Senior Commercial Manager (LR09)

At Aquila Air Traffic Management Services (ATMS), we are dedicated to creating a workplace where innovation, collaboration, and excellence thrives. As a joint venture between NATS and Thales, we combine the expertise of leading air traffic control services and global systems integration to deliver cutting‑edge solutions in air traffic management.

The Role

We are looking for a Senior Commercial Manager to join our team on a permanent contract. This role provides an opportunity to contribute to the organisation’s goals and support the work of the wider team. In this position, you will help deliver key activities that support effective operations, continuous improvement, and positive outcomes for colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Leading commercial activity across the contract lifecycle, ensuring robust delivery, value for money and alignment with business objectives.
• Shaping customer and stakeholder engagement, including negotiation, decision support and cross-functional collaboration.
• Providing commercial oversight of compliance, contract controls and risk management, with clear governance and documentation throughout.
• Driving continuous improvement, strengthening commercial capability and providing commercially informed support to the wider business.

This is a hands‑on role where you’ll contribute to meaningful work and play a part in helping the organisation achieve its objectives.

About You

You’re a commercial professional who contributes positively to your team and the wider organisation. You work collaboratively, adapt to different situations, and bring sound judgement to your work. You communicate clearly, build effective working relationships, and approach challenges with a practical, solutions‑focused mindset.

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

• Relevant experience as a Senior Commercial Manager or in a similar commercial management / complex contracting role.
• Knowledge of complex contract structures, contractual obligations, commercial risk management, negotiation, and financial principles including pricing, cash flow, margin and value drivers.
• Experience in contract preparation, negotiation, in‑life contract management, contractual change and claims management, and delivering commercially robust outcomes within governed approval frameworks.
• The ability to provide clear commercial insight, manage risk and opportunity effectively, influence stakeholders, and deliver sound decisions aligned to business objectives.

You also:

• Promote Aquila’s Just Culture, reporting incidents, safety non compliance, or potential issues in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Consistently demonstrate behaviours aligned with Aquila’s core values and leadership behaviours in all actions and decisions.

What We’re Looking For

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as Commercial or Business Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Law.
• Significant commercial management and/or complex contracting experience, including contract preparation, negotiation and in‑life management, with the ability to manage commercial issues across the full contract lifecycle.
• Sound commercial and financial judgement, including the ability to assess risk, pricing, cash flow, margin and overall commercial impact.
• Proven ability to manage contractual change, claims, risks and opportunities, delivering controlled, compliant and value‑driven outcomes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.

Desirable Criteria

• Relevant professional qualification or membership, such as CIPS, WorldCC (IACCM), or equivalent.
• Experience in defence, aerospace, or other complex public contracting environments.
• Familiarity with standard contract forms and frameworks, such as NEC, FIDIC, or MOD terms.

If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you have relevant experience, we’d still like to hear from you. We support flexible working arrangements and encourage applications from candidates seeking hybrid roles.

Core Benefits

• 201 hours (approx. 27 days) annual leave + 1 Company Day to be used at Christmas (Excluding Bank Holidays) - Prorated for part time contracts.
• Time off to volunteer (up to 3 days per annum).
• Company Pension Plan (Aquila contribution = employee contribution + 1%, up to 7%).
• Life Assurance (2x basic salary or up to 8x if in the pension scheme).
• Income Protection.
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 support and counselling.
• Company paid Private Medical Insurance (Couple cover).
• Variable Compensation Plan (discretionary bonus).

Flexible Benefits

Through Aquila’s flexible benefits platform, you can tailor your package, including:

• Healthcare Cash Plan options.
• Additional PMI cover.
• Buy or sell annual leave.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Discounts at high street retailers.

Family, Wellbeing & Lifestyle

• Enhanced Maternity pay.
• Enhanced Paternity leave & pay.
• Enhanced Occupational Sick pay.
• Mental Health First Aiders.
• Recognition through Altair Award.
• Employee referral bonus.

Security Clearance Statement

Due to the nature of the work that we do, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered.

Equal Opportunities, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Aquila is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.