Senior Commercial Manager (Metrolink Franchising)

Posting date:	05 February 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Competitive
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	07 March 2026
Location:	Manchester, M1 3BG
Company:	inploi
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	75783237

Summary

Are you a commercially astute professional about shaping the future of public transport?

A highly knowledgeable and driven Senior Commercial Manager is needed to play a key role in the continued success and evolution of Manchester's Metrolink the UK's largest light rail network. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead critical commercial strategies and projects, with TfGM recently officially launching its largest-ever tender under the Procurement Act 2023 for an estimated £1.9 billion Metrolink Operations and Maintenance Agreement starting in July 2027, which will shape the future of the UK’s largest light rail network for the next decade and beyond. The Contract and Commercial Lead will contribute directly to a world-class, integrated transport system for Greater Manchester.

If you thrive on navigating complex commercial and contractual challenges, driving value, and fostering collaborative relationships across diverse teams and stakeholders, applications are welcome. The successful applicant will be instrumental in ensuring the effective delivery of the operation and maintenance, and therefore commercial success, of the Metrolink network.

Your Role

We’re seeking a Senior Commercial Manager within our Metrolink directorate to manage the franchise with the Metrolink Operator, who operates and maintain the network on our behalf.

You will lead the application of best practice contract, financial and commercial management throughout the contract lifecycle, acting as a conduit between TfGM and the transport operators ensuring compliance to contracts, management of contract changes and adherence of performance indicators, all whilst driving continuous improvement, developing new ways of working and ensuring an effective return on investment.

For more info see Job Profile below.

Who are we?

Our Commercial Function sits at the heart of TfGM’s major project delivery. We provide expert commercial, cost and contract management support across programmes that improve how people travel, connect, and access opportunities across Greater Manchester.

We work closely with teams across the organisation and our supply chain partners to ensure value for money, robust commercial decisionmaking, and strong governance throughout the project lifecycle. Our work directly contributes to safer, greener, and more reliable transport for the communities we serve.

Joining the Commercial Team means joining a supportive, collaborative team where you’ll have the chance to shape highprofile projects, develop your professional skills, and play a key role in delivering Greater Manchester’s longterm transport vision!

What you’ll bring

What you do and how you do it is important whatever type of role you work in at TfGM and even small behaviours and actions can have a really big impact. At TfGM, our behaviours bring to life our values of Deliver, Care and Adapt.

You will be a commercial professional with extensive experience of providing effective commercial and financial management, ideally (but not essential) in relation to transport operations. You will have substantial experience of managing large value contracts, as well as substantial experience of complex contract procurement, development, implementation, variation negotiation and management.

Within your cover letter please evidence your experience with:

• Managing large contracts
• Negotiation skills
• Dispute Management
• Understanding of financial transactions

What we can offer you

This is a permanent position with a salary between £57770 - £65024 per annum depending on skills and experience.

At TfGM we encourage candidates to discuss flexible working options at any stage of the recruitment process. We are happy to #talkflexibleworking to help colleagues maintain a healthy work life balance.

Our benefits include:

• Generous annual leave starting at 28 days (plus bank holidays), increasing with service, with options to buy more.
• Free travel on buses across Greater Manchester, plus rail or Metrolink travel to and from work.
• Local Government defined pension scheme with life cover of 3x salary and options to boost your contributions.
• Enhanced family-friendly leave policies, including those supporting fertility treatment, alongside flexible and hybrid working and a special leave policy to support a range of unexpected events. Please note that qualification criteria may apply, including a requirement to have been employed with the organisation for a minimum specified period of time.
• Discover more benefits including wellbeing support, Personal and Career Development, Flexible working, financial support and more on our website

What's next?

If you believe you have the skills and experience required, we’d really like to hear from you. To apply please submit your CV and also provide a covering letter providing clear examples of how your experience meets the requirements of the role, all appointments will be based on merit. Our short-listing process is anonymised, so please do not include your name or contact details on either of these documents. If any personal details are included these will be visible to the hiring manager.

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within your supporting statement

Priority Recruitment Scheme for ‘At Risk’ NHS GM Colleagues
If you are currently employed by a Greater Manchester NHS organisation and have been formally identified as ‘at risk’, please indicate this within your application for the role. If you select ‘Yes’ and provide evidence that your experience meets the essential criteria described in the job advert and role profile, you will be guaranteed progression to the next assessment stage. Please ensure your application clearly demonstrates how you meet these essential requirements, as the guarantee only applies to candidates who meet them

TfGM is proud to be an equal opportunities employer that encourages and celebrates diversity. We want to recruit and retain a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and welcome individuals from all backgrounds by committing to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We will offer support and reasonable adjustments if required and we also have a Guaranteed Assessment Scheme which you can find out more information on here.

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licensed sponsor.

Please note we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

NOTE TO AGENCIES we will be accepting direct applications only for this role. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral CV.

Supporting Documents

↗ BS128 - Franchise Contract Commercial Lead

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