Commercial and Contract Manager

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.

About the job

The purpose of this role is to provide strategic commercial oversight and supplier relationship management across a defined portfolio of contracts. Operating as a central point of accountability, the Commercial & Contract manager supports Business Contract Owners by attending quarterly, bi-annual, or annual contract review meetings, ensuring governance cadence is maintained and performance is actively monitored according to the SRM Policy and associated Handbook.

This role is responsible for driving contract performance through structured evaluation of KPIs, SLAs, and compliance with procurement legislation governing in-life contract management. It ensures that supplier delivery is measured, challenged, and continuously improved, with a focus on cost-effectiveness, risk mitigation, and value creation.

Where contracts span multiple functions or impact the wider organisation, the Commercial & Contract Manager provides central ownership and strategic coordination, going beyond day-to-day operational service delivery to embed consistent SRM practices, escalate risks, and align supplier engagement with SWRL's broader commercial goals.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Oversee a portfolio of contracts and suppliers to ensure delivery against agreed outcomes throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Act as the primary interface with suppliers, maintaining strong working relationships and ensuring consistent engagement.
• Schedule and lead performance reviews, progress meetings, and governance sessions in line with tiering and cadence requirements.
• Manage in-life contract changes, including legal variations in collaboration with Procurement, and oversee general contract administration.
• Monitor contract success through structured evaluation of KPIs and SLAs, ensuring performance is tracked, challenged, and improved.
• Provide accurate supplier performance data and contribute to regular reporting cycles, dashboards, and governance packs.
• Chair regular meetings between SWRL and service providers, key suppliers, and internal stakeholders to drive alignment and accountability.
• Collaborate with Finance Business Partners to manage budgets, track spend, and update forecasts across the contract portfolio.
• Report directly to the Senior Supplier Relationship Manager, and provide cover for other Contract Managers within your functional area when required
• Ensure all sourcing activity, contract variations, and R2P processes are compliant with SWRL policies, procedures, governance frameworks, and values.
• Proactively manage cost, risk, and compliance through robust contract oversight, ensuring trading terms align with SWRL's legal obligations.
• Engage stakeholders and contract managers across the business to review contracts, identify efficiencies, and support proactive contract planning. Record and report any savings achieved to contribute to overall team targets.
• Act as a key negotiator for in-life contract variations, ensuring governance is followed and coordinating with Procurement colleagues to execute renewals and reviews, including full sign off by SWRL and supplier representatives.
• Contribute to the development of Procurement Strategies and Tender Support documentation.
• Participate in tender evaluations using the e-tendering platform, ensuring compliance with company policies and providing feedback to improve system efficiency.
• Lead contract mobilisation following procurement activity, including the production and handover of formal documentation to Business Contract Owners.
• Maintain the central contract repository, ensuring all completed contracts, approval forms, and supporting documents are stored in line with governance procedures.
• Champion continuous improvement, best value, and quality enhancement across the team and wider departments by challenging existing practices and identifying opportunities for better outcomes.
• Ensure timely completion of periodic reporting requirements, including performance, compliance, and financial metrics.
• Promote the importance of contract management across the organisation, embedding best practice and supporting capability uplift.
• Support the Procurement function with any additional reasonable requests as directed by the Head of Procurement.

You'll need to be:

• Contract Management process understanding
• Knowledge of Indirect Categories
• Good stakeholder engagement
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels including 3rd parties.
• Experienced in cost analysis techniques.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and to short deadlines.
• Commercially astute, with knowledge of contracts
• Logical and structured approach to problem solving
• Well organised.
• Numerate with ability to produce reasonably complex analytical models.
• Experienced IT user of Word, Excel, and other MS Office software.
• Legal qualifications with good understanding and application of contract law.
• Procurement and Supplier relationship management.

About the location

South Western Railways HQ is based on the 4th Floor at South Bank Central, a stone's throw from the River Thames and a 10 minute walk from our busiest station, Waterloo. It is local to many well-known attractions, restaurants and retail facilities and is easily accessible by public transport. 

Working pattern

Working an average of 37 hours per week over 5 days 

Monday to Friday (additional days as required)

The Reward

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR. Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below.  We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/