Contract Manager - Rail Replacement (12m FTC) (3738)

GTR; Crawley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary pension

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Healthcare

Free travel for you and family on GTR

75% off travel on other TOCs

Discounted Oyster Card

Family-friendly policies

StarHub discounts

Career development opportunities

Opportunity to make a real difference

Job summary

Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) is seeking a Commercial Manager to oversee the Rail Replacement contract, ensuring value for money and regulatory compliance.

You will lead governance, manage supplier performance and collaborate with Procurement, Operations, and Finance to deliver safe, reliable rail replacement services. This role offers progression within the UK's largest rail operator and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of contract management principles and governance.
• Experience with rail industry operations and disruption management.
• Understanding regulatory frameworks and passenger obligations.
• Strong ability to interpret complex contracts.
• Proven track record in negotiating commercial terms.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the commercial and contractual lifecycle of the Rail Replacement contract, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and governance standards.
• Lead supplier governance through regular performance reviews, service meetings and contractual engagement, ensuring suppliers deliver agreed service levels and continuous improvement.
• Manage contract performance against agreed KPIs, identifying trends, risks and opportunities to improve operational performance and customer experience.
• Lead the management of contract variations, contractual change mechanisms and commercial negotiations, providing appropriate commercial challenge where required.
• Review and validate supplier invoices, management fees and contractual charges, ensuring accuracy, transparency and value for money.

Skills

Contract management

Supplier governance

Commercial risk

Rail industry operations

Negotiation & influencing

Job description

Get your career on track with a team where you can grow, belong and make an impact from day one.

About GTR

Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) is the UK's largest rail operator, connecting millions of people through Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services. Through our vision of Creating Great Journeys , we are committed to delivering safe, reliable and customer-focused travel, supporting local communities, and fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive.

Career Development

At GTR, your career is a journey. We offer clear development pathways, progression opportunities and support to help you grow, whether you are starting out or taking the next step in your railway career.

Our Commitment to DEI

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve, creating a culture where everyone feels welcome, respected, safe and able to be themselves at work.

What You'll Do

T o manage the commercial, contractual and operational aspects of GTR's Rail Replacement contract, ensuring contractual compliance, value for money, supplier performance and regulatory compliance.

The role is responsible for end-to-end contract management, governance, financial assurance, supplier performance, compliance and commercial risk management, working closely with Procurement, Operations, Train Planning, Customer Experience, Finance and external suppliers to protect GTR's commercial position while delivering safe, reliable and customer-focused rail replacement services.

How you'll make a difference:

• Own and manage the commercial and contractual lifecycle of the Rail Replacement contract, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and governance standards.
• Lead supplier governance through regular performance reviews, service meetings and contractual engagement, ensuring suppliers deliver agreed service levels and continuous improvement.
• Manage contract performance against agreed KPIs, identifying trends, risks and opportunities to improve operational performance and customer experience.
• Lead the management of contract variations, contractual change mechanisms and commercial negotiations, providing appropriate commercial challenge where required.
• Review and validate supplier invoices, management fees and contractual charges, ensuring accuracy, transparency and value for money.

What You'll Bring

• Strong understanding of contract management principles, supplier governance and commercial risk.
• Knowledge of rail industry operations, disruption management and Rail Replacement delivery.
• Understanding of rail industry regulatory frameworks and passenger obligations.

• Excellent contract management and contract interpretation skills.

• Strong commercial negotiation and influencing skills.

What We Can Offer You

At GTR, we are committed to supporting our colleagues both professionally and personally. In return for your skills and dedication, we offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Final salary pension
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Healthcare
• Free travel on GTR and sister groups for you and your family
• 75% off travel on other train operating companies for you, and leisure for your family
• Discounted Oyster Card
• Family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
• Access to StarHub - our employee benefits platform offering discounts with a wide range of retailers and services
• Career development and progression opportunities across the UK's largest rail networks
• The opportunity to make a real difference to millions of customer journeys every year.

We will keep candidates informed throughout the process and aim to complete hiring decisions in a timely manner. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback at the application stage. Please refer to the `Recruitment Process and Timelines' document attached to this role.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.