Senior Commercial Manager

Senior Commercial Managers

Are you a Commercial Manager with NEC3/4 Contract exp experience with a Rail, Infrastructure, heavy civils major project background and are ready to move to Senior Commercial Manager working on Europe’s largest infrastructure project?

Senior Commercial Managers are required to work for the Client Organisation (High Speed Two Ltd) responsible for the New High-Speed Rail project in the UK.  Working directly for the client organisation on the project you will be assigned one of the 11 Rail Systems Contracts (Track, M&E, HV Power, Overhead line etc) based on a design and build NEC3 Option C Contract, typically valued £300m - £500m.  What makes this role both unique and challenging is to get the 11 different main contractors to work collaboratively to fully integrate the rail system – something that didn’t happen at Crossrail – HS2’s solution is the “Rail System Alliance” – a unique alliance framework put together by HS2 to deliver the 11 Rail Systems contracts in a collaborative and intergraded model by offering conttractual incentives and deterrents to ensure correct beahavious are developed to build a fully intergrated railway system,

As Commercial Manager you will report to a Senior Commercial Manager and will be responsible for delivering contract administration duties within a major rail system NEC3 Option C Contract – typically values between £300 - £500m. The role works alongside the supply chain and contractors within the development delivery teams, assuring and supporting their commercial activities to provide an independent view to Head of Commercial.

Senior Commercial Manager responsible for one of 11 Rail System Contracts you will report to a Head of Commercial and you will be responsible for delivering commercial activities with the Delivery teams. The role provides leadership to HS2 commercial staff managing a team made of 3 Commercial Managers and 2 Ass Commercial Managers. The role works alongside the supply chain and contractors within the development and delivery teams, assuring and supporting their commercial activities to provide an independent view to Head of Commercial.

The Senior Commercial Manager will be involved right from Contract Award (Summer 2024), input into negotiation of the Target Cost and then Commercial Management of the design development stage, site mobilisation through to Construction (installation).  However, the commercial team the Senior Commercial Manager manages will mainly work post contract within the delivery teams on the HS2 Contract and are tasked with commercial management and administration of large complex contracts with significant Government oversight & governance.  The Major task will be managing the Commercial Risk on the project ‘Change’ and so managing Compensation Events and raising early warning will be a major focus of your team and in addition managing Risk, Cost Assurance, Applications of payment, reporting etc.

Rail Systems Alliance

The role is based within HS2’s Rail Systems Alliance team– a unique alliance framework put together within by HS2 to deliver the 11 Rail Systems contracts in a collaborative and intergraded model.  Each Rail System Contract- Signalling, HV Power, M&E Systems etc each has they own Design & Build Contract with HS2 (based on a NEC3 Contract), in addition each of the successful Rail Systems Contractors will sign up to the Rail Systems Alliance – which seeks to identify collaborative and more efficient & safer ways to delivery using contractual incentives, where all contract must be successful.

Rail System Contracts will be let out from June 2024, they will be in design development stage for 2 years before moving to site for instllation, test & commissioning – set to last around 8 years.

 
Progression Opportunities

HS2 already have a superb reputation for progressing from within highlighted by the fact 45% of new vacancies are filled internally. With a pogramme duration of 8 years to deliver the Rail Systems packages and the opportunity to plan you own career path by having the freedom to move between different HS2 contracts as new opportunities come up the

 
Work Situation – Hybrid / Flexible working options

The office location is Birmingham Snowhill they operate a flexible hybrid working model working 2 days a week from the office, often less during design development stage.  Overall, this is a very flexible modern employer who cares about delivery not where you deliver from.  Highlighted by the fact after consultation with HR there are both flexi time and compressed working arrangements at the organisation.

Senior Commercial Manager Salaries:

Birmingham                  £80,000 - £90,000 + Pen(6/12) + 25 hols + health

Duties and Responsibilities
 
Pre-Contract
 

To be responsible for developing commercial works information, reviewing works information from other functions and drafting contract documents to ensure consistency and alignment with procurement plans.

To be responsible for supporting the Procurement team in the development and delivery of tender evaluation models and contract documentation including terms and conditions and associated commercial mechanisms, works and site information to be consistent with strategies and procurement plans.

 
Procurement
 

To be responsible for evaluating tenders and supporting moderation to achieve Contract Award.

To be responsible for developing a contract management plan.

To be responsible for supporting contract readiness.

 
Post Contract
 

• To be accountable for providing commercial assurance to Head of Commercial of all Delivery commercial activities (HS2 & Supply Chain), including:
• To be accountable for delivering commercial and contract management of the contracts to maintain effective commercial control;
• To be accountable for the administration of the obligations of the Project Manager under the NEC3 Contract, including assessment of:-
• variations and compensation events
• contract payments
• performance incentives
• To be accountable for managing effective cost verification;
• To be accountable for reviewing and analysing supply chain monthly reports to drive supply chain performance;
• To be accountable for delivering on input into contract level performance information into monthly MBR reports;
• To be accountable for providing final cost estimate updates;
• To be responsible for supporting monthly contract and programme performance reviews and other ad hoc reviews;
• To be accountable for supporting the settlement of supply chain disputes;
• To be accountable for providing day to day ad hoc contract and commercial advice to client team;
• To be responsible for supporting monthly the identification of opportunities for project savings supporting the development of associated proposals / business case for approval;
• To be responsible for supporting the development of a collaborative culture within the IPT that encourages innovation, enhances functional capability, creates consistency of performance, maximises the benefits of knowledge sharing and embeds industry best practice across the organisation;
• To be responsible for supporting the relationship and engagement with key contractors.
• To be responsible for reviewing estimates (at all stages)

 
Leadership
 

To be responsible for leading and reviewing estimates.

To be responsible for providing second key corporate governance approval of change and risk draw down in accordance with corporate governance requirements.

To be responsible for leading commercial resources, agreeing objectives, managing performance and development to ensure staff have the necessary skills and support to deliver in their roles.

To be responsible for providing domain knowledge in the development and maintenance of efficient and effective contract and commercial management policies, processes and procedures.

Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

Candidate Overview

Senior Commercial Managers will be Degree and ideally Chartered (or progressing towards chartership) Commercial Manager from a Quantity Surveying background.  Must have experience of administering and being responsible for large complex projects using the NEC3/4 suite of contracts, with a major heavy civils project background.

This is a leadership role hence the candidate will have experience managing commercial teams and will have a background with either Client, Consultant or Main Contractor experience.  Interested in candidates with experience in large complex infrastructure projects such as major rail infrastructure projects, highways, airports, energy/power, are all of interest.  Expeirence of working in Design Development and Contract mobilisation stages alongside post contract expeirence would be advantagous.

 
Skills:

• Ability to manage and administer high value and delivery critical contracts to deliver major complex infrastructure or similar projects and programmes.
• Ability to develop commercial strategies and plans on infrastructure projects.
• Ability to deliver value driven management of commercial relationships with supply chain.
• Ability to support negotiations with both internal and external parties, and the ability to settle disputes whilst maintaining business critical commercial relationships.
• Ability to manage internal and external stakeholder parties to achieve successful project outcomes. 
• Ability to develop and improve commercial policies, processes and procedures.
• Ability to support the development of commercial teams in complex organisation.
• Ability to demonstrate contract, commercial and risk management skills.

 
Knowledge of:
 

Governance, Assurance & Compliance

Strategy Development

Project Management & Planning

Estimating & Cost Planning

Procurement

UCR/PCR Application

Bespoke Third-Party Agreements

Contract Management & Administration

Negotiation

Dispute Resolution

Cost Control

Risk & Value Management

Supply Chain Management

Processes

Systems

 
 
Type of experience:
 

• Qualified Commercial Manager from a Quantity Surveying background ideally Chartered member of MRICS or nearing chartered status
• Experience of managing commercial management teams’ members in infrastructure projects and programmes – albeit happy for civil, construction and rail backgrounds
• Must have client or main contractor experience with understanding of assurance and governance working on public funded projects.
• Experience of planning, developing and implementing infrastructure contracts and of working with procurement teams in tender preparation, administration and evaluation.
• Experience of using commercial management and reporting processes and systems.

 
 
Leadership Qualities:
Inspirational Leadership, Cross-matrix influencing, Collaboration, Co-ordinating cross business teams, Business Judgement, Inspiring differentiation & Growing Talent: