Assistant Commercial Manager

Who We Are

Join Our Team at Network Rail!

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

Two of our largest devolved regions, Eastern and North West & Central, are strengthening their Commercial teams at a pivotal time for the railway. Spanning the East and West Coast mainlines, these regions play a leading role in shaping, managing and delivering some of the most high-profile infrastructure projects across England - from major cities to rural communities.

Read the attached candidate pack to find out more about working in the commercial function at Network Rail.

You can learn more about each region, and the routes within, here:

Eastern region - Network Rail

North West & Central region - Network Rail.

We're proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we'd love to hear from you. We're committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably. Discover more about our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

About The Role

Looking to take the next step in your commercial career?

We're recruiting Commercial Managers to help deliver some of the railway's most important investment projects across England. You'll play a central role in managing project costs, contracts, commercial risk and contractor performance, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and deliver value for passengers and taxpayers.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work on complex infrastructure programmes while developing your commercial expertise within one of the UK's largest infrastructure organisations.

Locations: Derby, London (Stratford), Manchester, Rugby and York. As part of your application, you will be asked to specify which location you are applying for.

Salary: circa £30,000 - £32,000 depending on experience.

About

Read the attached information pack to learn more about the Commercial function at Network Rail. You can also hear from our people about what it's like to work at Network Rail:

Assessments: Assessments are expected to take place in-person in October 2026, across various dates and locations. More details of these will be released to candidates who pass the sifting criteria.

Candidates should be comfortable with occasional travel to client sites, regional offices, or other business locations as needed.

We may close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

What's in it for you?

We offer a strong reward package designed to support your career, wellbeing and life outside work, including:

• 28 days annual leave - with the opportunity to buy and/or sell up to 5 days
• Financial support towards relevant educational and professional qualifications, where these align with your development plan and business needs, subject to funding availability.
• Access to a range of contributory pension schemes
• The potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train
• Privileged staff travel - Discretionary leisure travel discount of 75%
• We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted.
• A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance
• Hybrid working where possible and enhanced family-friendly support
• Take advantage of healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community

To find out more about what we offer, click here

Your Experience And Skills

What you'll be doing:

While there may be specific role-related duties not listed here, in general you'll support the commercial management of a diverse range of projects and contracts, assisting with cost evaluations, payment certification, procurement activities and contract administration.

Working closely with project teams and suppliers, you'll help maintain commercial controls, monitor project performance and contribute to ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and provide value for money.

You may also support external customer projects that interact with Network Rail infrastructure, helping protect our assets while facilitating safe and successful project delivery.

What You'll Have

• Ability to work to deadlines.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Basic level of commercial awareness
• Basic negotiation skills with ability to influence decision making.
• Computer literate including ability to utilise in-house and external software

As part of your application, you'll be asked to explain how your skills, experience, knowledge and qualifications meet the essential criteria. Please also upload your latest CV when prompted.

We would also like but it isn't crucial to have/to be:

• Able to effectively communicate at the appropriate levels, both internally and externally
• Membership of an appropriate professional organisation, or working towards membership
• Experience of using electronic sourcing and/or procurement systems

Ideal For

Graduates, assistant quantity surveyors, commercial assistants, procurement professionals and individuals looking to establish a career within commercial project delivery.