Description
As a Senior Commercial Manager within WSP's PMCM Rail Team, you will oversee and drive the commercial success of complex rail projects of regional and national importance.
You will work hand-in-hand with your client's Project Manager and wider teams to safeguard commercial performance, support programme delivery, and maintain the integrity of commercial processes from project initiation through to close-out.
This role is ideally suited to a mid-career commercial professional with strong Rail sector experience who is ready to take greater ownership, lead client relationships, and operate confidently on large, fast-paced programmes with multiple stakeholders.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage key client and stakeholder relationships, acting as a trusted commercial advisor.
- Prepare monthly commercial, cost and risk reports to provide clarity on project performance.
- Oversee commercial management activities in alignment with contract requirements and client governance.
- Manage project budgets, cost estimation, forecasting, tracking and reporting.
- Negotiate commercial terms with suppliers and contractors during procurement, working closely with client procurement teams.
- Support effective commercial management of the supply chain, promoting collaboration and trust.
- Ensure full compliance with client commercial procedures and standards.
- Review and approve project expenditures, invoices and commercial submissions.
- Chair commercial meetings with contractors, suppliers and delivery partners.
- Administer contracts through the full lifecycle, including formation, delivery and close-out.
- Lead on change management, including negotiation of variations, claims and compensation events.
- Monitor contract performance, address commercial issues and draft necessary contractual correspondence.
- Conduct financial forecasting, risk assessment and develop mitigation strategies.
- Optimise resource allocation to support commercial and programme targets.
- Identify, manage and mitigate commercial risks, ensuring early warnings and regular risk reduction meetings with project teams.
Requirements:
- A degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or a related discipline.
- Professional accreditation or progress towards it (e.g., MRICS, MCIOB).
- Strong experience in commercial management in the Rail or transportation infrastructure sector.
- Experience delivering major projects in a client-side or consultancy environment.
- Exposure to organisations such as Network Rail, HS2, TfGM, or other rail delivery bodies.
- A proven ability to deliver commercial outcomes on multidisciplinary programmes.
- Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills, with presence and credibility.
- Proficiency in commercial management tools and software.
- In-depth understanding of NEC3/NEC4 and wider rail industry commercial practices.