Commercial Manager

NETWORK RAIL; Greater London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Pension schemes

Private Healthcare

Season tickets: 75% discount

Job summary

Network Rail in the United Kingdom seeks a Commercial Manager to provide post-contract commercial management of medium value/medium risk activity and to support pre-contract work within the project delivery team. You will deliver specialist commercial advice, mitigate risks and guide procurement activities in line with company processes.

The role requires experience in managing investment projects, strong understanding of railway contracts, and robust negotiation skills to influence project

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in commercially managing investment projects.
• Demonstrable relevant experience.
• Good understanding of railway and construction industry forms of contract.
• Good understanding of the construction/railway industry.
• Good negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor compliance with corporate governance and rules.
• Manage cost reporting within the Network Rail framework.
• Monitor commercial aspects and propose mitigations.
• Lead contractor valuation, progress meetings and commercial behavior.
• Value and certify contractor payments.
• Provide guidance on scope changes and control processes.
• Produce payments and invoices in line with funding agreements.
• Identify commercial risks and claims.
• Provide ad-hoc management information for decision-making.
• Prepare contractual notices and close-out documentation.
• Support pre/post-contract procurement and estimating resources.

Skills

Commercial management

Investment project experience

Negotiation skills

Railway/construction contracts

Risk management

Education

Degree in related subject

Professional institute membership

Job description

Who We Are

Join Network Rail ! Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team- you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.

About the role

In the Commercial Manager role, you will provide post-contract commercial management of medium value/medium risk activity and support pre-contract activity within the project delivery team's scope of work, providing specialist commercial advice, guidance and recommendations to mitigate commercial risks.

Please note there are 2 roles available.

Key Accountabilities

1. Support the programme and project teams in monitoring for breaches of compliance with Network Rail Corporate governance and rules in a timely manner.
2. Manage cost reporting of all allocated projects within the Network Rail reporting framework including Cost Forecasting, Anticipated Final Cost, Cost of Work Done, Gross Billing and Current Contract Value.
3. Monitor, manage and report on all commercial aspects of allocated projects, flagging issues and proposing mitigation actions at the earliest opportunity to Project Manager and/or Programme Manager (functional reporting line) and/or Senior Commercial Manager.
4. Monitor awareness of all activities on allocated projects in order to influence decision making from a commercial perspective. Review contractor delivery; including leading valuation of medium value/medium risk contracts and attending all progress meetings to actively influence contractor's commercial behaviours, delivery and activity.
5. Manage assessment and valuation of contractor's applications and processing of payment certification in accordance with Network Rail processes, contractual terms and conditions and commensurate with contractual entitlement. Challenge cost elements, audit where appropriate and check valuations are consistent with agreed site progress.
6. Provide pro-active advice and guidance to Project Managers on all change including proposed scope changes, recommending appropriate action in accordance with Network Rail change control systems and produce all required documentation for approval in accordance with levels of delegated authority, including comparative estimates where required, in a timely manner.
7. Produce applications for payment/invoices to outside clients in accordance with relevant funding agreements, including supporting documentation as appropriate.
8. Identify and advise on all commercial risk/claim events.
9. Provide of ad-hoc management information and analysis to promote informed decision-making.
10. Produce appropriate commercial correspondence and contractual notices for issue in accordance with contractual conditions. Check commercial records are retained and archived properly upon close out.
11. Undertake final account settlements and internal reconciliation to project close-out as per the project authority, project plan and within agreed timescales.
12. Support demonstration of efficiencies and continual improvement of estimating by undertaking cost analysis of completed projects and feedback as per Cost Allocation Feedback process.
13. Support pre and post contract procurement activities as appropriate.
14. Provide support to estimating resources, offering guidance and advice on project scale/scope as required.
15. Support the negotiation of all prices under existing contracts/framework agreements (including the negotiation of target costs) and fully participate in the associated quantitative risk assessment and value management workshops, as required.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in commercially managing investment projects
• Demonstrable relevant experience
• Good understanding of railway and construction industry forms of contract
• Good understanding of the construction/railway industry
• Good negotiation skills

Desirable Criteria

• Educated to degree standard in related subject
• Membership of a relevant professional institute, chartered status
• Significant experience of working within a generalist commercial environment
• Awareness of industry issues

Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.

We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.

Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including

• choice of contributory pension schemes
• generous annual leave package
• bonus scheme
• annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500)
• 28 days annual leave

Salary: £43,588 to £53,167 per annum (plus an inner London allowance of £3,270 per annum).

Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.

Closing date 21st August 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.

Here are a few of the benefits we offer

• 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
• Choice of pension schemes
• 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
• Private Healthcare
• 5 days paid volunteer or carers