Lead Commercial Manager - Customers

Rolls - Royce SMR; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus – up to 12.5% performance‑rel

Benefits Allowance – £2,200

Pension – Rolls-Royce SMR scheme

Holidays – 28 days + public holidays

Flexible and hybrid working

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Lead Commercial Manager – Customers to shape our commercial capability and manage high-value contracts. You will work with strategic customers and internal stakeholders to drive value, manage risk and ensure contract execution across major programmes.

The role can be based from our Derby office with hybrid working and regular office attendance. Travel may be required depending on customer and programme needs.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in commercial or contract management environments.
• Strong experience negotiating and managing complex, high-value contracts.
• Ability to operate in complex, regulated or high-risk environments and manage commercial risk.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Experience contributing to commercial strategy and delivering value through contracts.
• Ability to lead within a collaborative, matrix structure.
• Experience supporting governance, processes or capability development within a Commercial function.
• Experience of industry contract forms such as NEC, FIDIC, JCT (advantageous but not essential).

Responsibilities

• Lead the drafting, negotiation and management of complex customer contracts
• Ensure compliance with RR SMR commercial governance, policies and reporting requirements
• Support the development and delivery of commercial strategy aligned to programme objectives
• Manage commercial risk and drive value through effective contract management and performance oversight
• Influence and engage senior internal and external stakeholders across a matrix environment
• Contribute to the development and maturity of the Commercial function, including processes, governance and best practice
• Support and mentor junior members of the team
• Represent the Commercial function internally and externally, which may include deputising, where required

Skills

Contract management

High-value contracts

Stakeholder management

Commercial strategy

Governance & processes

Matrix leadership

Negotiation

Mentoring

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.

If you have a specific preference in role, please let us know.

To support this, we’re looking for a Lead Commercial Manager – Customers to play a key role in managing high-value, complex contracts and shaping our commercial capability. You’ll work closely with strategic customers and internal stakeholders to drive value, manage risk and ensure successful contract execution across major programmes.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead the drafting, negotiation and management of complex customer contracts

• Ensure compliance with RR SMR commercial governance, policies and reporting requirements

• Support the development and delivery of commercial strategy aligned to programme objectives

• Manage commercial risk and drive value through effective contract management and performance oversight

• Influence and engage senior internal and external stakeholders across a matrix environment

• Contribute to the development and maturity of the Commercial function, including processes, governance and best practice

• Support and mentor junior members of the team

• Represent the Commercial function internally and externally, which may include deputising, where required

What you’ll bring

• Significant experience in commercial or contract management environments

• Strong experience negotiating and managing complex, high-value contracts within engineering, infrastructure, energy or other similar sectors

• Proven ability to operate in complex, regulated or high-risk environments and manage commercial risk

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including working at senior levels

• Experience contributing to commercial strategy and delivering value through contracts

• Ability to lead within a collaborative, matrix structure

• 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 office. We operate hybrid working, with regular weekly office attendance expected. Travel may be required depending on customer and programme needs.

What’s in it for you?

Salary: £63,750 – £78,750 depending on experience and benefits include:

• Bonus – up to 12.5% performance-related

• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 for a bespoke package

• Pension – competitive Rolls-Royce SMR scheme

• Holidays – 28 days + public holidays

• Flexible and hybrid working

You’ll join a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness and innovation, offering:

• 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.

Pay Range:

£60,000.00

£78,750.00

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

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.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we’ll let you in on a secret: there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

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

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