Commercial Manager

Company Overview: Successfully delivering operational performance in many environments (currently predominantly in the Defence and construction sectors), Squarcle is a supply chain, procurement and data science consultancy. We exist to help our clients set and realise their performance ambition through the design and execution of supply chains and through life support by utilising the full spectrum of data science disciplines. Our work includes designing and implementing supply chain strategies and operating models, supporting major procurements, network design, cost-to-serve and S&OP (Sales and operations planning). As a company we are digitally native and bring this experience to our work. The company has grown rapidly over the 4 years that it has traded – and now is over £12m of revenue and profitable/cash generative. As a result of this rapid growth, there is a need for an exceptional Commercial Manager to join the team and commercially navigate the company through the next period of growth. The role holder needs to demonstrate a desire to succeed and the ability to mould the role, and the commercial function, to ensure success for the company. Squarcle is a people orientated organisation. We pride ourselves on a people first culture and collaborative atmosphere where success and learnings are shared. Squarcle is committed to equality and diversity and our aim is to build a diverse, dedicated, and high-performing team of subject matter experts to support our clients in achieving supply chain and operational excellence.

Job Overview: The Commercial Manager will play a key role in supporting the commercial and contractual aspects of our business. Squarcle is at a key stage in its growth in that the company is aspiring to take on more complex commercial relations within new sectors. The role holder is tasked with ensuring that is a robust, consistent and strategically aligned approach to ensuring that sales leads are turned into profitable contracts. The role requires someone who is both strategic and operationally focused, ensuring contracts are effectively negotiated, managed, and compliant with both legal, industry and government standards; working alongside contracted legal services where required. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing key supplier relationships, conducting market analysis, and ensuring the commercial success of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Sales Contract Bid Management: Lead the process for responding to sales bids. For complex bids, this will encompass ensuring the right teams are assembled to address technical and commercial elements of the bid response. For all bids, the role holder will need to ensure that bids are responded to in a consistent and controlled manner by developing and implementing processes to ensure compliance to the company’s policies.
• Contract Management: Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with suppliers, clients, and partners, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and policies.
• Commercial Negotiations: Lead negotiations to secure optimal terms for the business in contracts and agreements, while ensuring legal requirements are met.
• Cost Management: Support the estimation and management of project costs, ensuring profitability and alignment with financial targets.
• Risk Management: Identify and manage commercial risks in contracts and B2B relationships and ensure mitigation strategies are in place.
• Supplier and Client Relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, clients, and government bodies, ensuring that the business maximises opportunities and mitigates challenges.
• Compliance: Ensure all contracts are compliant with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards, including export controls and security requirements.
• Market Analysis: Conduct thorough market research to identify potential opportunities and threats within the markets applicable to Squarcle.
• Reporting: Provide regular updates to senior leadership on the status of contracts, projects, and commercial risks.
• Team Collaboration: Work closely with project managers, finance, and legal teams to ensure alignment between commercial activities and overall project delivery.

Secondary Roles and Responsibilities: Support to wider team activities e.g. knowledge sessions, recruitment etc. Membership of the Operations Forum and associated management meetings. Potentially a wider operational role with responsibility for contracted services, such as the office (and potential move/new lease terms etc), and ancillary items such as insurances.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience in a commercial business development capacity in the private sector, preferably within defence or similar highly regulated sectors. Experience with MOD (Ministry of Defence) contracts and the UK defence procurement process is highly desirable.
• Education: Degree in Business, Law, Economics, or a related field. A professional qualification such as MCIPS (Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) would be an advantage.
• Knowledge: Strong understanding of commercial contract law, the UK defence industry, and government procurement processes. Should be conversant with the recently introduced Procurement Act 2023.
• Negotiation Skills: Excellent negotiation, influencing, and communication skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders effectively.
• Attention to Detail: High level of attention to detail, with the ability to manage complex contracts and commercial arrangements.
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex commercial challenges.
• IT Skills: Proficient in MS Office Suite and contract management software. Familiarity with ERP systems is a plus.

Additional Information: Occasional travel to client sites and project locations may be required. This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 6 months. If you hold dual citizenship or nationality from another country, please make us aware of this during the application phase. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Why Join Us? This is an exciting opportunity for a Commercial Manager to be part of a rapidly growing business. You will have the chance to shape the commercial landscape of the business, build valuable relationships, and contribute to high-impact projects that support national defence efforts.