Who We Are
Join the Southern Region where your work truly matters.
Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day.
This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail.
From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
Some of our great benefits:
We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments
Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered
Generous annual leave up to 28 days plus statutory days (role dependant), with the option to buy/sell days
Discounts at selected stations with your Network Rail pass
Defined benefit pension scheme
75% off leisure train tickets for you and your dependents (subject to T&Cs)
Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets
Volunteer leave to make a positive impact
Plus more....
About the role
Do you have strong commercial experience and the confidence to influence decisions, manage risk and challenge costs effectively?
We're looking for a Commercial Manager to provide commercial expertise across a portfolio of investment projects within the Southern Region.
Working closely with project and programme teams, you'll provide specialist commercial advice throughout the project lifecycle. You'll help ensure contracts are managed effectively, costs and forecasts are robust, risks are identified early, and project teams have the commercial insight they need to make informed decisions.
This is an opportunity to make a tangible impact, combining strong commercial governance with collaborative working to help projects deliver value for money and successful outcomes.
The role
As Commercial Manager, you will:
- Manage, monitor and report on the commercial performance of allocated projects.
- Review project costs, forecasts, anticipated final costs, work completed, billing and contract values.
- Identify commercial risks, claims and emerging issues, recommending appropriate mitigation and corrective action.
- Assess contractor applications and valuations against contractual entitlement and actual project progress.
- Support Project Managers in managing changes to contract and scope, ensuring appropriate commercial advice and documentation are provided.
- Build effective working relationships with contractors while maintaining robust and constructive commercial challenge.
- Support procurement, estimating and pre-contract activities.
- Participate in price and target-cost negotiations, risk assessments and value-management activities.
- Manage final accounts and commercial reconciliation through to project close-out.
- Maintain accurate commercial records and contractual correspondence.
- Provide clear management information, analysis and commercial insight to support effective decision-making.
- Contribute to cost analysis, efficiencies, continuous improvement and value for money.
Your experience and skills
What we're looking for
Essential
You'll bring:
Demonstrable experience of commercially managing investment projects.
Strong and relevant commercial experience.
A good understanding of railway and/or construction industry forms of contract.
A good understanding of the construction and/or railway industry.
Effective negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
Desirable
It would also be beneficial if you have:
A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject.
Membership of a relevant professional institute and/or chartered status.
Significant experience within a broad commercial environment.
Awareness of current issues affecting the railway and construction sectors.
How to Apply
Salary: Band 4C, £43,588 - £53,167 per annum (Experience dependent)
Location: London Puddle Dock / Blackfriars, 1 Puddle Dock, Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 3DS
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Hybrid working, with three days per week in the office
Closing date: 06 November 2026
Late applications will not be accepted.
Interviews
Interviews will be held in person at London Puddle Dock, 1 Puddle Dock, Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 3DS. Interview times will be confirmed with shortlisted candidates.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision
Network Rail positively embraces flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life.
Click Apply Now to submit your application. If you have been referred by a friend, please complete the employee referral form as part of the application process.
Small actions lead to big impact. The way we collect and use data helps keep our teams safe and our network resilient. Find out more in this short video: Why we need diversity data
We're proud to champion a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To explore our ED&I commitments, https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/diversity-and-inclusion/.
For an informal conversation about the role and the opportunities within the Southern Region, please contact:
Richard Milbank
Senior Commercial Manager
07718 004769
#LI-CW1