Senior Commercial Manager

Reading, Oxfordshire
Westlakes Recruit
Senior Commercial Manager – Nuclear Defence

Location: Reading, Berkshire / Hybrid Working
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Sector: Nuclear Defence / Major Infrastructure
Recruitment Partner: Westlakes Recruit

About the Opportunity

Westlakes Recruit are seeking an experienced Senior Commercial Manager to join a leading organisation delivering complex, high-value infrastructure and engineering programmes within the UK nuclear defence sector.
Based in Reading, this is a senior leadership opportunity for a commercially astute professional with extensive experience in commercial strategy, contract management and procurement across major infrastructure projects.
With a strong understanding of NEC3 and NEC4 forms of contract, you will take ownership of commercial performance, governance, risk management and contractual delivery across strategically important projects.
Working closely with senior leadership, project delivery teams, clients and supply chain partners, you will provide strategic commercial direction, drive financial performance and ensure robust contractual management throughout the project lifecycle, from pre-contract strategy and procurement through to execution and final account.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in protecting commercial interests, maximising opportunities, managing contractual risk and supporting the long-term growth of the business.
Working pattern: Hybrid, combining office-based and home working.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior commercial leadership across major infrastructure and engineering projects within the nuclear defence sector.
• Develop and implement commercial strategies aligned with business objectives, programme delivery and long-term growth.
• Oversee commercial delivery throughout the full project lifecycle, including pre-contract planning, procurement, tendering, contract award and project execution.
• Lead the administration and management of NEC3 and NEC4 contracts, ensuring effective contractual compliance, governance and commercial control.
• Direct tendering activities, bid evaluations, contract negotiations and key commercial decision-making.
• Maintain oversight of cost management, budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting to achieve commercial and project performance targets.
• Identify, assess and manage commercial risks and opportunities, implementing effective mitigation strategies and maximising value.
• Provide strategic commercial advice to senior management, project directors and key stakeholders.
• Lead, manage and develop commercial teams, promoting high performance, accountability and continuous professional development.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with clients, subcontractors and supply chain partners.
• Oversee change management, compensation events, contractual claims and dispute avoidance.
• Drive continuous improvement across commercial processes, governance, reporting and contractual best practice.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures and relevant industry standards.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Extensive experience in senior commercial management across major infrastructure, engineering or complex project environments.
• Strong practical knowledge of NEC3 and NEC4 contracts, including contract administration, commercial strategy and risk management.
• Proven experience leading commercial delivery across large-scale, high-value projects or programmes.
• A track record of developing commercial and procurement strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Expertise in cost control, financial forecasting, change management, compensation events, claims and final account management.
• Significant experience in tendering, contract negotiations, subcontract management and supply chain engagement.
• The ability to interpret complex contractual and technical information and develop commercially robust solutions.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence senior-level decision-makers.
• Experience mentoring and developing commercial professionals within a demanding project environment.
• A proactive, commercially focused approach, balancing risk, performance and contractual compliance.

Experience within the nuclear, defence or wider regulated infrastructure sectors would be highly advantageous.