5 Commercial Managers

Are you a Quantity Surveyor or Senior QS with NEC3 Contract experience working on major infrastructure projects (civils, rail, utilities, power, telecoms, water etc) and are ready to move to Ass Commercial Manager working on Europe’s largest infrastructure project?

5 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 contractual incentives and deterrents to ensure correct behaviours are developed to build a fully integrated 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.

The Commercial Managers 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 Commercial Manager will be responsible for administration of sizable work package(s) working in a team including Senior Commercial Manager and one other Commercial Manager and or Assistant.  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 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 programme 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

Therefore, there are also huge opportunities to develop quickly to Senior Commercial Manager level – Salaries £85 -100,000 + pkg

 
Work Situation – Hybrid / Flexible working options

The office location is Birmingham Snowhill or London Euston (your choice) 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.

Commercial Manager Salaries:

London                         £65,000 and £75,000 + Pen(6/12) + 25 hols + health
 
Birmingham                  £61,140 - £70,000 + Pen(6/12) + 25 hols + health

Next promotional step is Commercial Manager - £85 – 100,000 + pkg

To be responsible for providing commercial assurance to Head of Commercial of all Delivery commercial activities (HS2 & Supply Chain), including:

• To be responsible for delivering commercial and contract management of the contracts to maintain effective commercial control;
• To be responsible for the administration of the obligations of the Project Manager under the NEC3 Contract, including assessment of:-
• variations and compensation events
• contract payments
• performance incentive
• To be responsible for maintaining effective cost verification;
• To be responsible for reviewing and analysing supply chain monthly reports to drive supply chain performance;
• To be responsible for inputting contract level performance information into monthly MBR reports;
• To be responsible for participating and contributing in and contribute to monthly contract and programme performance reviews and other ad hoc reviews and supporting final cost estimate updates;
• To be responsible for supporting the settlement of supply chain disputes;
• To be responsible for providing day to day ad hoc contract and commercial advice to client team;
• To be responsible for providing commercial assessment 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 (Integrated Project Team) 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 commercial relationship and engagement with key contractors. 
• To be responsible for review 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.

Candidate Overview 

Qualified Quantity Surveyor or Senior QS from a Quantity Surveying background with either Client, Consultant or Main Contractor experience.  Ideal experience will be working on major Rail Infrastructure projects but happy for someone with either Heavy civils, utilities, Infrastructure, telecoms, complex construction and experience administering NEC3/4 suite of contracts and a good understanding of Change Management (Compensation Events) and with appreciation of assurance & governance.  Would consider other contractual experience too NEC3 as long as appreciation of change process.

Key Behavioural – Self Starter, appetite to Develop & learn, excellent communication and collaboration skills, a track record of personal development, organised and driven.

 
Skills:

• Ability to manage and administer high value and delivery critical contracts to deliver major complex infrastructure or similar projects and programmes – comfortable with people who have been totally commercially responsible for small projects £5 - £20m, however, major project experience is the preferred background.
• Ability to develop commercial strategies and plans on capital projects.
• Ability to support the development and management of effective, value driven management of commercial relationships with supply chain.
• Ability to support negotiations with both internal and external parties, and to settle disputes.
• Ability to support the management of stakeholder parties to achieve successful project outcomes. 
• Ability to develop commercial policies, processes and procedures.
• Ability to support the development of commercial teams.
• Ability to demonstrate contract, commercial and risk and value management skills.

 
Knowledge of:

Governance, Assurance & Compliance

Strategy Development

Project Management & Planning

Estimating & Cost Planning

Procurement

Bespoke Third Party Agreements

Contract Management & Administration

Negotiation

Dispute Resolution

Cost Control

Risk & Value Management

Supply Chain Management

Processes & Systems

 
 
Type of experience:

• Qualified Senior QS or QS from a Quantity Surveying background ideally Chartered member of MRICS or nearing chartered status (not essential).
• Experience of contract administration on infrastructure projects and programmes – albeit happy for civil, construction, utilities and rail backgrounds.
• Experience of working with or for publicly funded bodies and/or a publicly funded projects – happy to have Client (or consultant) or main contractor (Tier 1) experience.
• 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.