Programme Commercial Manager

Programme Commercial Manager

The Lead Commercial Manager is a senior commercial leader accountable for the definition and delivery of commercial strategy across one or more Integrated Project Teams (IPTs), ensuring alignment to the overall STEP programme commercial model and long-term delivery objectives. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and acts as a senior commercial authority, shaping programme-wide approaches to contracting, risk allocation, and supply chain strategy within a First‑of‑a‑kind, highly complex infrastructure programme.

The post holder will provide strategic commercial leadership across the full project lifecycle, from early market engagement and procurement strategy development through to contract delivery, optimisation and close‑out, working closely with finance, programme and technical colleagues and representing commercial in a quad governance arrangement accountable for the successful execution of the IPTs objectives.

• Lead the commercial function within their IPT and influence cross‑IPT commercial decision‑making, contributing to programme‑wide commercial frameworks and governance.
• Represent commercial at senior internal and external forums, including executive and government stakeholders.
• Shape innovative commercial delivery solutions to support the successful delivery of a first‑of‑a‑kind fusion programme.
• Accountability 1 – Pre‑contract and Procurement: provide expert leadership in the development of procurement and contracting strategies for complex contracts, lead the drafting, review and negotiation of complex contractual arrangements (joint ventures, alliancing models, major construction and infrastructure agreements, supply contracts, construction agreements and service contracts), define and influence commercial strategies that align IPT delivery with overall programme objectives, develop innovative commercial solutions where limited precedent exists, ensure contract terms reflect programme risk appetite, regulatory frameworks and commercial objectives, and establish robust commercial risk identification and mitigation strategies.
• Accountability 2 – Cost Management & Commercial Control: lead the commercial and cost strategy for major portfolios of construction and infrastructure contracts in the IPT, ensuring accurate forecasting, budgetary control and cost assurance; integrate cost strategies across multiple contracts and delivery partners; provide strategic oversight of cost planning, cost breakdown structures, target costs, commercial incentive models (e.g. pain/gain), forecasts, cashflows and earned value metrics;
  
  advise senior stakeholders on commercial implications of programme decisions and maintain accountability for cost management within governance thresholds.
• Accountability 3 – Measurement, Valuation & Change Control: manage change effectively when acting as commercial representative on a strategic contract, ensuring value for money, robustness and contractual compliance are maintained and demonstrable on all contracts within the IPT; support direct reports in achieving agreement on final accounts and ensuring timely, controlled contract close‑out; drive alignment of change control practices across IPTs.
• Accountability 4 – Contract Management: shape and influence the development of programme‑wide commercial delivery models and contracting frameworks; provide expert guidance on contract selection, pricing mechanisms, risk allocation and commercial models; lead commercial negotiations at tender and post‑contract stages; ensure contracts are administered in line with agreed terms, governance standards and regulatory requirements; drive contractor performance using contractual performance metrics, commercial levers and strong relationship management.
• Accountability 5 – Risk, Claims & Dispute Management: manage escalated cost and commercial risks, develop mitigation strategies, resolve high‑value, multi‑party disputes, lead dispute avoidance activities through early intervention and commercial negotiation, and support formal dispute resolution processes when required.
• Accountability 6 – Reporting: produce and present…