Commercial Manager

Rolls-Royce SMR; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus – performance related up to 12.5

Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee

Holidays – 28 days (+ public holidays)

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay

£250 one off payment for new starters

Benefits Allowance – £2,200

Job summary

Rolls Royce SMR is seeking a Commercial Manager – Customer to lead drafting, negotiation and management of major customer agreements. You will support strategic programmes, shape commercial strategy, and build a scalable function within a fast-growing organisation.

The role requires collaborative mindset, strong judgement, and experience in regulated environments. Hybrid working across UK offices is expected, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience negotiating and managing complex commercial contracts in engineering, infrastructure, energy or similar sectors.
• Ability to work with KPIs, target cost models, pain/gain, variations and milestone payments.
• Experience in highly regulated environments or similarly complex industries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to advise stakeholders in ambiguous or fast paced settings.
• Experience supporting governance or capability development within a Commercial function.
• Familiarity with NEC, FIDIC, JCT contract forms is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

KPI frameworks

Target cost models

Variations management

Stakeholder influencing

Commercial governance

Clear communication

Education

Commercial/Business/Law/Finance degree

Tools

NEC contracts

FIDIC contracts

JCT contracts

Job description

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.

In this context, we’re looking for a Commercial Manager – Customer to lead the drafting, negotiation and management of commercially significant customer agreements. 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 and sound judgement to help deliver the UK’s clean energy future.

What You’ll bring:

• Qualification (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 Derby, Warrington or 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?

The salary band for this role is £53,800 – £66,465, dependent on the skills, experience and values you bring. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• The salary band for this role is £53,800 – £66,465, dependent on the skills, experience and values you bring. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
• 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.

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.

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