Job Description

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!
We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by .
Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you! to learn about our vision for a simpler, better, greener railway, and to learn about our approach to safety and how it's at the heart of everything we do.
About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.
We're also a employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.
If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!
Brief Description
Route Services is a division of Network Rail that provides the Routes with services so they can help Network Rail deliver a better railway for a better Britain. We support the Routes with a myriad of services and supplies they need to maintain and operate the railway To learn more, please to watch our video.
This role sits within Supply Chain Operations (SCO), an area of the business which supplies and delivers the logistics, materials, components, rail and road fleet that enable the maintenance and renewal of the railway.
SCO keeps the materials, machinery and components required by its customers moving - making sure they are on-site when needed so work can go ahead as planned and on schedule. Watch our video
Working with us is
About the role (External)
The role will support two portfolios:
Wheeled Plant - Primarily supporting the Rail Delivery Train project, which is a high-profile multi-year multi-million pound project , the successful candidate will also be supporting other wheeled plant contracts within the portfolio
Road Fleet - NR operates a fleet of c10,000 road vehicles and has in place a number of contracts to support this fleet, ranging from tyres to telematics, from fleet management to training. This portfolio is transitioning into the Strategic Programme organisation and this role will be key to supporting that transition from a commercial perspective
You will also be able to demonstrate experience of the commercial management of NEC4 based contracts.
Key Accountabilities
1. Establish and implement appropriate commercial strategies including effective project cost management and provide feedback into subsequent procurement processes.
2. Provide commercial management of framework agreements and supporting contracts leading the commercial review of contractor delivery, attending valuation and progress meetings as necessary.
3. Initiate estimating and risk and value management of projects in a timely manner during the project life cycle, recommending appropriate mitigating actions on commercial/risk events at the earliest opportunity.
4. Lead the negotiation of all prices under existing contracts/framework agreements (including the negotiation of target costs) and fully participate in the associated Quantitative Risk Assessment and Value Management Workshops.
5. Monitor and manage all project reporting such that it is accurately maintained and recorded in accordance with company reporting systems. Explain all variances to outturns, period forecasts, AFCs and budget/authority to Commercial Director, proposing mitigating actions at the earliest opportunity.
6. Lead and deploy the commercial team in the management of all live projects ensuring they are adequately resourced from a commercial perspective.
7. Provide pro-active expertise, advice, and governance on all contract/scope changes in accordance with change control systems, recommending or authorising appropriate action within delegated authority and progressing the timely resolution of contract variations.
8. Manage all commercial correspondence and contractual notices issued in accordance with contractual conditions to confirm whether Network Rail's contractual position is clearly defined.
9. Identify emerging problems, report contractual claims and support in the management and resolution of legal and/or commercial disputes in conjunction with Functional management as appropriate.
10. Establish appropriate compliance controls and audit regimes to achieve adherence to Network Rail's relevant procedures, Group and company standards.
11. Lead the final account settlements on all projects to manage close out as per the project authority, project plan and within agreed timescales. Monitor all multi-year framework agreements, to agreement and reconciled annual accounts within 6 months of each year-end.
12. Support demonstration of efficiencies and continual improvement of estimating by undertaking cost analysis of completed projects and feedback as per Cost Allocation Feedback process.
13. Support with pre and post contract procurement activities as appropriate acting as role model for commercial staff, providing coaching and development as appropriate.
Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications
Essential

• Knowledge of railway and construction industry conditions of contract

• Educated to degree level or equivalent and professional qualification.

• Experienced negotiator

• Experience of resolution of construction contract disputes

• 5 years' relevant railway and/or construction experience

• Knowledge of railway commercial contract management

Desirable

• Experience of managing and developing a team of staff

• Good communication skills both written and oral

• Experience of contractors accounts

How to apply (External)
Vacancy type: This role is permanent.
Location: This position is based in Baskerville House Birmingham. Commercial team members and members in the wider programme team are located in Milton Keynes and Waterloo, and you will be required to travel to these locations for work from time to time.
Hours: 35 hours per week with hybrid working - 3 days in the office - and travel as required.
Salary range: 55,596 to 65,966 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
Closing date: 7 November 2025. Late applicants will not be accepted. This role is being advertised internally and externally.
You will need to complete a supporting statement addressing how you meet the essential criteria, please complete this as part of the application process and add this to your CV in one document. Applicants who do not complete this statement will not be shortlisted. Please see attached guide - How to complete Supporting Statement.
If you cannot access the guide, please contact and we will send you a copy.
Click 'Apply now' to submit your application.
If you would like to speak to the Resourcing Team, please contact
If you would like any reasonable adjustments support during your application or throughout the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact the Resourcing Team who will happily assist.
Below are some examples of adjustments we can make: * Changing a provision, practice or 'the way things are done'
For example, we can give candidates extra time to complete online, tasks or interviews as needed. * Changing a physical feature of our workplace
For example, office/room layout can be adapted to accommodate individual needs. * Providing extra equipment or assistance
For example, we can provide sign language interpreters and support workers where needed. Alternative document formats can be made available.
There are lots of other adjustments we can consider - please just ask!
The recruitment process will consist of shortlisted candidates being invited to take part in the following;
Competency Based Interview
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by phone or email.
For further information about how we recruit, please visit:
Drugs and Alcohol Standard:
For some of our roles all prospective external candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.
More information can be found in our document.
You can visit for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.
Network Rail Benefits -
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
***Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****

Skills Required