Engineering Contracts Manager

London & Southeastern Railway; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A major railway operator in Greater London seeks an Engineering Contracts Manager to lead engineering contracts and ensure best practices in commercial expertise. This role involves managing contract negotiations, developing new agreements, and mentoring staff. The ideal candidate should have strong commercial awareness and a relevant degree or qualification. Enjoy competitive salary and benefits including free rail travel and extensive annual leave. Hybrid working is offered, with 3 days onsite.

Benefits

Final salary pension

25 days annual leave allowance

Free rail travel across networks

Qualifications

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent level of experience.
• Qualified or working towards a recognised Engineering or Contract Management professional qualification.
• Excellent commercial and financial awareness.
• Knowledge and understanding of contractual frameworks, preferably with knowledge of Railway Industry.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of Southeast’s engineering contracts.
• Lead contract negotiations and support business planning.
• Deliver accurate and relevant commercial and financial information.
• Manage and mentor the Rolling Stock Contracts Manager.

Skills

Commercial and financial awareness

Knowledge of contractual frameworks

Experience in an engineering environment

Mentoring and leadership abilities

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Engineering or Contract Management qualification

Job description

Are you looking for a career where you can play a key role in managing complex engineering contracts and driving best practice in commercial expertise?

We are seeking a Engineering Contracts Manager to join our team based from our Head Office in London Bridge (hybrid working - 3 days onsite).

2025 is the 200th anniversary of the first-ever passenger rail journey, so we’re celebrating our proud history and our bright future.

Can you move people? Apply now.

What you’ll do

In this role, you’ll take ownership of Southeast’s engineering contracts, delivering high-quality commercial expertise with a particular focus on rolling stock leasing, maintenance, and modification agreements.

You’ll play a key part in supporting business planning, leading contract negotiations, and producing new contracts and variations.

Working closely with Engineering Managers, Project Managers, and Commercial Managers, you’ll provide expert advice and act as a trusted partner to the wider business.

Your ability to deliver accurate, timely, and relevant commercial and financial information will help shape critical business decisions and drive best practice in contract management.

As a leader, you’ll also manage and mentor the Rolling Stock Contracts Manager, ensuring regular check-ins and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

The experience you’ll need

To be considered for this role we recommend you demonstrate the below in your application;

• Educated to degree standardor equivalent level of experience.
• Qualified or working towards a recognised Engineering or Contract Management professional qualification.
• Excellent commercial and financial awareness.
• Knowledge and understanding of contractual frameworks, preferably with knowledge of Railway Industry.
• Experience in an Engineering or Commercial environment.
• Experience of rail or similar transport / franchise industry (desirable).

As proud members of the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident Scheme, we will offer you an interview if you apply under these schemes and meet the minimum criteria for the role. Find out more here.

Other things to know

• This vacancy may close early if we receive a large number of applications. So, make sure you get yours in early.
• All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, a right to work verification, a basic criminal record check, and a pre-employment medical assessment. Work visa sponsorship isn’t available for this role.
• If you applied but weren’t successful in getting a similar role at Southeast, please wait six months before applying again.

Find out more about our recruitment process and get tips to help you apply.

What you’ll get in return

Along with your salary, the rewards you’ll get include:

• a final salary pension
• 25 days annual leave allowance (plus bank holidays)
• free rail travel across our networks.

Meaning you can feel secure in your career as well as fulfilled by your work. Click here to see our full range of amazing benefits.

A bit about Southeast

We’re one of Britain's busiest train operators, serving London, Kent and parts of East Sussex. We run over 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 500,000 passengers and serving 180 stations.

However, working on our railway is more than getting passengers from A to B. It’s about all the little moments that make a difference to their journey.

It’s also about making our railway a great place to work. With a team that represents the communities we serve. This is a journey we’re fully committed to and we’re proud to have been named a ‘Great Place to Work’ at the 2023 National Rail Awards and endorsed as WORK180 Employer for Women.

Our ways of working are what we expect of everyone at Southeast. They are powerful. Tiny moments, every day, from every one of us, add up to massive, positive change. Improving how it feels to work here and how it feels to travel with us.

At the heart of everything we do, our Safeguarding Team works to keep our customers, colleagues, and the public safe by improving safeguarding measures and knowledge making sure everyone gets home safe, every day.

Learn more about our railway.