Assistant Commercial Manager - HS2

2 Opportunities: Old Oak Common Station & London Tunnels

Working directly for High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd

Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 + 12% Pension + Healthcare + 25 Days Holiday

Location: London Euston OR Acton OR West Ruislip – Hybrid, typically 3 days office/site

Next Step: Commercial Manager – £70,000–£75,000 + package

Typical progression: Around 2 years, subject to performance

Projects: £1.67bn Old Oak Common Station or £4.2bn London Tunnels Main Works Civils

Programme: Long-term HS2 programme (Apply online only)

The Opportunity

High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd is recruiting two Assistant Commercial Managers to join its commercial teams, with one position based on the £1.67bn Old Oak Common Station project and the other on the £4.2bn London Tunnels Main Works Civils contract.

These are excellent opportunities for a Graduate Quantity Surveyor, Assistant Quantity Surveyor or Assistant Cost Manager looking to move into a client-side commercial role on two of the UK's most significant infrastructure projects.

You'll gain exposure to major commercial activities across complex, multidisciplinary programmes rather than being restricted to a small package of work.

Working directly for HS2, you'll gain experience across:

• Major civil engineering, structures and underground works

• Stations, buildings, MEP and rail systems

• Procurement and contract management

• NEC contract administration and Compensation Events

• Cost assurance, risk and change management

• Commercial reporting, forecasting and payment processes

The scale and multidisciplinary nature of these projects provides the opportunity to build a breadth of commercial experience that would typically take many years to develop elsewhere.

You'll also gain exposure to evolving approaches to NEC contract management and Compensation Events, providing insight into modern commercial practices being implemented across major infrastructure delivery.

The Projects

Old Oak Common Station – £1.67bn

Old Oak Common will become one of the UK's most significant and best-connected railway stations, integrating HS2, National Rail, London Underground and the Elizabeth line.

The station includes 14 platforms and an approximately 850m-long station box, creating a major engineering and commercial challenge.

The project provides exposure to a wide range of disciplines across the development and delivery of one of the UK's most important transport hubs.

London Tunnels – £4.2bn Main Works Civils

The London Tunnels Main Works Civils contract is being delivered by the SCS Joint Venture – Costain, Skanska and STRABAG.

The scope includes:

• Tunnelling, shafts and portal structures

• Green tunnels, bridges and heavy civils

• Cross passages and underground structures

• Major utility diversions and associated infrastructure

• New Works between Old Oak Common and Euston (currently in design phase)

• The project is expected to continue through to approximately 2035, providing significant long-term commercial development opportunities.

The Role

Working directly for HS2 Ltd, you'll support a Commercial Manager and develop your experience across a broad range of commercial and contract management activities.

You'll gain hands-on exposure to NEC contract administration, Compensation Events, cost assurance, risk management, payment processes, forecasting and commercial reporting.

HS2's contract management system, including CEMAR, will be used alongside Excel and other commercial reporting tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the administration and management of NEC contracts using CEMAR

• Assist with the assessment and valuation of Compensation Events

• Assist with interim payment applications and assessments

• Contribute to cost assurance and financial performance monitoring

• Review and analyse supply chain commercial information

• Assist with monthly commercial reporting and forecasting

• Support risk and change management activities

• Assist with the resolution of commercial issues and disputes

• Support estimate reviews across different project stages

• Work closely with Commercial Managers, project teams and supply chain partners

Career Development

HS2 offers a genuine opportunity to build a long-term career in major infrastructure commercial management.

You'll receive structured development, mentoring and support towards professional qualifications and chartership, including RICS or ICES where appropriate.

There is a clear progression pathway from Assistant Commercial Manager to Commercial Manager, paying £70,000–£75,000 + package.

Progression to Commercial Manager level can be achieved in around two years, have multiple examples of this – with the huge size and scale of HS2 new Commercial Manager opportunities come up meaning when you are ready you’ll be able to be promoted..

The wider HS2 programme also provides opportunities to move between major projects and disciplines, building experience across stations, civils, rail systems and other infrastructure packages.

About You

You'll likely be a Graduate Quantity Surveyor, Assistant Quantity Surveyor, Assistant Commercial Manager or Assistant Cost Manager with around 18 months+ relevant experience & a quakification in Quantity Surveying or related subject.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience working on infrastructure, construction or engineering projects

• Experience with NEC3 or NEC4 contracts and an understanding of Compensation Events

• Good commercial and numerical skills with strong Excel capability

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• A genuine ambition to develop a long-term career in commercial management

• Experience gained within rail, civils, utilities, highways, water, buildings or other major infrastructure would be relevant.

We're open to candidates from main contractor, consultancy or client-side backgrounds.

Why Join HS2?

This is an opportunity to work directly for HS2 Ltd and gain client-side experience on two of the UK's most prestigious infrastructure projects.

You'll benefit from:

Exposure to £1bn+ infrastructure projects and complex NEC contracts

Broad commercial experience across multiple engineering disciplines

Structured career development and support towards professional chartership

A clear pathway towards Commercial Manager

Long-term opportunities across the HS2 programme

12% employer pension, private healthcare and 25 days' holiday

If you're an Assistant QS, Graduate QS or Assistant Commercial Manager looking for a genuine step up in responsibility, development and career progression, these HS2 opportunities are well worth discussing