Commercial Manager

Job description

Who are we?

GWR is the proud custodian of Brunel's railway - one of the most prestigious networks in the world. We have some of the newest trains in the country and exciting plans to extend our services. With more than one hundred million passenger journeys each year, we carry people to over 275 stations in the South West, from Cornwall and South Wales to London, passing through beautiful country and some of the UK's top tourist destinations.

We are transforming the way people think about train travel, empowering our team of over 6,000 people from all different backgrounds to make it a great experience for our customers. Together, we will revalue rail as a very special way to travel - relaxing, fast, efficient, friendly and fun.

About the job?

The Commercial Manager will be the subject matter expert for the Business Development team for commercial matters relating to Funding Agreements and Network Rail Agreements. This includes developing commercial strategies, leading on the drafting and negotiation of these agreements, and commercially supporting Engineering and other non-stations projects, as and when required.

The Commercial Manager role will have a unique perspective on GWR projects and will ensure that the commercial arrangements for projects help us to deliver against GWR's values.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Identifying optimum contracting arrangements and setting commercial strategies for complex, multifaceted, multi-agency projects, including new stations.
• Selecting the form of agreement for projects in consultation with the other party. These agreements include, but are not limited to: GWR, Network Rail and third-party Funding Agreements; GWR's Cooperation and Bridging Agreements; and Network Rail's Basic Asset Protection Agreement (BAPA), Asset Protection Agreement (APA), and Development Services Agreement (DSA).
• Leading on the drafting and review of agreements, in consultation with the relevant members of the project team.
• Leading on negotiations throughout the drafting and finalisation of agreements with parties including, but not limited to, Network Rail, local authorities, housing developers and other train operating companies.
• Identifying and mitigating risks in agreements; where risks cannot be mitigated, ensuring these risks are escalated.
• Managing the governance process for the finalisation and execution of agreements.
• Preparing a handover document upon the execution of agreements to ensure colleagues can manage these agreements effectively.
• Supporting colleagues managing agreements to ensure obligations are met and if necessary, variations to agreements are executed, to ensure GWR's compliance with agreements.
• Acting as the subject matter expert for all commercial matters relating to Funding Agreements and Network Rail agreements.
• Supporting legal representatives with delivering land transactions for projects. This includes reviewing Heads of Terms, Deeds of Surrender, Leases and Supplemental Leases.
• Inputting to GWR, FirstGroup and DfT periodic and quarterly reports, and leading on commercial workstreams at meetings, as appropriate.

You'll need to be:

• An excellent communicator, written and verbal, together with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate and influence at all levels
• Able to fully interpret contracts and lead in their drafting
• Able to have a strong eye for detail in order to analyse financial information
• Able to produce formal reports
• Articulate with good presentation skills
• Skilled in risk management and mitigation
• A strong lateral thinker and problem solver
• Adept in IT skills including proficiency with Microsoft Office packages
• Committed to effective communications and customer service

As a minimum you'll need to have:

• Possession of a degree qualification, or appropriate professional knowledge (such as in planning, transport, economic development)
• Understanding of the Network Rail processes and how they apply to projects
• Understanding of the principles of commercial negotiations and contracting
• Familiarity with rail franchises or similar agreements, construction projects, and Funding and Network Rail Agreements
• Experience of land and property transactions

About the location?

This role can be based anywhere on the GWR network. Some travel will be required to locations across the network.

Working Pattern?

Monday to Friday, 37 hours a week.

We are also offering flexible working.

The Reward?

As well as a great team environment and comprehensive training, all GWR colleagues enjoy a range of benefits including on-going development, defined benefit pension scheme, free rail travel across the GWR network for you and your family, company-sponsored health care plan, discounted shopping and gym membership and an employee assistance programme.

We all belong at GWR. This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/