Role: Commercial Manager

Location: Flexible, hybrid working (Offices in Harwell Oxfordshire, London, Glasgow, Manchester & Bristol + home working) 

Role ID: 2023-1722

Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world

Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world.

Energy & Environment, one of Ricardo plc’s five operating business units, is a leader in sustainability consultancy, solving complex environmental challenges through industry-leading analysis, advice and data. With more than 40 years of heritage in addressing air quality, environmental and sustainability issues, our customers value us for our deep understanding and breadth of services covering the entire value chain from evidence, policy & strategy to implementation.

We are currently looking for a Commercial Manager to join our team of sell-side contract management professionals within Ricardo Energy & Environment.

This role would ideally suit someone with previous experience and/or knowledge of reviewing, negotiating and drafting Commercial Contracts and applications from individuals with a legal qualification are welcome.

Key Responsibilities

The Commercial Manager is responsible for working alongside Business Development teams, Business Managers, Finance and Project Managers to provide commercial support across the project life cycle, providing practical and strategic consultation and guidance to the organisation on all contractual, risk and business decisions that could have an impact on the business from a contractual perspective.  Supporting the business to win successful contracts on appropriate contract terms with clients as diverse as the European Commission, BEIS, NEOM, Thames Water and Coca Cola. 

• Legal: Leading contractual negotiations with clients including payment schedules, intellectual property, liability, and insurance matters.
• Compliance & Governance: Undertaking due diligence procedures and advising the business accordingly. Ensuring teams follow and incorporate Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance guidelines in all aspects of their work.
• Proposals & Tenders: Reviewing proposals and or/tender documents and advising the business on legal, operational, procedural and non-technical aspects of the bid providing the business with the best possible chances of success. Supporting sales and bidding activity with commercial risk assessment, mitigation, and management.
• Processes: Contributing to driving best practice and continuous improvement within the commercial function by identifying gaps in processes, drafting improvements and assisting managers with implementing change and developments to commercial processes and procedures to meet future business demands and improve current efficiency.
• Project Finance: liaising with Finance to ensure values documented in costing templates are accurately reflected in proposal or tender documents.
• Working closely with internal stakeholders e.g. Bid Team, Project Team, Project Managers, Business Development and Finance Personnel.
• Liaison with Ricardo Group Risk and insurers and with the Finance team.
• Dispute resolution.
• Training: Development and delivery of commercial training to the business.
• Internal and external training will be offered, including membership and certification with the World Commerce and Contracting Association.

Key competencies and experience

• The ideal candidate will have some commercial contract (including reviewing, negotiating and drafting) experience, with proven ability to work with a degree of independence.
• A track record in supporting or managing consultancy bids.
• Be able to work as part of a team.
• A sound working knowledge of commercial contract law and of recent developments in related legislation.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Proficient levels of written, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task and deliver to sometimes challenging deadlines.

Skills and behaviours

The successful candidate will typically have a commercial contract legal background or transferable skills, and an understanding of financial practice and experience operating in a commercial / contracting environment. A degree or equivalent in law or a business-related subject or a World Commerce and Contracting certification would be an advantage, but not essential. 

Working here

Ricardo is an exciting and rewarding place to work and you have the opportunity to make a difference. You will work with teams of talented, dedicated, and supportive individuals. Alongside having a fantastic opportunity to develop your career with us through our broad range of projects, mentoring opportunities and a personalised approach to your learning and development. We are always keen to hear from people who have driven, ambition and a flair for innovative thinking.

Wellbeing and work life balance

We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that's working from home, being in the office, or as a hybrid worker. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. Wellbeing is at the core to our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential. Our People are important to us, and we take pride in our wellbeing programmes and policies that support individuals including flexible working, carers policy, mental health first aiders and readily available support through our extensive Employee Assistance programme.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro-actively with all our employees and ensure a culture of inclusivity, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.

Benefits

Our core benefits include 25 days' annual leave, plus 8 flexible bank holidays, a competitive company pension scheme, life assurance and professional subscriptions reimbursement. We also offer a wide range of flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle.

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.