Senior Commercial Manager – Rail Systems

Advance TRS; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus negotiable

Job summary

Advance Training & Recruitment Services represents a leading UK rail consultancy in London. They seek a Senior Commercial Manager to lead a high-value portfolio, sitting at governance boards and fronting flagship rail programmes across the UK & Ireland.

You’ll own commercial performance across NEC4-based contracts, manage client interfaces, and shape strategy with the Commercial Leadership Team for major renewals and enhancements.

Qualifications

• A relevant degree and/or professional qualification (RICS, CICES) or equivalent experience.
• Proven track record operating at Senior Commercial Manager level within a contractor or consultancy environment.
• Strong pre- and post-contract commercial expertise on large, complex projects.
• Significant hands-on experience with the NEC4 Contract Suite.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Owning commercial performance across a diverse portfolio, including £15m-£100m projects.
• Acting as the primary commercial interface with clients and governance boards.
• Sitting on the Commercial Leadership Team to shape strategy and governance.
• Driving contract administration and change control under NEC4.
• Resolving claims, disputes, and commercial issues pragmatically and on time.
• Managing supply chain and subcontractor commercial performance and cost control.
• Presenting commercial risks and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Leading on major contract negotiation and Stage Gate governance.
• Mentoring and developing a team of commercial professionals.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Strategic leadership

Client relationship management

Education

RICS or CICES qualification

Tools

NEC4 Contract Suite

Job description

London | Hybrid & Flexible Working | £15m-£100m Portfolio

Permanent

Salary: £100,000 - £110,000 + Car Allowance + Bonus (Negotiable on experience)

Shape the Commercial Future of UK Rail

Our client is one of the UK’s leading Rail consultancies, a business riding a wave of major framework wins, a strong forward pipeline, and ambitious growth plans across the rail infrastructure sector.

They’re now looking for an experienced Senior Commercial Manager to take commercial leadership of a high-value, high-profile portfolio, delivering major Design & Build rail systems programmes for national rail infrastructure clients across the UK & Ireland.

This isn’t a back-office commercial role. You’ll be at the table with clients, in the room with governance boards, and at the front of some of the country’s flagship rail programmes, spanning major renewals and enhancement frameworks, long-term partnership arrangements with key rail bodies, and delivery across the UK and Ireland.

If you’re commercially astute, thrive in complexity, and want your fingerprints on the projects reshaping Britain’s railways, this is your next move.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Owning commercial performance across a diverse portfolio of contracts, alliances, and frameworks (£15m-£100m individual project value)
• Acting as the primary commercial interface with clients, building relationships that go beyond the contract
• Sitting on the Commercial Leadership Team, shaping strategy, governance, and decision-making at the top table
• Driving contract administration and change control under NEC4
• Resolving claims, disputes, and commercial issues pragmatically and on time
• Managing supply chain and subcontractor commercial performance, cost control, and compliance
• Presenting commercial risk and recommendations directly to senior leadership and governance boards
• Leading on major contract negotiation and Stage Gate commercial governance
• Mentoring and developing a team of commercial professionals, while leading commercially on tender and growth opportunities

What You’ll Bring

• A relevant degree and/or professional qualification (RICS, CICES) or equivalent experience
• Proven track record operating at Senior Commercial Manager level within a contractor or consultancy environment
• Strong pre- and post-contract commercial expertise on large, complex projects
• Significant hands‑on experience with the NEC4 Contract Suite
• A sharp eye for subcontractor and supply chain commercial management
• A collaborative, client‑first mindset, you know how to find the win‑win
• Rail experience is preferred, but candidates from related infrastructure sectors (highways, utilities, energy, major programmes) are genuinely welcomed
• The confidence to influence senior stakeholders and operate autonomously

Why This Role

• Scale and profile: multi-million-pound projects and frameworks that define the rail landscape
• Genuine influence: a seat on the Commercial Leadership Team, not just a seat at the desk
• Flexibility: hybrid working across multiple UK office locations
• Growth: join a business actively expanding, with a strong forward pipeline and real ambition
• Backing: the resources, governance, and reputation of a major global engineering and infrastructure consultancy

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.