Commercial Compliance, Risk & Assurance Manager

East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.

EWR is one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.

This role will support the Head of Commercial Assurance and Compliance in developing and implementing commercial (procurement, contract management and supply chain) compliance and risk management strategies, and management of the commercial assurance model. This role involves monitoring and managing effective reporting on commercial compliance, and providing assurance on the effectiveness of commercial control measures across the end-to-end commercial lifecycle.

This role is for someone who loves direct involvement in developing and implementing commercial compliance, risk, and assurance strategies. Owing to the span of functions, the role provides exceptional breadth and exposure. You’ll have the opportunity to shape and influence strategic decision-making, ensure value for money and contribute to a transformational railway that will connect communities and drive economic growth for generations to come.

• Support the development and implementation of commercial compliance, risk, and assurance frameworks, identifying improvements and ensuring updates in line with procurement regulations.
• Monitor and report on compliance with internal commercial policies and external regulations such as (but not limited to) PA23 and the Notices therein, PPNs, DfT and HMT policies and Playbooks.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies related to commercial activities.
• Independently undertake assurance and provide reports (verbal and written) on the effectiveness of the process outputs and deliverables across the commercial lifecycle taking into account best practice, value for money and regulatory compliance.
• Plan and control the execution of assurance undertaken, ensuring it balances the need for commercial activity to progress at speed, whilst also allowing new contractual commitments to be developed effectively.
• Assist and direct external subject matter experts (individual or panel) in the delivery of additional assurance, planning work allocation and reviewing outputs and ensure timely resolution of audit findings.
• Facilitate training and awareness programs on commercial compliance and risk management and building on continuous improvement.
• Prepare and present reports on commercial compliance and risk management to senior management.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure integrated assurance, risk and compliance efforts.

• Experience in commercial and procurement compliance, risk management, and assurance in the public sector.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and industry standards related to commercial activities in the public sector.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good level of written and verbal communication skills.
• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
• 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
• 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
• Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
• Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
• Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
• Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.

If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you.