Commercial Manager

Sizewell C’s business is to design, finance, construct, commission, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission the nuclear power plant and related infrastructure at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Overall, whilst the Company is in the construction phase, the Boards’ principal focus is on the development and construction of Sizewell C on time, on budget and to the highest quality and safety standards. The Company is maturing to meet all these requirements.

Sizewell C is economically regulated by OFGEM under the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model similar to other UK electricity distribution networks and Thames Tideway.

Sizewell C construction strategy is to replicate the design of Hinkley Point C, using the majority of the same supply chain, but innovating in the way it is delivered to achieve savings in time and cost of around 20%. The CCO will need to be guided by and incorporate lessons learned from the Hinkley Point C commercial delivery to achieve Sizewell C’s ambition.

Following Financial Completion and Revenue Commencement, Sizewell C is fully funded and is owned by; The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero representing HM Government, La Caisse, Centrica, EDF and Amber Infrastructure.

Sizewell C is entering an exciting phase of growth as we mature into an independent organisation and continue building one of the UK’s largest and most important energy projects. We are now recruiting the below position.

Commercial Manager

• Location:  London, Ipswich
• Contract: Permanent, full-time. 

Closing date: Friday 24th July 2027

What’s in It for You 

• Salary:                            Circa £63,522 (depending on experience) 
• Bonus:                           5% annual target 
• Holiday:                         28 days + bank holidays 
• Pension:                        Market-leading (up to 7.5% employee / 15% employer) 
• Benefits:                        Health cover, cycle-to-work scheme, Hybrid working & ongoing professional development 

The Commercial Manager is responsible, for any contract assigned to them, for all pre and post contract commercial issues relating to a contract on the SZC project.

Nature and Scope:

• The Commercial Manager is an important role within the SZC Supply Chain Group with accountability to the Senior Commercial Manager for the successful commercial administration of one or more SZC contracts. As such the Commercial Manager is empowered to make decisions around the Principle Accountability areas, under the overall guidance of the Senior Commercial Manager and in accordance with delegated levels of authority.
• As Commercial Manager you will be the primary point of commercial contact on the contract/s assigned to you and will you’ll be required to work closely and pro-actively with the other stakeholders at all levels and across all the teams within Nuclear New Build to ensure that the requirements of the individual contracts and their impact upon the overall SZC Project are successfully delivered. 

You will be responsible and accountable for:

Key Site Operational based service contracts which are essential to the delivery of workforce needs, such as catering, accommodation, personal protective equipment (PPE), transport, security and health and wellbeing.

• You will typically be responsible for a contract or range of contracts between £0-£50m in value subject to level of risk or complexity. Contracts entered into are typically from the NEC suite, and managed on Cemar.

• The day to day management of Assistant Commercial Assistants under your control.
• Providing commercial management of contracts during the execution phase (post-award).
• Commercial management for the delivery of contract final account agreements (close out).
• Responsible for the delivery of the contract in accordance with SZC governance requirements to meet SZC Project and business objectives.
• Professional development of self and people within the team.
• You will typically be responsible for a contract or range of contracts between £0-£50m in value subject to level of risk or complexity. Contracts entered into are typically from the NEC suite, and managed on Cemar.

Principal Accountabilities:

Execution Phase:

As Commercial Manager you’re responsible for the commercial administration of the contract during the execution phase including commercially leading and managing the contract/s to successful completion to maximise operational and financial performance and minimise commercial risk in order to help support the safe and cost effective delivery of SZC programme and business objectives. You’ll be responsible for knowing the contract including fundamental matters such as: Scope of Work / Services and Associated Programme; Prices and Rates Schedules; Key Personnel and Arrangements for Contract Administration, incentive arrangements along with administration of commercial management tools including, but not limited to, CEMAR and SAP.

You will work with collaborative behaviours, in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation by ensure that the strategy for collaborative working is followed in terms of leading by example in establishing effective collaborative arrangements with all parties in the integrated team. The Commercial Lead will seek to achieve ‘win-win, equitable commercial outcomes for all parties. Contributing positively to the various collaborative working initiatives, team building activity and behavioural/relationship assessments and seek and act proactively and positively upon feedback on personal attitudes and behaviours, thereby adopting positive and proactive approaches to facilitate early commercial close out.

• As Commercial Manager its your responsibility for ensuring that all commercial activities are conducted throughout execution of the contract in accordance with SZC Supply Chain Procedures including:

• • Participating in the contract kick-off meeting and organising the Supply Chain section of the meeting.
  • Commercially Administering the contract including; Notices and Instructions; Applications, Invoicing and Payment; Variations and Changes; Disputes and Claims; Delays, Extensions of Time, Force Majeure and Liquidated Damages; Bonds and Guarantees; Intellectual Property Rights; Termination; Progress Monitoring and Financial Reviews; Liabilities; Confidentiality Agreements; etc.
  • Management of the Accepted Programme.
  • Manage all commercial correspondence and contractual notices issued in accordance with the contract conditions and SZC Supply Chain Procedures.
  • Ensuring the timely production and administration of payment applications and invoices.
• Ensuring contractual deliverables are met.
  • Leading contract commercial reviews and attending progress reviews where necessary.
  • Recommend mitigating actions on all commercial risk / claim events at the earliest possible time.
  • Implementing contract commercial / financial reporting and participating in periodic contract reviews.
  • Participating in contractor performance management.
  • Maintenance of Contract commercial files and cost records.
• Leading commercial reviews of Contractors delivery and attending valuation, progress and risk reviews where necessary.

Closeout Phase:

Our Commercial Managers have responsibility and accountability for managing the close out phase of each contract including managing the contract Supply Chain Team in the implementation of the strategy for collaborative working by adopting a ‘One Team’ integrated approach with ‘parallel’ working rather than ‘serial’ working. At all times provide commercial support to the Project Manager in the effective delivery of the contract and ensuring formal Contract commercial completion and closure of all the Project Contracts and identification and recording of commercial lessons Learnt. At all times operate in accordance with IMS, rules, procedures to ensure that all contracts are administered within delegation of authority and the overall SZC governance  / assurance regime.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Strong communication skills are key, both written and verbal, to command professional respect at all levels
• Educated to relevant A Level is preferable.
• Able to demonstrate a noteworthy track record of administering successful contracts.
• Effective commercial / contract management skills are essential, with clear knowledge of best practice contract methodologies.
• Strong numerical skills, and commercial ability to make sound decisions on matters of financial value.
• Understanding of contract performance measurement, risk management and change and claim management.
• Familiarity with most common Forms of Contract (NEC) within the power construction industry and major projects and programme environment; with particular knowledge of UK Law and its impact upon the contract and commercial function is essential.
• Good understanding of the UK regulatory framework.

Behavioural Competences

Humility

Recognise the value brought from different cultures and experiences.

Be open to other’s points of view and ideas, be willing to debate and to compromise.

Positivity

Positively challenge poor quality and performance.

Identify solutions at the lowest possible level.

Encourage others to bring new ideas forward.

Respect

Value the rules and environment in which we operate.

Give and receive feedback with respect.

Embrace and engage with new people and ideas.

Solidarity

One team, working closely together and helping each other.

Empowered teams always looking forward.

Shared responsibility for delivery the project outcomes.

Clarity

Communicate clearly and consistently.

Promote collaboration and team alignment.

Clearer and faster decision making.

Drive simplification at all levels.

If this sounds like the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today. 

When joining Sizewell C, you may wonder why you are contacted by colleagues with an EDF email or see the EDF logo on portals that you access and/or documentation you receive; this is because we have partnered with EDF for the provision of a number of support services whilst we complete a successful transition out of the EDF group.

At Sizewell C we encourage and embrace diversity and how it can improve our experience and performance at work. It is a requirement that those who join us have the right to work in the UK. Whilst sponsorship may be a possibility that we can explore, we are fully committed to local recruitment where possible, and those already holding the right to work in the UK.  

To be appointed to this role, you will need to meet the criteria for Security Vetting, which will, ordinarily, require you to have been a resident of the UK for at least three of the past five years.