Commercial Manager

Stopford; Knutsford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative engineering firm in Knutsford seeks a Commercial Manager to shape project success across the nuclear, renewables, and industrial sectors. The role is hybrid and requires expertise in contract management and procurement, directly supporting the Commercial Director. Ideal candidates will have relevant experience, strong stakeholder communication skills, and a commitment to best practices. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and various employee benefits, including a profit-related bonus and private medical insurance.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Profit-related bonus payment (10%)

Pension (5% employer and 5% employee)

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Additional day off for birthday

Private medical insurance

Employee assistance program

Free on-site parking

Reimbursement of professional membership fees

Long-service awards

Qualifications

• Comprehensive understanding and experience in interpreting, negotiating and managing contracts.
• Hands-on experience with engineering forms of contract such as NEC, IChemE and FIDIC.
• Experience ensuring compliance with company and client procurement policies.

Responsibilities

• Support the Commercial Director in developing and delivering the commercial function.
• Manage end-to-end procurement and contract lifecycle.
• Line-manage the contracts and procurement team.

Skills

Contract management

Procurement strategies

Stakeholder communication

Microsoft 365

Attention to detail

Education

Relevant degree in Business, Engineering, Quantity Surveying or Supply Chain Management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Commercial Manager

Competitive Salary

Knutsford, Cheshire (with hybrid working)

Stopford is looking for a Commercial Manager to join our Knutsford head office team and play a key role in shaping the success of our projects across the nuclear, renewables and industrial sectors. We are looking for a commercial professional ready to take their next step, or an experienced individual seeking a new challenge.

You are currently working in a commercial, contracts, procurement or quantity surveyor role with experience in multi‑disciplinary design engineering, construction or infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment, working closely with our engineering project delivery teams and client representatives. You will drive commercial best practice throughout our business, reporting directly to the Commercial Director. This hybrid role combines working from our head office with time spent at client offices and sites and is a full‑time, permanent position.

About Stopford

Stopford are at the forefront of the energy transition and, together with our clients and partners, we are tackling the biggest challenges of our time: energy security, affordability and sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Support the Commercial Director in developing and delivering the commercial function, facilitating procurement and contract management best practice across the business, spanning bids and contracting, company procurement and client project procurement.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies to deliver client requirements; create and deliver sourcing plans with KPIs and performance metrics.
• Manage and undertake the end‑to‑end procurement and contract lifecycle, including market engagement, RFQ/ITT development, supplier down‑selection, contract award, mobilisation and active contract management throughout delivery.
• Adhere to company and, where relevant, client procurement and governance processes.
• Assess supplier capability, manage approvals and track supplier performance through KPIs and reporting.
• Plan and manage company procurement activities, including responsibility for corporate buying obligations and PO management.
• Line‑manage the contracts and procurement team, which includes project contracts and procurement professionals, a Buyer and a Junior Quantity Surveyor.
• Support the Commercial Director with commercial input to prepare bids.
• Provide contract reporting support to project managers.

Requirements

• Comprehensive understanding and experience in interpreting, negotiating and managing contracts.
• A relevant degree (Business, Engineering, Quantity Surveying or Supply Chain Management) or equivalent experience.
• Actively working towards or holding MCIPS / MRICS professional memberships.
• Hands‑on experience with engineering forms of contract such as NEC, IChemE and FIDIC.
• Ability to influence and clearly communicate contractual obligations and risks to internal and external stakeholders.
• Highly disciplined approach to organisation with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience ensuring compliance with company and client procurement policies and procedures.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 applications, with strong Excel skills (intermediate to advanced).
• Right to live and work in the UK.
• Full UK driving licence, as some travel is required.
• Ability to achieve and maintain security clearance of at least Security Check level (SC clearance).

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Profit‑related bonus payment (10 %)
• Pension (5 % employer and 5 % employee)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Additional day off to celebrate your birthday
• Private medical insurance
• Employee assistance programme
• Free on‑site parking
• Reimbursement of professional membership fees
• Long‑service awards

We do not accept applications from agencies. Sponsorship will not be provided for this position. Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Closing date: 14 January 2026. Stopford reserves the right to bring forward the closing date if we receive a suitable number of quality applications. We appreciate the volume of applications we receive and are unfortunately not able to respond to each applicant. If you have not been called for interview within 4 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.