Commercial Manager

About Network Rail

At Network Rail, we’re part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain and operate our network. Now is a fantastic time to join our team in Wales and Western region as we finalise the reforms to our maintenance organisation which will deliver: A safer and more reliable and punctual service for passengers and employees – quicker fault fixes by more agile multi-disciplined response teams. Individual rostering – enabling us to send the right number of people to fix a fault. Multi-skilling – investing in the knowledge and skills of our people so they are better equipped to fix the most common faults themselves. Accelerated and improved technology deployment – we have a raft of labour and life-saving technology ready to be rolled out.

Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We’re an organisation where people matter. When you’re part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions.

We’re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We look for opportunities to offer great opportunities to learn and grow through personal and professional development. And, if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor’s 2021 Best Places to Work. We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone.

About the Role

To provide post-contract commercial management of medium value/medium risk activity and support pre-contract activity within the project delivery team’s scope of work, providing specialist commercial advice, guidance and recommendations to mitigate commercial risks.

Your Main Responsibilities

• Support the functional teams in monitoring for breaches of corporate governance – compliance with Network Rail Corporate Governance rules in a timely manner.
• Manage cost reporting of all allocated accounts within the Network Rail reporting framework including Cost Forecasting, Anticipated Final Cost, Cost of Work Done, Gross Billing and Current Contract Value.
• Monitor, manage and report on all commercial aspects of allocated accounts, flagging issues and proposing mitigation actions at the earliest opportunity to Contracts and Procurement Manager.
• Monitor awareness of all site activities on allocated accounts in order to influence decision making from a commercial perspective.
• Review contractor delivery; including leading valuation of medium value/medium risk contracts & attending all progress meetings to actively influence contractor’s commercial behaviours, delivery and activity.
• Manage assessment and valuation of contractor’s applications and processing of payment certification in accordance with Network Rail processes, contractual terms and conditions and commensurate with contractual entitlement.
• Cost elements should be challenged, audited where appropriate and valuations should be consistent with agreed site progress.
• Provide pro-active advice and guidance to the budget holders on all change including proposed scope changes, recommending appropriate action in accordance with Network Rail change control systems and produce all required documentation for approval in accordance with levels of delegated authority including comparative estimates where required in a timely manner.
• Produce of applications for payment/invoices to outside clients in accordance with relevant funding agreements, including supporting documentation as appropriate.
• Identify and advise on all commercial risk/claim events.
• Provide of ad-hoc management information and analysis to promote informed decision-making.
• Produce appropriate commercial correspondence and contractual notices for issue in accordance with contractual conditions.
• Commercial records should be retained and archived properly upon close out.
• Undertake final account settlements and internal reconciliation for contract close-out (per the project authority, project plan) as required and within agreed timescales.
• For multi-year framework agreements, agree and reconcile annual accounts within 6 months of each year-end.
• Support demonstration of efficiencies and continual improvement of estimating by undertaking cost analysis of completed accounts and feedback as per Cost Allocation Feedback process.
• Support with pre and post contract procurement activities as appropriate.
• Provide support to estimating resources, offering guidance and advice on account scale/scope as required.
• Support the negotiation of all prices under existing contracts/framework agreements (including the negotiation of target costs) and fully participates in the associated quantitative risk assessment and value management workshops, as required.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £43,588 to £53,167 per annum.

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!

• Privileged staff travel – Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• GWR ticket alliance – Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year).
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
• A range of Pension schemes to choose from.
• Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35 hours per week contract, and enhanced family friendly support.
• 5 days paid volunteering leave.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
• In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

More About the Role and Your Application

Closing date: 1st September 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

This role requires working in the office for at least 60% of the working week.

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please include within your application. All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Your Experience and Skills

You will ideally have:

• 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.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety within your application.

What Could Set You Apart

• Educated to degree standard in related subject.
• Membership of a relevant professional institute, chartered status.
• Significant experience of working within a generalist commercial environment.
• Awareness of industry issues.

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide. Some of these criteria may be learnt in role. Therefore, if you do not meet all the criteria, please submit your application. We will screen your application against these criteria to assess the best match.