Commercial Manager

Job title: Commercial Manager
Location: Ashby de la Zouch
Contract length: 6+ months rolling contract
Work Structure: Hybrid (3 days in the office)
Randstad Sourceright, a leading provider of RPO & MSP Recruitment Services is currently recruiting for a Commercial Manager to join a World leader offering Products, Solutions and Services across the entire Mobility value chain on behalf of a well established manufacturing organisation to play a key role in supporting Manufacturing Operations.
The Senior Quantity Surveyor / Commercial Manager serves as the primary commercial focal point during the pre-contract and tendering phases for major infrastructure, rail, power, or construction bids. Key responsibilities include reviewing ITT documentation, interpreting complex NEC3/NEC4 contract conditions, constructively challenging cost build-ups, and managing the bid RAID (risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies) process. The position requires at least 5 years of commercial management experience, partnering closely with bid, legal, and technical teams to ensure submissions are commercially robust, competitive, and fully compliant with governance standards.
Some of the duties will include but are not limited to:
Review and analyze Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation, contract terms, pricing schedules, and commercial specifications.
Collaborate directly with Bid Managers to build compliant, commercially sound tender submissions.
Lead commercial reviews across the entire bid lifecycle and provide advisory support during clarification, negotiation, and formal approval stages.
Identify departures from standard contract positions when reviewing customer terms and assist in setting the overarching commercial strategy.
Review and interpret standard and amended contract conditions, specifically NEC3, NEC4, and Network Rail (NR) forms of contract.
Identify contractual risks, liabilities, obligations, and commercial opportunities. Draft contractual qualifications, assumptions, and clarifications to safeguard the business.
Support contract negotiations with clients, suppliers, and partners.
Partner with legal and procurement teams to ensure client contract requirements are properly flowed down into subcontractor agreements. Facilitate bid RAID workshops and lead the bid RAID process.
Maintain and update RAID registers throughout the tendering phase. Quantify potential commercial impacts financially and design mitigation strategies.
Constructively challenge technical, delivery, and programme assumptions to ensure bids are realistic, robust, and defendable.
Ensure all identified risks and upside opportunities are appropriately cost and factored into the tender submission.
Scrutinize cost build-ups, estimates, and delivery assumptions alongside estimators, planners, and delivery teams to ensure competitive yet profitable pricing.
Benchmark cost estimates against historical data and market standards.
Evaluate the commercial and financial impact of proposed project schedules, resource allocations, and delivery methods.
Prepare commercial summaries and briefings for internal bid review meetings. Ensure all commercial submissions comply with internal delegated authorities, company governance, and risk/compliance standards.
Act as the commercial focal point connecting Bid Managers, Project Managers, Estimators, Technical Leads, Procurement, Legal, Finance, and external supply chain partners.
Essential Requirements:
Minimum of 5 years of proven experience operating as a Commercial Manager or Senior Quantity Surveyor.
Strong track record supporting major infrastructure, rail, telecoms, power, or construction projects.
In-depth, practical understanding of NEC3 and NEC4 forms of contract, along with strong contract review and interpretation skills.
Hands-on experience in tendering, bidding, and pre-contract commercial lifecycle activities (reviewing ITT documentation, bid clarification, and tender qualification).
Demonstrated ability to run and manage the RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) process and commercial registers.
Proven track record of constructively challenging cost, schedule, and technical assumptions with senior stakeholders and technical teams.
Highly developed commercial awareness and strong negotiation capabilities.
Desirable Requirements:
Direct industry experience within the rail sector.
Prior experience working with Network Rail framework agreements and standard forms of contract.
Experience supporting complex, multi-disciplinary infrastructure tender submissions.
Familiarity with public sector procurement processes, rules, and guidelines.
Background working within regulated or safety-critical engineering environments.
Personal Track Safety (PTS) competence or preference.