Job Title: Commercial Manager
Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: £61, + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Commercial Manager at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.
The role
As a Commercial Manager, you’ll have an exciting opportunity to advance your commercial leadership in a highly regulated environment, work with senior internal and external stakeholders, and grow your expertise in large‑scale, complex construction projects. A career here positions you at the heart of defence, aerospace and engineering, sectors that are dynamic, meaningful and essential to a safer world.
Day-to-day, you’ll join our Naval Nuclear Commercial Team where you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering some of the UK’s most significant defence infrastructure programmes. You’ll influence billion‑pound portfolios and ensure that commercial governance, risk management and contract compliance are handled with precision and confidence.
1. Provide commercial expertise and governance for tenders, contract reviews, change control and risk management across complex infrastructure programmes.
2. Prepare and validate cost estimates, budgets, forecasts, cashflows and value‑of‑work‑done (VOWD) for multiple project work packages.
3. Lead subcontract tendering including bid evaluation, negotiation and contract award.
4. Negotiate NEC4 terms confidently to secure strong commercial outcomes and manage contract scope.
5. Act as an escalation point for high‑risk commercial issues, supporting governance and ensuring project delivery remains compliant and controlled.
This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with 3 days in the office/onsite and 2 days working from home.
Essential experience of the Commercial Manager
6. Significant experience managing large, complex construction contracts and bids within regulated environments.
7. Proven experience managing Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) packages across full project lifecycles.
8. Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build effective stakeholder relationships.
9. In‑depth knowledge of NEC4 ECC, PSC and ECSC (Options A–E).
10. Robust commercial and contractual risk management capability.
Qualifications for the Commercial Manager
11. Degree‑level qualification in Quantity Surveying, Business, Law, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Construction Management or equivalent experience.
12. World Commerce and Contracting (WCC) or MCIPS qualifications - Desirable
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.
Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at