyone can grow, so whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day and help shape our culture.

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

Apply Now – Simply click the apply and follow the instructions

We have a 2-stage interview process. Interviews can be on-line or in-person and please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made.

Your candidate experience is at the utmost importance to us. If you require any reasonable adjustments please let us know during the application process.