Make your mark with Colas Rail UK
At Colas Rail, differences matter. Join a team where being your authentic self is respected, encouraged, and vital to our success. At Colas Rail you'll be at home. You'll be welcomed into an inclusive team where there's a role for every talent and a close-knit, familial culture. You will also get the opportunity to help us transform transportation, set new standards, and dare to be different.
This is true because...
* We value everyone as part of the same team.
* We treat everyone as equals - and everyone is approachable, from the CEO down.
* We put you in control of your career to lead and grow in any way you want.
* We have a culture of care, from safe working environments to diversity and inclusion.
* We're renowned for innovation, adopting new ideas, and daring to be different.
* We are building a more sustainable future and our projects impact infrastructure for generations.
About Us
Step into the world of Colas Rail, where a century of expertise merges with a daring spirit to shape the future of rail infrastructure.
At Colas Rail, we deliver transport solutions for sustainable mobility. We are a leading rail infrastructure business with on track plant and freight capabilities. As a subsidiary of the Colas Group, we are part of over a hundred years' experience in delivering major innovations across our sector. Every day, thousands of trains run on tracks built, designed, or maintained by Colas Rail.
Leading by our Values
Our values, Respect, Commitment, Pioneering and Sharing are at the heart of everything we do. These values feed into our main strategies and accompany us daily in realising our ambitions.
We Respect our employees, celebrate diversity and foster a culture of safety, care and respect for everyone we interact with. We care about our employee’s wellbeing and create an environment of inclusivity and support.
We Commit by showing up wholeheartedly. When we commit together, we invest in everyone’s success. We invest in our customers, our teams and our colleagues, and we lead with safety, integrity, passion, purpose, ethics and transparency.
We Share as we all hold knowledge that could and should be shared, enabling us to grow and making us a strong collective. We have a passion for excellence, celebrating achievements and nurturing talent.
We Pioneer to push boundaries, imagine what does not yet exist and dare to do what others do not. We innovate with ambition, and we find solutions.
Even if you don't meet every requirement, please don't rule yourself out, we still encourage you to apply if your skills, values, and experience align to the role.
Purpose of the Role
To manage the commercial team working within your allocated portfolio of multidisciplinary light rail projects (primarily within the Midland Metro Alliance structure - MMA), from inception through to final account and close out, to deliver maximum commercial results.
An example of the current type of project delivered by the MMA is the Birmingham Eastside Metro extension to Digbeth which will serve the High Speed 2 (HS2) station at Curzon Street, separating from the existing West Midlands Metro line at Bull Street.
The role of Commercial Manager is to ensure that all pre- and post-contract commercial and contractual activities are conducted in a professional manner, and in accordance with relevant procedures and strategies. They are to implement and manage procedures and ensure that contracts are controlled to deliver the agreed contract margins and cash projections, whilst mitigating business risk and commercial exposure.
Responsible for day-to-day commercial management, including the management and control of all our contractual rights, obligations, and liabilities; with particular emphasis on the identification, recording, and management of variations, as well as supporting our operations management in operational cost control on all our activities.
Key Responsibilities
• Working with the Commercial Lead you will manage, develop and train the commercial teams across your portfolio of projects.
• Raise commercial awareness and embed commercial focus and best practise across each project team.
• Manage contractual matters from inception to close out via in depth understanding of the contract and its implications for profit delivery.
• Assisting in the preparation of contract documents, including bills of quantities, specifications, drawings
• Manage the Risk & Opportunities process to allow for the identification of Risk and Opportunities during the tender and construction phases and ensure the Commercial function delivers contractual solutions and strategies that balance these risk and opportunities.
• Set and manage budgets ensuring all costs are correctly allocated into the relevant WBS/ Cost Codes
• Establishment of robust project life cycle cost forecasts updated monthly and monitored against agreed targets
• Proactively drive the recording of all contractual entitlements, ensure timely notification of events and accurate pricing and substantiation of change
• Establish and maintain rigorous cost controls, including early warning systems, Change Requests and provide robust accurate financial data and management reports on each project through the monthly reporting cycle including EVM, in line with company and Client requirements.
• Provide procurement support to ensure each project is delivered safely, timely, at the least cost and to optimal quality.
• Ensure all procurement expenditure has been validated by the operational delivery team and identified under the budget as necessary to deliver the project
• Deliver contractually agreed cash flow and ensure all applications for payment are submitted / assessed in line with the contractual timescales.
• Ensure all valid Supply Chain payments are made in line with the relevant supplier agreement.
• Negotiate and agree contractual disputes and final accounts within DFA levels
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested
What We Offer
• Competitive Salary
• 26 days Annual Leave
• Industry leading Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Long Service Award
• Season Ticket Loan
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation and creativity, and we actively seek to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, heard, valued and respected. Regardless of background, disability, age, race, religion, or gender, everyone is welcome at Colas Rail.
We strive to promote equity and eliminate discrimination, actively seeking to create a workforce reflective of communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, offering flexible and inclusive adjustments to the interview process.
As part of a positive action drive to address under-representation we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010.
We are proudly part of the Disability Confidence Scheme, and as such we operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you meet the minimum requirements.
On joining Colas Rail you’ll have access to our growing Employee Network Groups including Railbow (representing the LGBTQ+ community), BeyonDisability (representing those with disabilities) and Cross Culture (representing people from ethnic backgrounds). Everyone is welcome to join our network groups whether you are part of the community or an ally.
Work life balance is important to us; flexible working options are available where feasible and dependant on the role. Please discuss this during the interview process.
Join us in making a positive impact! Apply and be part of a team that values diversity and embraces unique perspectives.