Commercial Manager

Your new role

Here at National Highways, we are looking for a Commercial Manager to join our Commercial and Procurement directorate!

You will have the opportunity to work on one of our largest projects currently under construction, the c.£1bn major project called the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvement Scheme.

You will be based in Bedford with flexibility to travel when required to allow regular attendance on site during the construction phase. We have a flexible hybrid working approach, meaning the role will be a combination of office/site attendance/agile home working.

As part of your role, you will protect National Highways commercial interests, within a package of Major Projects capital schemes, supporting it as a balanced, intelligent client. You will aid excellence in commercial delivery, procurement strategy, funding application, scheme budget management, commercial management, contract administration, commercial dispute avoidance and commercial performance management.

What you’ll be leading on

Ensure Scheme Cost and value reconciliation is performed to ensure correct cost capture has occurred across all contracts. Assist with preparation of scheme forecasts and associated risk profile.
Management of site level change management including Early Warning and Compensation Event management and production, both to the Client and to the supply chain as necessary.
Ensure Supply Chain Payment assessment including all relevant documentation on a monthly basis.
Lead on regular cost and contract audits to ensure contractor compliance with contract conditions.
Monitor actual costs against budget and prepare contract forecasts, identification of risks and opportunities to Capex budgets.
Act as a line manager and mentor to Assistant Commercial Managers, Graduates and Apprentices and provide on-going support in their professional development.

To be successful you’ll need

Relevant professional qualification or working towards, RICS, ICE or equivalent to demonstrate integrity in influencing others in managing the integrity of scheme commercial delivery relationships in the use of public money. Must demonstrate relevant breadth and depth of experience working as a QS within a relevant industry
Knowledge of NEC forms of contract. Experience of tendering and procurement using, as a minimum, NEC forms of contract.
Experience to influence others to perform while working safely and effectively aligned around common goals
Experience to contribute to the effective selection of the option most likely to mitigate commercial threats and realise opportunities to achieve predictable and sustainable development.
Extensive experience working as a QS within a commercial function delivering value to the business, preferably experience working on civil engineering projects.

A bit about us

There’s never been a better time to join our Commercial and Procurement team!

It’s an exciting time to join National Highways as we invest £14 billion in strategic road network, boosting capacity, tackling congestion and improving safety. When you work with us, you’re helping to connect communities, sustain business and support the economy.

The Major Projects Commercial Delivery team are working across England to improve our strategic network and release economic capacity faster than at any other time in the last 50 years. With secure funding for 50 major construction projects in the next 10 years, we need are looking for passionate team players who can own and deliver successful outcomes with integrity. You will be joining a team of over 900 delivery professionals in programmes that are set to change highways construction, influencing the infrastructure market to drive improved productivity, reduce carbon and deliver increased digital capability.

Want to know more?

For a copy of the Job Description please contact hrhighwaysengland@mailgc.cx.ukg.oraclecloud.com quoting reference #5093

About Us

Why you should join us

At National Highways we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this. We’re proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to do better and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.

So, if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it – then you’ll be a great fit for our organisation.

An informal blended working approach has been adopted for many of our roles across National Highways. We offer many different ways to work flexibly and we’re open to discuss part-time working, job shares, and flexible start and finish times.

Please wait until the interview stage before asking us about flexibility, and we will explore what is possible.

Our benefits package

Our total reward package includes basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus
Contributory pension scheme with employer contribution of up to 10%
Annual Leave starting at 26 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising by 1 day each year up to 31 days (plus Bank Holidays)
Flexible hours and blended working between base location/home
Life assurance of 4 times annual salary
Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7 365 days and network of mental health first aiders. Plus access to a wellbeing app to enhance your self-care 24/7, Occupational health service and flu vaccines
A cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel
Significant investment in your career development, through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on job experience

And we are

Family friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave (15 days), shared parental leave, adoption leave. Plus access to financial support for holiday play schemes and paid special leave (up to 5 days pa), eg for caring responsibilities
Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including over 3000 discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays. Alongside a financial wellbeing programme
Community friendly – offering paid leave to volunteer, 3 days basic/year plus an extra 3 days to support the national Covid effort

If you are successful, it is key to know all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory completion of our pre-employment checks which include:

Right to work check
3 year employment history references
DBS criminal record check
Social media and adverse journalism check
Driving licence check (if applicable)
Fit to work questionnaire (for all), followed by a medical check (if applicable)

And finally

We reserve the right to close before the advertisement expires