Network Rail
Who We Are
Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter
At Network Rail, we’re dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you’re not just part of a team – you’re part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. We’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
West Coast South: Keeping Britain Moving
Stretching from Crewe to London Euston, West Coast South is part of Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway – moving millions of passengers and 10% of the UK’s freight each year. With over 1,000 miles of track and 64 stations, it’s a vital link between major cities and local communities. As part of the North West & Central region, we serve 1.3 million passengers daily and move 700,000 tonnes of freight weekly – covering a quarter of the national network. We’re focused on delivering safe, reliable journeys and building a better railway, while championing diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We also support flexible and hybrid working – if it works, we’ll make it happen.
About the role
This role plays a key part in supporting programme and project teams to deliver work in line with Network Rail’s corporate governance, commercial policies and contractual obligations. You will proactively monitor compliance, identify potential breaches early, and provide timely advice to ensure issues are addressed before they escalate. Working closely with Project and Programme Managers, you will help maintain strong commercial control and promote informed, compliant decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. You will be responsible for the effective commercial and cost management of allocated projects, including cost forecasting, anticipated final cost, cost of work done, gross billing and contract values within the Network Rail reporting framework. This includes assessing and valuing contractor applications, processing payment certifications, producing invoices to external clients, and ensuring all financial activity aligns with contractual entitlement, site progress and funding agreements. The role requires strong commercial awareness and active engagement across project delivery. You will review contractor performance, attend progress meetings, lead valuations on medium value/risk contracts, and influence contractor behaviours to achieve value for money. You will identify and advise on commercial risks and claim events, manage change control processes, produce commercial correspondence and contractual notices, and propose mitigation actions where issues arise. You will also support procurement activities, price negotiations (including target costs), risk and value management workshops, and final account settlements through to project close-out. By producing ad-hoc management information, undertaking cost analysis of completed projects, and supporting estimating teams with guidance and feedback, you will contribute to efficiency improvements, continual learning, and the ongoing strengthening of commercial capability across the organisation.
Additional Role Requirements:
We are recruiting for 2 positions. One will be based in Hardwick House, Euston and the other in Sandwell & Dudley DU. Due to the technical nature of these jobs, we are looking for qualified Quantity Surveyors, preferably with experience in construction and buildings.
What’s in it for you:
- Salary: Band 4C, £43,588 – £53,167.
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount on leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass – access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform – giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we’ll do our best to assist you. Some of our roles require face-to-face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer. All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Your experience and skills
In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:
- Demonstrable experience in commercially managing investment projects
- Demonstrable relevant experience
- Good understanding of railway and construction industry forms of contract
- Good understanding of the construction/railway industry
- Good negotiation skills
We would also like but it isn’t crucial to have/to be:
- Educated to degree standard in a related subject
- Membership of a relevant professional institute, chartered status
- Significant experience of working within a generalist commercial environment
- Awareness of industry issues
