Commercial Contracts Manager

at  Severn Trent

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

This opportunity sits within our Severn Trent Services business, a commercial arm of the Severn Trent Group. It’s an exciting time to be joining Severn Trent Services – we’re on an upwards trajectory, our business is growing and we’re looking for new talent to join us on our journey!
The Commercial Contracts Manager plays a key role in providing commercial advice to all parts of the business on existing and new contracts, supporting the adoption of best commercial practice and management of business risks and costs.
You will be part of Severn Trent Service’s small team of go-to experts on contract matters, including our existing PFI contract with the MoD, (commonly known as project Aquatrine).
Working with customers, external stakeholders, and our internal teams, you’ll provide advice on a broad range of contract matters, including choice of commercial terms, scope queries, disputes, and contract compliance – you’ll play a key role in getting projects into contract and ensuring the efficient management of those contracts.

Some of the other key accountabilities of this position include:

• Review customer terms and conditions for new business opportunities, identifying risks/opportunities, advising on compliance with commercial guidelines and supporting commercial negotiations to get projects into contract.
• Aligning customer terms and conditions with our supply chain contracts, to minimise risks to Severn Trent and managing the contract change processes.
• Take the lead in receiving, investigating, and resolving internal contract scope queries, often involving land registry and leases. You’ll also ensure compliance with all customers, internal and external policies, and procedures.
• Liaise with a wide range of internal stakeholders including Legal, Service Delivery, Engineering, Finance and Contract Management colleagues.
• Represent STS at commercial and contractual meetings with MOD and other Customers and support project specific insurance inputs and liaise with internal and external insurers.

So, what does our ideal candidate look like? You will be an experienced Contract / Commercial Manager, with some experience in the water or utilities sector, who is familiar with commercial Terms and Conditions and standard forms of contract, ideally including NEC3/4.
We’re looking for someone with practical experience of getting projects into contract and managing contract delivery, coupled with a good understanding of the underlying contract terms and mechanisms – you don’t have to be a lawyer, but you need to know your way around a contract.
You will be excellent at communication across a variety of mediums and audiences, and you’ll be able to demonstrate your business acumen and commercial awareness. Attention to detail is pivotal in your ability to succeed in this role.
It would be great if you had a relevant professional qualification, (i.e. MICE, MRICS, CIPS or equivalent), but if you’re currently working towards that, we would welcome your application too. We would also love it if you had a working knowledge of PFI / PPP contracts and some experience working in the water sector, however it isn’t essential as we are able to support the development of your knowledge in those areas.
It is essential that you have a full UK driving licence as there will be some travel required.
We welcome people from all walks of life and celebrate individuality as we know diverse minds, experiences and backgrounds help us to learn and better serve our communities. We employ thousands of people from across our community who really care about what they do. Because that is how we do what we do.
And when it comes to inclusion, we’re making sure we keep up the progress with our wonderful working groups – LGBTQ+, Women in Operations & STEM, Disability and Ethnicity, who help us do just that.