Commercial Manager

Rolls-Royce SMR; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus 12.5% (performance related)

Benefits package

Pension scheme (12% employer, 6% staff

Holidays 28 days

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Home office stipend

Starter home office payment £250

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Commercial Manager – Customer to lead drafting, negotiation and management of major customer agreements from our Manchester base. The role supports strategic programmes, shapes commercial strategy and helps mature a scalable function in a rapidly growing organisation.

The successful candidate will work with internal teams, translate complex information for senior stakeholders and ensure effective risk management while contributing to governance and process

Qualifications

• Degree in Commercial Management or related field is required.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex customer contracts in engineering, energy or similar sectors.
• Ability to structure contracts with KPIs, cost models, variations and milestone payments.
• Experience in regulated environments and governance processes is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills to influence stakeholders and explain complex info.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate and manage a wide range of customer facing commercial contracts.
• Support commercial strategy development and risk allocation.
• Lead governance, processes, templates and training within the commercial function.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders and provide guidance on commercial matters.
• Translate complex commercial and technical information for senior stakeholders.

Skills

Commercial negotiation

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree in Commercial Management, Business, Law or Finance

Tools

NEC contracts

FIDIC contracts

JCT contracts

Job description

Pay Range

£50,600.00

Our mission is to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Rolls Royce SMR provides a British solution to a global energy challenge, leading the way in Small Modular Reactor technology and shaping the UK’s premier green export opportunity.

Our Customer Commercial function sits at the heart of this journey, enabling the successful delivery of major customer contracts while supporting future growth. With multiple customer agreements secured and more in development, we are entering a critical phase of delivery and expansion, with dedicated Commercial teams in place supporting our existing customers in the UK, Czech Republic and Sweden. If you have a specific preference in role, please let us know.

In this context, we’re looking for a Commercial Manager – Customer to lead the drafting, negotiation and management of commercially significant customer agreements. Reporting into the senior leadership team, this role will support strategic customer programmes, shape commercial strategy, and contribute to the development of a mature, scalable commercial function within a fast growing organisation.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Draft, negotiate and manage a wide range of customer facing commercial contracts, ensuring clarity, compliance and effective risk management.


• Support commercial strategy development, risk allocation, contract structures and in contract management.


• Lead and contribute to the development and maturity of the commercial function, including governance, processes, templates and training.


• Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels, providing insight, guidance and foresight on commercial matters.


• Translate complex commercial and technical information into compelling, clear formats for senior stakeholders.

As you can see, this is a pivotal role supporting our commercial strategy, and you’ll bring a collaborative mindset, sound judgement and first class communication skills to help deliver the UK's clean energy future.

What You’ll Bring

• A degree (or equivalent experience) in Commercial Management, Business, Law, Finance or a related field.


• Experience negotiating and managing complex commercial contracts within engineering, infrastructure, energy or similar sectors.


• Confidence working with commercial mechanisms such as KPIs, target cost models, pain/gain, variations and milestone payments.


• Experience working in highly regulated environments or similarly complex industries.


• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to advise stakeholders in ambiguous or fast paced settings.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly.


• Experience supporting governance, processes or capability development within a Commercial function (desirable).


• Experience of industry contract forms such as NEC, FIDIC, JCT or similar (advantageous but not essential)

Location & Ways of Working

This role can be based from our Manchester office, with hybrid working and regular weekly attendance expected. Some travel may be required depending on project or customer needs.

What’s In It for You?

Benefits

The salary band for this role is £53,800 – £66,465, dependent on the skills, experience and values you bring.

• Bonus – performance related up to 12.5%


• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 for a bespoke benefits package


• Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributions


• Holidays – 28 days (+ public holidays), with the option to buy/sell up to 4 days


• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover


• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay


• £250 one off payment for new starters to support home office set up

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.

Pay Range

£50,600.00

£66,465.00

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