Commercial Manager (Maternity cover)

Recruiter contact: Alice Roostan

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit 
We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy.

Overview of the role

Rail (RAL) is Mott MacDonald's centre of excellence for rail infrastructure, systems, operations and technical advisory services. We are a market leader in the UK rail sector and are expanding our presence across Ireland and selected international markets, including Europe and North America. Our teams deliver some of industry's most complex and critical programmes, spanning heavy rail, metro, light rail transit, systems engineering, electrification, signalling, digital rail and technical assurance.

We combine exceptional people, technical excellence, digital innovation and deep client relationships to deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients and the communities they serve. Our clients include Network Rail, Transport for London, Translink, transport authorities, major contractors, government bodies and rail operators throughout the UK, Ireland and beyond.

Our ambition is clear: to maintain our leadership position in the UK rail market, become a leading rail consultancy in Ireland and sustainably grow our presence in selected international markets. We are focused on delivering cost leadership, market differentiation and sustainable growth, ensuring we remain a trusted partner for our clients and an employer of choice for our people.

We are seeking a proactive and commercially minded Commercial Manager on a 12 month secondment to support the delivery of commercial excellence across the Rail Division. Reporting to the Divisional Commercial Manager, working alongside project teams and business leaders, you will help drive effective governance, assurance and risk management, whilst supporting sustainable growth, project profitability and successful client outcomes.

You will provide commercial guidance throughout the project lifecycle, undertaking commercial reviews, supporting decision-making and helping teams identify and manage risks and opportunities. Through the application of commercial best practice, you will contribute to improved project performance, greater consistency and stronger commercial outcomes across the division.

The role offers the opportunity to work across a diverse portfolio of rail projects, building trusted relationships with project teams and supporting a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and operational excellence.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Support the delivery of commercial excellence across the Rail Division, providing guidance and challenge to project teams throughout the project lifecycle from pre-contracts through to delivery
• Undertake commercial reviews and assurance activities to promote effective governance, compliance, risk management and informed decision-making across bids and projects
• Build strong working relationships with project teams, clients, partners and supply chain organisations to support successful project outcomes and sustainable business growth
• Identify commercial risks and opportunities, supporting teams to improve project performance profitability and value realisation
• Promote the consistent application of commercial best practice, sharing lessons learned and supporting continuous improvement across the division

Candidate specification:

You will be commercially minded, organised and collaborative, with experience of supporting proposal and project teams to manage commercial risk, improve performance and deliver successful outcomes. You will be comfortable working across a diverse portfolio of projects, providing commercial guidance, challenging where appropriate and building effective relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

You will bring a proactive hands-on approach to problem-solving, strong commercial awareness and a commitment to continuous improvement, helping project teams balance opportunity and risk whilst supporting sustainable growth and profitability.

Essential:

• Experience in a commercial or contract management role within a project-based, infrastructure, engineering or professional services environment
• Good commercial and financial acumen, with experience supporting project performance, profitability, risk management and governance activities
• Understanding of common forms of contract, including NEC and other collaborative contracting models, together with experience of contract administration and commercial management processes
• Experienced in bidding activities, in particular contract reviews, and the proposal lifecycle
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with project teams, clients, partners and other stakeholders
• Ability to identify commercial risks and opportunities, provide practical advice and support effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle
• Demonstrates high standards of integrity, professionalism and ethical business conduct
• Experienced using financial and ERP systems.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.