Senior QS / Senior Commercial Manager – Rail & Highways

Overview

In this role you will lead commercial oversight for major rail and highway infrastructure projects, driving contract governance, risk management and value for money. You will shape the Contract Management Strategy and enable cross-functional delivery teams to perform to high standards. You will nurture a capable commercial team, provide senior guidance to governance boards, and tackle commercial challenges across NEC-based contracts. This is a chance to influence flagship projects at scale within a growing client focused on infrastructure delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and improvement of the Contract Management Strategy and associated programme.
• Develop standards, tools, templates, guidance and assurance processes for contract management.
• Manage and develop a team responsible for strategic contracts, providing leadership and expert support.
• Establish governance and escalation for high-value/high-risk contracts.
• Lead post-award activities including mobilisation, performance reviews, risk registers, change control, KPI tracking and close-out.
• Provide senior oversight of NEC contracts, including early warnings, compensation events, payment processes and commercial risks.
• Collaborate with contract owners and suppliers to address underperformance, manage variations and secure value for money.
• Prepare portfolio-level reporting and present commercial updates to senior leaders and boards.

Key requirements

• Significant experience in quantity surveying and commercial management within rail, highways, bus or wider transport infrastructure.
• Strong understanding and practical application of NEC contracts.
• Experience in post-award contract management (mobilisation, change control, risk management, performance monitoring).
• Knowledge of compensation events, early warnings, programme management, payment mechanisms and NEC contractual risk.
• Ability to develop and implement commercial governance and contract management strategies.
• Experience coaching or supporting commercial/contract management teams.
• Strong analytical, reporting and stakeholder management skills for commercial challenge and advice.
• Relevant quantity surveying, commercial management or construction-related qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

• stakeholder management
• leadership
• analytical thinking
• NEC contracts
• post-award contract management
• risk management

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