Commercial Manager

About us

Location: Warrington

Salary: Competitive + Bonus + £5000 Car Allowance

Hybrid | Full-time

At United Utilities, we’re building a stronger, greener and healthier future for the North West — To achieve this, we're seeking commercially sharp leaders with strong construction expertise to drive our ambitions forward.

As a FTSE 100 organisation driving one of the UK’s most ambitious infrastructure programmes, we’re looking for an experienced Commercial Manager with a deep Quantity Surveying background and a passion for delivering value, driving performance and shaping commercial strategy across our Operational Maintenance programme.

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, love solving complex commercial challenges and want to influence the way in which we operate that genuinely benefit communities and the environment, this is your next big move.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be stepping into a role where your commercial expertise directly shapes the success of our Network and Treatment Maintenance programmes which supports our base maintenance across the region.

You’ll enjoy:

• 26 days annual leave (rising to 30) + bank holidays ·
• Up to 14% employer pension contribution
• £5,000 car cash allowance · Up to 20% performance-related bonus ·
• Company-funded healthcare plan
• Flexible hybrid working
• A culture that values innovation, collaboration and professional growth, this is a place where commercial professionals can truly make their mark.

What you'll be leading

As a Commercial Manager, you’ll provide commercial leadership across the region, shaping strategy, managing supplier relationships and ensuring our activities deliver maximum value while meeting performance and compliance standards.

Strategic Commercial Leadership

• Drive strategic category and sourcing plans across our Reactive & Maintenance, Managed Service Provider, Non-Core and Developer Services & Metering spend areas, unlocking value and supporting successful programme delivery.
• Influence procurement strategies, specifications and supply chain solutions to maximise innovation, efficiency and whole-life value.
• Champion strong commercial governance, ensuring contracts are effectively managed and consistently deliver expected outcomes from award through to completion.

Stakeholder Influence & Collaboration

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across all of operations.
• Build strong relationships across engineering, operations, procurement and delivery teams.
• Align business strategy with category plans and commercial priorities.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, develop and inspire a team of Quantity Surveyors and Senior Quantity Surveyors, fostering high performance and continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching, direction and commercial expertise to support their development.
• Work closely with the MQS to ensure consistency, compliance and best practice.

Supplier & Contract Performance

• Drive supplier performance, challenge inefficiencies and ensure commercial outcomes are achieved.
• Manage complex commercial relationships and conflicting priorities across multiple stakeholders.
• Support the implementation of new commercial models and deliver measurable savings and improvements

What you'll bring

We’re seeking a confident commercial leader with extensive construction experience and the ability to influence, challenge and deliver results in a dynamic environment.

You’ll need:

A solid Quantity Surveying background with experience managing commercial activity across infrastructure and non-infrastruture projects within the utilities sector

• Strong understanding of NEC4 and contract management best practice.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving commercial strategy.
• Proven ability to deliver savings, improve performance and implement change.
• Experience in SRM, contract governance and cross-functional collaboration.
• A relevant qualification such as RICS, CIPS, MBA or MSc (preferred but not essential).

This role is perfect for someone who has mastered the QS craft and is ready to step into a broader, more strategic commercial leadership position.

About the Operations Commercial Team

• You’ll be embedded within the Operations Commercial Team, ensuring commercial strategy aligns with delivery.
• You’ll work within the County Model, collaborating closely with delivery teams and supply chain partners.
• Every team has an important part to play in delivering our ambitious programmes, and you’ll be at the heart of supporting them to achieve outstanding results.

Impact

Ready to Lead Commercial Excellence in a Major Infrastructure Programme?

If you’re an experienced QS-driven commercial professional who wants to influence operational maintenance delivery, lead talented teams and shape the future of the North West’s water infrastructure, we’d love to hear from you.

This is your chance to step into a role with purpose, scale and impact.