Programme Commercial Manager

The Lead Commercial Manager is a senior commercial leader accountable for the definition and delivery of commercial strategy across one or more Integrated Project Teams (IPTs), ensuring alignment to the overall STEP programme commercial model and long‑term delivery objectives. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and acts as a senior commercial authority, shaping programme‑wide approaches to contracting, risk allocation, and supply chain strategy within a first‑of‑a‑kind, highly complex infrastructure programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic commercial leadership across the full project lifecycle, from early market engagement and procurement strategy development through to contract delivery, optimisation, and close‑out.
• Lead the commercial function within an IPT and influence cross‑IPT commercial decision‑making, contributing to programme‑wide commercial frameworks and governance.
• Represent commercial at senior internal and external forums, including executive and government stakeholders.
• Shape innovative commercial delivery solutions to support the successful delivery of a first‑of‑a‑kind fusion programme.
• Provide expert leadership in the development and negotiation of complex contractual arrangements, including joint ventures, alliancing models, major construction and infrastructure agreements, supply contracts, construction agreements, and service contracts.
• Define and influence commercial strategies that align IPT delivery with overall programme objectives and long‑term commercial models.
• Develop innovative commercial solutions where limited precedent exists, reflecting the novel nature of fusion delivery.
• Ensure contract terms reflect programme risk appetite, regulatory frameworks, and commercial objectives, and establish robust risk identification and mitigation strategies.
• Lead the commercial and cost strategy for major portfolios of construction and infrastructure contracts, ensuring accurate forecasting, budgetary control, and cost assurance.
• Integrate cost strategies across multiple contracts and delivery partners to optimise programme‑level outcomes.
• Provide strategic oversight and commercial leadership in the management of cost planning and cost breakdown structures, target costs, commercial incentive models, forecasts, cashflows, and earned value metrics.
• Advise senior stakeholders on commercial implications of strategic programme decisions, including scope evolution, delivery models, and investment decisions.
• Maintain accountability for cost management within governance thresholds while influencing programme affordability and value for money.
• When acting as commercial representative on a strategic contract, manage change effectively, ensuring proper instruction, valuation, negotiation, and recording in accordance with contractual mechanisms.
• Support direct reports in reaching agreement on final accounts and ensuring timely, controlled contract close‑out.
• Drive alignment of change control practices across IPTs to support programme consistency and auditability.
• Shape and influence the development of programme‑wide commercial delivery models and contracting frameworks.
• Provide expert guidance on contract selection, pricing mechanisms, risk allocation, and commercial models, and lead commercial negotiations at tender and post‑contract stages.
• Ensure contracts are administered in line with agreed terms, governance standards, and regulatory requirements, and drive contractor performance using contractual performance metrics and commercial levers.
• Lead the management of escalated cost and commercial risks, resolving high‑value, multi‑party disputes and providing dispute avoidance and resolution activities.
• Produce and present high‑quality cost and commercial reporting to senior stakeholders, supporting audits and continuous improvement in cost management processes.
• Act as a senior commercial interface with government bodies, regulators and strategic partners, influencing policy and commercial approaches.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships within the wider Commercial team, Senior Project Managers, Senior Engineers, Senior Finance representatives, and other senior stakeholders, including executive level directors.
• Represent the organisation in commercial meetings with key external stakeholders such as DESNZ and Cabinet Office commercial colleagues, and act as the lead cost and commercial authority in meetings with contractors and delivery partners.
• Provide mentoring, guidance, and professional oversight to direct reports and other commercial colleagues, acting as a role model for professional integrity, ethical behaviour, and organisational values.

Qualifications and Experience

• Significant experience in commercial and/or procurement on construction or infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to manage high‑value, high‑risk contracts across the project lifecycle.
• Demonstrated experience operating at programme level, influencing or integrating multiple delivery streams or contracts.
• Strong understanding of standard forms of contract (e.g. NEC, bespoke construction contracts).
• Demonstrable expertise in cost forecasting, valuation, change control, and final accounts.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Experience operating in ambiguous, evolving or first‑of‑a‑kind delivery environments requiring innovative commercial solutions.
• Actively working towards or qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (MCIPS) or Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS/FRICS).
• Ability to demonstrate competence aligned to RICS/CIPS pathways, particularly:
  • Commercial Management of Construction
  • Construction Technology and Environmental Services
  • Contract Practice
  • Procurement and Tendering
  • Risk Management

Benefits

• £64,115 base salary plus excellent benefits including an outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options and family‑friendly policies.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Generous annual leave allowance starting at 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, plus UK bank holidays.
• Vibrant inclusive culture committed to equality.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity

We welcome applications from under‑represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British Black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

Application Requirements

• Completion of an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks. SC clearance may be required in the future.

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