Senior Commercial Manager

Network Rail; England; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading rail transport organization is looking for a Senior Commercial Manager to oversee commercial activities across multiple locations in the North West & Central Region. This role offers a hybrid working model, with responsibilities including managing supplier relationships, driving contract performance, and leading a commercial team. Candidates should have significant experience in commercial management within the construction or rail sectors, with strong negotiation and leadership skills. Competitive salary of £55,596 - £65,966 with various benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Hybrid working

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in commercial contract management and dispute resolution.
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience in a construction or rail commercial role.
• Desirable: Strong digital skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a commercial team to deliver for the NW&C region.
• Manage relationships with contractors and suppliers, maximising value.
• Drive contract performance, ensuring compliance and efficiencies.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation skills

Influencing skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Professional qualification

Membership of a professional body (e.g. RICS, CIPS)

Tools

Oracle E-Business Suite

Bravo

CEMAR

Job description

Belong to a team that values different perspectives and lived experiences. Discover more about what diversity and inclusion mean to us

Overview

Senior Commercial Manager - North West & Central Region. Locations: Birmingham, or any West Coast South location: Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Stafford, Rugby or Euston, with regular travel across sites. Hybrid & flexible working available. The NW&C Route Commercial services team provides commercial support to Regional and Route Customers across NW&C, including Maintenance, Operations, Property and Asset Protection teams. This role supports the West Coast South (WCS) Route Maintenance and Operations team in delivering their strategic and operational objectives through line management of the commercial team within the Maintenance Delivery Units, and through working closely with senior WCS Maintenance stakeholders. You will manage spend across a large portfolio of frameworks, contracts and suppliers across the WCS Route, including Road Rail Vehicles, Possession Management and Facilities Management, with a focus on identifying efficiencies and maximising value. It requires strong supplier and contract management experience and an understanding of Network Rail governance processes. The focus of the role is post-contract, but you will also support pre-contract procurement to ensure the needs of Route stakeholders are met. You will lead contract variations and uplifts, and resolve disputes under these agreements. The Route stakeholders are often challenging; identifying efficiencies and cost savings is a priority across the board. The role has line management responsibility for 3 Commercial Managers across the WCS Delivery Units, and you will support their day-to-day activities and professional development. This role can be based in Birmingham or from any WCS location (Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Stafford, Rugby or Euston) with regular travel across sites, and travel to Manchester and Milton Keynes as required. In line with the NW&C hybrid working policy, the expectation is 3 days per week in the office, between these locations. This is a role with real variety and influence – you might be managing supplier relationships or resolving contract disputes one day, and advising senior stakeholders or identifying cost-saving opportunities the next. Your leadership will directly support the delivery of essential services across the WCS route, keeping the railway running for millions of passengers.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and inspire a commercial team to deliver for the NW&C region.
• Manage relationships with contractors and suppliers, maximising value for Network Rail.
• Provide expert advice to senior stakeholders, shaping commercial decision-making.
• Drive contract performance, ensuring compliance, efficiencies, and cost savings.
• Take a leading role in resolving disputes, variations, and uplifts.
• Influence strategy and support the long-term planning of maintenance and renewals.
• Assess commercial risk and implement suitable control measures where required.
• Support the efficient and effective implementation of category strategies at Route level.
• Work with relevant teams to provide commercial input into the business planning and maintainer renewals processes.
• Knowledge of the construction industry and supply chains, including commercial and contract administration processes.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in commercial contract management and dispute resolution.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience in a construction or rail commercial role.
• Able to effectively communicate at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) and a professional qualification.
• Desirable (but not essential): Strong digital skills, including tools like Oracle E-Business Suite, Bravo, and CEMAR.
• Membership of a professional body (e.g. RICS, CIPS).
• A track record of driving successful business change.
• Leadership skills to inspire, coach, and develop teams.

Benefits

• A competitive salary (£55,596 - £65,966).
• Hybrid working with a mix of home and office-based flexibility.
• A wide range of benefits. Explore them here.
• The chance to shape major projects and make a visible impact.
• Career development opportunities in one of the UK's largest organisations.

At Network Rail, every role has real impact. We keep Britain moving by connecting millions of passengers and freight customers safely and efficiently every single day. We’re proud to have been recognised as one of the fourth year running. We’re also a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive employer of choice because we believe our workforce should reflect the diversity of the passengers and freight we serve. If you need adjustments or support, add a note to your application and we’ll be in touch. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for accessibility support and advice.