Network Rail
Commercial Manager
Bletchley, GB
Department Name: SC Commercial Works Delivery (115655) G2
About Network Rail
Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7, 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be, and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway. We’re proud to be named as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equity for the fourth year running.
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.
Brief Description
As a Commercial Manager, you will 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.
This role will support Works Delivery Track projects in West Coast South, liaising with the delivery team and suppliers to ensure good governance, accurate management of costs, and post-contract supplier management.
You will be based out of Bletchley with occasional travel to Stafford.
This role will not be appointed to post until after closed listing has concluded on the 15th June 2026.
About the role
Every day will be different, but you can expect to be involved in the following activities:
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.
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
Salary and benefits:
- Salary: £43,588 – £51,719
- Pro-rata annual leave entitlement (28 days)
- My benefits – our discounted online shopping site
- A range of discounted offers including, childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits
- Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets
- 75% discount on leisure travel (discretionary)
- A choice of contributory pension schemes
- 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community
Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework; any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Closing date: 8th May 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Click ‘apply now’ to apply.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
We will endeavour to offer a diverse interview panel wherever possible.
