Senior Subcontract & Commercial Lead - Defence & Space in Corsham

Senior Subcontract & Commercial Lead - Defence & Space in Corsham

Corsham Full-Time 60000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Babcock International

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead procurement strategies for high-value defence and space projects, shaping impactful supply chains.
  • Company: Join Babcock, a global leader in defence and aerospace, committed to national security.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holidays, hybrid working, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team with excellent growth potential and a commitment to inclusivity.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in national security while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in procurement and commercial management, with strong leadership and negotiation skills.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.

At Babcock, we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Senior Procurement and Supply Chain Manager at Hawthorn, near Corsham, Wiltshire.

The Role

As a Subcontract Manager, you'll help drive one of the most exciting areas of our Mission Systems business - ensuring our space and defence programmes have the right suppliers, contracts and commercial foundations to succeed. This is a role with significant influence. Your work will directly support national security, space capability, and cutting edge technology programmes, giving you the opportunity to shape high value supply chains that make a genuine difference.

You'll build strong commercial strategies, guide a high performing team, and work with senior leaders across Babcock to deliver robust, innovative and resilient supply solutions. The experience you gain here will accelerate your leadership journey, broaden your commercial capability, and give you exposure to some of the most complex and high value subcontract portfolios in the UK defence and aerospace sector.

Day-to-day, you'll be required to:

  • Lead the end to end procurement and supply chain strategy for a portfolio worth approximately £100m annually.
  • Manage performance across a strategically important and diverse supplier base.
  • Drive risk management and opportunity identification across the full supply lifecycle.
  • Develop and lead commercial strategies that ensure all supplier contracts align with prime contract requirements, legal standards, regulatory frameworks and trade controls.
  • Coach, inspire and develop a talented procurement team, elevating commercial capability across the function.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with days onsite and days working from home.

Essential experience of the Subcontract Manager

  • Extensive experience in Procurement, Supply Chain Management and Commercial Management within complex, high value environments.
  • Proven expertise in drafting, negotiating and managing large and complex subcontracts.
  • Strong leadership experience and the ability to guide and develop teams.
  • Confident stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
  • Deep understanding of contract law, supplier performance management, risk management and commercial governance.

Qualifications for the Subcontract Manager

Essential:

  • CIPS, IACCM/WorldCC or equivalent professional accreditation.
  • Degree in Business, Commercial Management, Law or a related field.

Desirable:

  • Experience within regulated, engineering, defence, manufacturing or infrastructure sectors.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

What We Offer

  • Generous holiday allowance.
  • Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance.
  • Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+.
  • Employee share scheme.
  • Employee shopping savings portal.
  • Payment of Professional Fees.
  • Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave.
  • Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
  • 'Be Kind Day' enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity.
  • Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock is a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference. Here, you'll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we're building a future that lasts - not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header 'Reasonable adjustments requirement'. We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing Date: 12/06/2026

Senior Subcontract & Commercial Lead - Defence & Space in Corsham employer: Babcock International

Babcock is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Corsham, Wiltshire, where you can contribute to vital national security and cutting-edge technology programmes. With a strong focus on employee development, generous benefits including a matched pension scheme, and a commitment to work-life balance, Babcock fosters a culture of inclusivity and support, ensuring that every team member can thrive and grow in their career.

Babcock International

Contact Details:

Babcock International Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Subcontract & Commercial Lead - Defence & Space in Corsham

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the defence and aerospace sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, attend webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews by researching Babcock and its projects. Understand their mission and values, especially around national security and innovative supply chains. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their goals.

Tip Number 3

Practice your negotiation skills! As a Subcontract Manager, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate contracts effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build confidence before the real deal.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Babcock team. Let’s get you that dream job!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Subcontract & Commercial Lead - Defence & Space in Corsham

Procurement Management
Supply Chain Management
Commercial Management
Contract Negotiation
Stakeholder Engagement
Leadership Skills
Risk Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Subcontract & Commercial Lead role. Highlight your experience in procurement and supply chain management, especially in complex environments, to show us you're the right fit.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've led teams and influenced stakeholders in your previous roles. Share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to coach and inspire others, as this is key for the position.

Highlight Relevant Qualifications:Don’t forget to mention your CIPS or equivalent professional accreditation, along with your degree in a related field. This will help us understand your formal background and expertise in commercial management.

Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure you apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and keep track of it during the selection process.

How to prepare for a job interview at Babcock International

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of procurement and supply chain management, especially in the defence and aerospace sectors. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and challenges in these areas, as well as Babcock's specific projects and values.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience and how you've successfully guided teams in high-pressure environments. Be ready to discuss how you inspire and develop talent within your team, as this is crucial for the role.

Master the Art of Negotiation

Since you'll be dealing with complex subcontracts, be prepared to discuss your negotiation strategies. Share specific instances where you've successfully negotiated terms that benefited both parties, demonstrating your understanding of contract law and commercial governance.

Engage with Stakeholders

Think about how you've engaged with senior stakeholders in the past. Prepare to discuss your approach to building relationships and influencing decisions at high levels, as this will be key in your role at Babcock.