Senior Cost & Commercial Manager - TFGM

Take senior commercial ownership across multiple high-value transport contracts and projects, from procurement and cost planning through delivery, change and final account. You will lead colleagues, negotiate with contractors and turn complex cost, contract and risk information into confident decisions for senior boards.

Client Details

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the organisation helping to shape a more connected, sustainable and inclusive transport future for the city region. Its growing, multidisciplinary Commercial Services function brings together capital commercial, procurement, franchise and commercial delivery, corporate finance, supplier relationships, social value, governance and assurance. The team works from the earliest commercial strategy and market engagement through tendering, contract award, mobilisation and supplier performance.

This is not a back-office commercial function. The team sits at the centre of high-profile decisions across the Bee Network, bus franchising, Metrolink, rail and station investment, fleet, technology, energy, active travel and public infrastructure. Commercial Services has supported projects including the Bee Network bus franchise contracts, the approximately 1.9bn Metrolink Operator and Maintenance Agreement, new rail and accessibility schemes, renewable energy arrangements and passenger shelter programmes. TfGM is also planning the commercial capability required to support a significant programme of construction and civil engineering investment over the coming years.

Description

• Hold senior commercial and contract responsibility across multiple projects, contracts and transport modes throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Manage and support Cost Managers and Commercial Assistants, coordinating priorities and quality of output.
• Act as a key interface between contractors, Commercial Leads, project teams and senior stakeholders across Finance, Legal and Procurement.
• Assess applications, valuations, variations and compensation events, negotiate entitlement and make clear payment recommendations.
• Lead commercial input into procurement strategies, tender documents, evaluations, contract negotiation and finalisation.
• Build cost plans, estimates, risk and contingency allowances; validate consultant and contractor forecasts and estimates at completion.
• Own monthly cost reporting, forecasting, cash flow and affordability reporting for project and programme boards.
• Manage early warnings, claims, disputes, change requests and commercial risk, escalating material issues appropriately.
• Build collaborative contractor relationships while maintaining contractual compliance, governance and value for money.
• Improve commercial systems, processes and resource planning across the function.

Profile

• Senior commercial or quantity surveying experience delivering complex capital projects from inception to completion.
• Strong knowledge of construction contracts, including NEC, and practical experience of variations, compensation events, payments, valuations, final accounts and disputes.
• Confidence negotiating with contractors and leading cross-functional commercial discussions under time pressure.
• Strong cost reporting capability, including forecasts, cash flow, budgets, risk, contingency and presentation to senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing multiple high-value projects and maintaining productive contractor and consultant relationships.
• The ability to lead, allocate work and develop more junior commercial colleagues.
• A degree in Quantity Surveying and commercial chartership such as MRICS or MCIPS.
• Transport or infrastructure experience and previous client-side delivery are desirable.

Job Offer

• 28+ days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional leave.
• Free rail, Metrolink and bus travel to and from work.
• Local Government Pension Scheme and associated life cover.
• Flexible and hybrid working embedded within policy and culture.
• Enhanced family-friendly leave, including maternity, adoption, paternity and fertility treatment support.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wider wellbeing support.
• Professional fee reimbursement where essential to the role.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• A visible career platform within a commercial team that is growing, modernising and able to demonstrate internal progression.
• Salary banding 61,586 to 69,319

TfGM is proud to be an equal opportunities employer that encourages and celebrates diversity. We want to recruit and retain a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and welcome individuals from all backgrounds by committing to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.