Commercial Manager

Job Introduction

Opportunities are available for two Commercial Managers, one with a focus on Dig & Lay and one with a focus on Civils.  The roles report to the Head of Commercial and are accountable for the management of strategic framework agreements within NGED (National Grid Electricity Distribution).

The role holders will be focused on maximising the commercial performance of identified strategic supplier(s) for NGED through effective use of data, commercial management and robust supplier relationship management, in co-ordination with the appropriate NGED functional team(s) and National Grid Group Procurement.

The successful candidates will engage across the business and with key supply chain partners, to build strong relationships with stakeholders, whilst identifying challenges and opportunities for efficiency and continuous improvement.

Engagement with diverse stakeholders both internally and externally will be critical to success, requiring a strong focus on the criticality of robust data, change management and maintaining close engagement with the Group Procurement Team relating to current and future contracts.

As part of our hybrid working approach this role offers a mix of office and home working, therefore the base location can be any of our NGED offices and this will be agreed with the successful candidate.

* Personal Contract - Salary Circa £68,000 + Benefits - subject to experience.

Main responsibilities

• Accountability for management and administration of strategic NGED contracts, ensuring contractual commitments are upheld by both NGED and the supply chain
• Key point of escalation for disputes arising during the delivery of works, providing mediation and settlement in line with contractual provisions
• Under the direction of the Head of Commercial Manager, be responsible for performance management of strategic contracts, working closely with the business functions and the contractor(s), when required along with the Commercial Enablement Manager to set, develop, and monitor a range of standard and contract specific performance metrics
• Commercial performance reporting and insight for NGED executive, Head of Commercial management, NGED functional teams and contractors as required
• Ownership of supplier relationship management discussions, coordinating engagement and input from the business functions, and ensuring a standardized approach across all relevant supply chain partners
• Management of compliance & audit activities for strategic contracts ranging from data led, remote reviews, to on-site audit of supply chain partner delivery
• Identification of improvement opportunities for strategic contracts aligned to maximizing value against key NGED strategic objectives and consumer value
• Responsible for engagement with National Grid’s Global Procurement organization to develop future commercial strategies, bringing delivery knowledge and providing a conduit for NGED requirements into consideration of future approaches

Ideal candidate

Are you an experienced commercial / contract management / procurement professional, with a track record of delivery in high performing supply chain environments?

Have you previously worked in a regulated environment, or do you have the capability to quickly build this knowledge?

We are looking for a highly organised strategist who can competently identify strategic implications, who has great financial / P&L skills and is able to effectively plan ahead and see opportunities for delivering value.

It’s essential that you are a well-rounded negotiator, with the knowledge and experience to build strong relationships internally and externally.

Just as important is the ability to demonstrate excellent leadership in managing people, capability and talent including:

• Developing diverse, high performing teams
• Recognising the benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• The ability to listen, learn and self-reflect, welcoming critical feedback

Travel to other locations forms part of the role; therefore you must hold a UK driving licence.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At National Grid, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace for everyone.

So if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one.

National Grid Electricity Distribution is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Company, colleagues and customers.

This role is subject to a satisfactory Barring Service (DBS) check.  Depending on the role, different levels of screening and vetting are required. Some roles require a triannual check.