Commercial Specialist

Cadent Gas; Worsley; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension scheme 18% matched

Flexible working

Job summary

Cadent is seeking a Commercial Specialist to drive commercial performance across its operational activities. You’ll manage costs, forecast, and report on a diverse portfolio, while challenging contractor submissions and ensuring value for money.

You’ll partner with operations and suppliers, supporting governance and contract management to enable efficient delivery and regulatory compliance. The role offers hybrid working across offices and home.

Qualifications

• Experience with NEC, Term and framework contracts; governance and value for money.
• Forecasting, reporting, estimating and budgeting as part of cost management.
• Ability to review contractor claims, compensation events and pricing proposals.
• Stakeholder management with contractors, suppliers and internal colleagues.
• Benchmarking, audits and commercial reviews to maintain competitiveness.

Responsibilities

• Provide cost control, forecasting and reporting across operational activities.
• Challenge contractor submissions and claims to drive fair outcomes.
• Ensure projects are delivered compliantly with value for money.
• Lead contract management and commercial governance.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and drive efficiency.

Skills

Contract management

Cost management

Claims review

Stakeholder management

Performance auditing

Continuous improvement

Leadership & collaboration

Education

Degree in commercial discipline

Job description

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Advertised Salary: £50,940-£56,934 depending on skills & experience

Job Function: Operations

Working Hours: 37

Location Type: Hybrid

Contract Type: Permanent

Posting End Date: 18/10/26

Location: Hybrid working between Nearest Cadent Office/Location and home – Typically 3 days per week in office

Delivering commercial excellence across Cadent's operations

We're looking for aCommercial Specialist to join our Commercial team and play a pivotal role in driving commercial performance, cost control and contract management across Cadent's operational activities.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced commercial professional who enjoys analysing costs, challenging commercial submissions, managing contractor performance and influencing business decisions. Working closely with operational teams and suppliers, you'll help ensure projects and programmes are delivered efficiently, compliantly and with a strong focus on value for money.

Why you'll love this role

• Drive commercial performance by providing cost control, forecasting and reporting across a diverse portfolio of operational activities.
• Influence key decisions through commercial analysis, cost assurance and expert challenge of contractor submissions and claims.
• Deliver value for money by ensuring costs are effectively managed, benchmarked and controlled.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, contractors and colleagues across the business.
• Support business-critical delivery through effective contract management and commercial governance.
• Lead continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance performance, processes and efficiencies.
• Enjoy varied and rewarding work across forecasting, estimating, auditing, negotiations, contract management and performance monitoring.
• Make a tangible impact on Cadent's operational, financial and regulatory objectives.

What You'll Bring

• Commercial and contract management expertise with experience managing NEC, Term and framework contracts, ensuring compliance, governance and value for money.
• Strong cost management capability, including forecasting, reporting, estimating, target costing, budget monitoring, variation management and final account closure.
• Analytical and commercial judgement to review, challenge and approve contractor claims, compensation events, pricing proposals and commercial risks.
• Stakeholder management skills, building effective relationships with contractors, suppliers and internal colleagues to achieve regulatory and business objectives.
• Performance and assurance focus, using benchmarking, audits and commercial reviews to maintain competitiveness, data quality, contract compliance and cost control.
• Continuous improvement mindset, identifying root causes of performance issues and implementing process improvements that drive efficiency and commercial performance.
• Leadership and collaboration skills, supporting the development of suppliers and colleagues while contributing to a high-performing commercial environment.
• Relevant qualifications and experience, including a degree (or equivalent experience) in a commercial discipline, strong commercial/contract management experience, and a good understanding of operational delivery and engineering activities associated with gas network works.

Working within a purpose-driven organisation, you'll help ensure Cadent continues to deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective services for customers while supporting key regulatory and business objectives. This role offers an excellent opportunity to apply your commercial expertise, influence strategic decisions and contribute to the continued success of the business

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 26th October

Disclaimer: While the closing date is set as mentioned, we reserve the right to close the application process earlier if necessary, depending on the unique circumstances of each role.

At Cadent, we’re thrilled to be part of the future of UK energy!

We have a clear roadmap to drive our performance to the forefront of our industry and support the UK government in achieving its net zero targets by 2050.

We’re making a difference through innovation and new ways of working. Together, we’re shaping a cleaner, greener future for our 11 million customers, whom we put at the heart of everything we do.

What’s In It for You

Here at Cadent, we recognise that our people are truly unsung heroes. Quietly confident, delivering every day - that’s why we’re committed to supporting our people to get the best out of themselves. For this role, we offer:

• Annual bonus
• Pension Scheme double matched up to a total of 18% of salary
• 25 days holiday, plus statutory days, and an option to buy more
• An extra day off each year to celebrate life’s special moments
• Career development with funded learning options
• Flexible working and strong ED&I commitments
• Generous family policies and flexible benefits
• Retail discounts, gym access, and more

We support a healthy work-life balance and are open to flexible working options.

Diversity and Inclusion

Don’t meet every requirement? No problem! If you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification mentioned, we would still love for you to submit your application – you may just be the right person for this role or other opportunities at Cadent.

We value diversity and are committed to being an equitable employer. Our employee communities – Women in Cadent, Pride at Work (LGBTQ+), Embrace (ethnicity and religion), Thrive! (disability), the Cadent Military Community, the Grief Awareness Community, and the Men’s Engagement Network (M.E.N) – can’t wait to welcome you!

As a proud Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for the vacancy. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process and we will ensure that support is provided.