Commercial Manager

Job title: Commercial Manager

Location: Manchester

Salary: Dependent on experience, skills and location

An introduction to our unique company…

Waterman Aspen welcomes engineers and technical specialists to make their mark by working on some of the biggest infrastructure projects or in delivering professional services across the UK. We specialise in secondment services, providing the right people, with the right skills for the job, at the right time. Our diverse client base includes local authorities, consultancies, public bodies and construction companies.

We take pride in supporting our colleagues throughout their careers. We’re a people-centric organisation, placing mutual respect and dignity in the highest regard. This is reflected in our approach to issues such as mental health and wellbeing, family friendly policies, social value, and net zero. We’re a Disability Confident Employer and an accredited Real Living Wage Employer.

We have big ambitions for the future, and we’d love for you to be part of it.

Your career with Waterman Aspen…

You’ll get all the benefits of being employed by us, while working on a variety of projects for our clients. Joining Waterman Aspen as Commercial Manager will see you as a key member of the Rail team and you can expect:

• A varied client base where you can apply and develop your skills
• Buy-in from clients to assist in your technical progression
• Further exposure to your chosen industry - increasing your awareness, knowledge and sharpening your skills
• The flexibility to broaden your horizons with each new secondment, without changing your employer
• Career development and training to reach your professional or academic qualification goals supported by our own network of mentors and managers
• Paid subscription to a professional body of your choice
• Regular social events and volunteering opportunities

Experience required…

Essential:

• Proven experience as a Commercial Manager within the infrastructure, construction, or rail sectors.
• Strong understanding of commercial and financial management principles, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage commercial teams and support project delivery.
• Experience in contract negotiation, administration, and management (e.g., NEC, JCT).
• Ability to identify and manage commercial risks and opportunities, including cost control and value engineering.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and relationship management across clients, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) in a relevant subject such as Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or Construction Management.
• Eligibility to work in the UK and a Full UK driving licence.

Desirable:

• Achieved (or working toward) RICS Chartered status (MRICS) or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Experience in dispute resolution and claims management.
• Exposure to commercial strategy development and implementation across large-scale or multidisciplinary projects.
• Familiarity with digital tools and systems for commercial reporting and analysis (e.g. CEMAR, Oracle, PowerBI)