Commercial Continuous Improvement Lead

Commercial Continuous Improvement Lead

Application Deadline: 25 February 2026

Department: Commercial

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Milton Keynes

Reporting To: Head of Commercial Operations

Description

A little bit about us: East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, which blend beautiful landscapes and a rich cultural heritage with globally renowned centres of education, business, technology and an increasingly dynamic business scene. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.

However, the lack of good East-West transport connections makes it harder for residents to make the most of everything the region has to offer. From faster commutes to days out with friends and family, EWR will make it easier to reach the things that matter most, bringing a range of benefits to communities between Oxford and Cambridge, and across the UK more broadly.

EWR is also one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

East West Railway Company (that's us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we're committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.

Key Responsibilities

This role will lead strategic initiatives to optimise commercial capability, learning and development, lessons learned, and embed a culture of continuous improvement in the commercial function.

The Commercial Continuous Improvement Lead will be instrumental in embedding a bespoke commercial capability approach for the Function which defines the skills and capability required for each commercial role, and the learning and development required to meet commercial standards.

The role will establish and lead a commercial continuous improvement strategy for the Function which should meet the ambitions of the organisation's strategic priorities, as well as establishing and managing a "lessons learned" process across commercial projects and initiatives.

Key responsibilities will include the following:

• Develop, implement and manage a commercial continuous improvement strategy for the Commercial Function that is aligned to business goals, strategic priorities and public sector best practice.
• Establish a robust "lessons learned" process for Commercial and ensure that lessons and best practice are disseminated throughout the function and embedded into operational practices and training materials.
• Capture insights from successes and challenges to inform future strategy and decision making in the Commercial Function, and the wider organisation as required.
• Manage a commercial capability approach for the Commercial Function that defines the required skills and capability for the Commercial Team, including procurement and contract management capability. Support will be provided to the role holder to fulfil this responsibility.
• Collaborate with and participate in public-sector learning and development and capability forums to influence the development of tools and processes, ensuring that they are fit-for-purpose for the organisation.
• Ensure that the provision and communication of knowledge is accessible, relevant and appropriate to the audience, and there is robust management information to report on the delivery of continuous improvement and capability for the Function.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Skills:

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

Knowledge:

• Good understanding of commercial, procurement and contract management activities, preferably in the public sector.

Experience:

• Proven experience in a commercial continuous improvement role, potentially with exposure to L&D and knowledge management.
• Experience of managing change through change management tools and techniques.

Desirable:

• Demonstrable experience of working in a Procurement role in a commercial environment.

Benefits

What we offer:

• Competitive base salary
• Up to 12% employer's pension contribution
• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a range of benefits on the Perkbox platform
• On-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development programmes
• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Exceptional IT tools

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual's work life balance and style.

Diversity and Inclusion:

To discover the best solutions, it's important we embrace diversity of thought. That's why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple - a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.

We are open to secondments through the Rail Industry Talent Exchange Programme.