Role Title: Commercial Manager
Contracting Authority: DSRL (Dounreay Site Restoration Limited)
Contract Length: 12 months
Location: Thurso - Full time on-site
Rate: £68 Per Hour Inside IR35
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Commercial Manager to join the leadership team at Dounreay, playing a critical role in acting as the commercial interface between site leadership, central commercial functions, and wider programme delivery teams. This pivotal role ensures that commercial strategies are operationally grounded, deliver measurable value, and align with Dounreay's long-term goals.
As the strategic interface between the Dounreay Managing Director, site leadership, and central commercial functions, you will ensure the seamless integration of the commercial operating model into Dounreay's day-to-day operations, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture. The role will require you to lead a large cross-functional team and work closely with the Commercial Portfolio Manager to manage workload and efficiency. A minimum of 75% of your time will be spent on-site at Dounreay.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnering: Lead business partnering to align commercial initiatives with Dounreay's operational and strategic goals, ensuring commercial strategies are operationally grounded.
Cross-functional Leadership: Lead a cross-functional team comprising procurement, commercial, contract management, and QS professionals, driving two-way alignment between category strategies and site operations.
Expert Commercial Advice: Provide expert commercial advice to senior stakeholders using market trends and procurement best practices, influencing strategic planning through commercial insights and risk analysis.
Category Strategy Integration: Champion the integration of category strategies into daily site operations, ensuring they align with site performance and operational needs.
Contract & Sourcing Management: Oversee sourcing and contract management strategies, driving cost efficiency, compliance, and supplier performance.
Risk Management & Mitigation: Manage commercial risks, including supplier performance, market fluctuations, and operational risks across large programmes or projects.
Change Management: Support change initiatives, helping the business adapt to shifting requirements while ensuring seamless stakeholder engagement.
Supplier Relationship Management: Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships, using supplier relationship management (SRM) practices to improve performance and drive continuous improvement.
Promote Commercial Excellence: Lead efforts to promote commercial excellence across the business, building commercial capability through mentoring, coaching, and training.
Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a liaison between Dounreay leadership, category managers, other Commercial Business Partners, and senior stakeholders across Dounreay and related sites.
Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with procurement principles, public contracting regulations, and governance expectations, particularly in a regulated environment like nuclear.
Budget & Cost Control: Use strong commercial acumen to support the development and execution of strategies that deliver cost savings, value creation, and supplier innovation.
Leadership & Mentoring: Lead and develop a high-performance team, promoting collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
Qualifications and Experience
Educational Background: National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 6 / SCQF level 9/10, e.g., Degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent.
Professional Qualification: Appropriate professional qualification in procurement, commercial management, or a related field.
Leadership Development: Training or certificate in coaching, leadership development, or similar fields, with evidence of continuing professional development.
Commercial & Contract Experience: Proven experience in a senior commercial role, with expertise in cost modelling, supplier risk analysis, contract negotiation, and commercial strategy execution.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience in driving cross-functional collaboration, particularly with procurement, operations, finance, legal, and project teams.
Nuclear/Regulated Environment: Experience of working and implementing change in a highly regulated environment (nuclear, defence, or similar), with a clear understanding of assurance and governance expectations.
Team Leadership: Strong experience in leading and managing cross-functional teams, with the ability to influence and align teams to common goals.
Stakeholder Engagement: Significant experience working with, managing, and influencing senior stakeholders, especially in complex operating environments.
Risk Management: Experience managing commercial, legal, and operational risks across large programmes or projects, with a focus on cost control, contractor accountability, and risk transfer.
Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to secure favorable contract terms and drive continuous improvement in supplier performance.
Procurement Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of procurement principles and public contracting regulations, particularly in the context of major infrastructure projects.
Desirable Skills
Nuclear Industry: Experience within the nuclear sector or similar highly regulated industries.
NEC Knowledge: Understanding of NEC contract terms and experience in conducting defined cost audits.
Large Infrastructure Projects: Familiarity with the specific challenges of cost control, risk transfer, and contractor accountability in large-scale infrastructure projects.
Please note that this role will require security clearance.
If you are qualified and interested, please apply or reach out to (url removed)