Commercial Manager - Rail

Mace; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible & hybrid working

Competitive salary & benefits package

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Mace in Birmingham is seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to lead commercial performance on major Network Rail infrastructure programmes. You will provide contract administration, cost control and risk management across the project lifecycle.

The role requires 5–10 years in commercial, quantity surveying or cost management, with NEC3/NEC4 knowledge, strong stakeholder management and proven collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams. Flexible and hybrid working options are available.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering infrastructure, transportation or rail projects.
• Strong contract management and commercial controls.
• Experience with NEC3/NEC4 contracts.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Knowledge of change management, cost forecasting and commercial reporting.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercial support across major rail projects from pre-contract to final account.
• Administer and manage contracts; ensure governance compliance.
• Support compensation events, change control and variations.
• Monitor project costs, forecasts, cash flow and performance.
• Prepare and present commercial reports and metrics to senior stakeholders.
• Identify and manage commercial risks and opportunities.
• Support procurement, tender evaluations, and supplier engagement.
• Collaborate with project managers, planners and cost managers to drive value.
• Assist in interim applications, valuations and final accounts.
• Ensure compliance with Network Rail standards and client requirements.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, contractors and suppliers.

Skills

Commercial management

Contract management

NEC3/NEC4 knowledge

Stakeholder management

Cost forecasting

Team collaboration

Education

Quantity Surveying or Construction Management degree

Job description

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to join our growing Rail team in Birmingham, supporting the successful delivery of major Network Rail infrastructure programmes. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious commercial professional with 5-10 years' experience to play a key role in managing commercial performance, driving value, and supporting project delivery across complex rail schemes.

Working within a collaborative project environment, you will provide commercial leadership throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring robust contract administration, cost control, risk management, and stakeholder engagement to achieve successful project outcomes.

You’ll Be Responsible For

• Providing commercial support across major rail infrastructure projects from pre-contract through to final account.
• Administering and managing contracts, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and governance requirements.
• Supporting the preparation, review and negotiation of compensation events, change control, and variations.
• Monitoring project costs, forecasts, cash flow, and commercial performance.
• Preparing and presenting commercial reports, forecasts, and performance metrics to senior stakeholders.
• Identifying and managing commercial risks and opportunities throughout project delivery.
• Supporting procurement activities, tender evaluations, and supplier engagement.
• Working closely with project managers, planners, cost managers, and technical teams to drive commercial success.
• Assisting in the preparation and agreement of interim applications, valuations, and final accounts.
• Ensuring compliance with Network Rail standards, client requirements, and industry best practice.
• Developing positive relationships with clients, contractors, suppliers, and key project stakeholders.

You’ll Need To Have

• You will be a commercially astute professional with experience delivering infrastructure, transportation, or rail projects and a strong understanding of contract management and commercial controls.
• 5-10 years' experience within a commercial, quantity surveying, or cost management role.
• Experience working on major infrastructure, transportation, rail, or civil engineering projects.
• Strong knowledge of NEC contracts, particularly NEC3 and NEC4.
• Understanding of change management, cost forecasting, and commercial reporting.
• Experience managing compensation events and contractual issues.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Degree qualified in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Previous experience working on Network Rail projects.
• Membership of RICS, CICES, CIOB or another relevant professional body.
• Knowledge of railway regulatory and assurance processes.
• Experience of large-scale multidisciplinary infrastructure programmes.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on some of the UK's most significant rail and infrastructure programmes.
• Structured career development and progression opportunities.
• Exposure to major clients and senior project leadership teams.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Collaborative and inclusive working environment.

Our values

Safety first – Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.

Client focus – Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.

Integrity – Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity – For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable with-in the role.