At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead contract negotiations and manage commercial commitments in the defence sector.
- Company: Join Airbus, a leader in advanced communications for defence and space.
- Benefits: Great personal growth opportunities, competitive salary, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Work in a collaborative team with a focus on creativity and integrity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on UK defence while developing your career in a dynamic industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract management and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Are you interested in contributing to the UK's defence and security, with a company developing and delivering advanced communications solutions? Do you have experience in contract management and contract negotiation? Do you want to help close business contracts in a company which offers you excellent personal growth opportunities?
As a leader in the defence and space industry, a Commercial Manager is sought by Airbus to play a central role in the preparation, negotiation and management of all commercial commitments across all stages from acquisition of project to contract closure relating to UK Space Digital (SD) projects. Our customer's need "Information Superiority" - and SD has been delivering mission critical services for decades and is investing to keep our customers ahead of the game.
Our Commercial and Contracts team is empowered to bring the customer expectations and the internal company requirements into a commercial strategy. We identify and manage the commercial risks from the pre-bid phase up to project closure; as well as acting as focal point for offers and contracts and lead the commercial contract negotiation make informed decisions, building resilience into our network and setting best in class standards.
To be successful in this role you will have a passion for developing close working relationships with customers whilst understanding and managing large contracts, in addition to taking satisfaction of employing and sharing best practice whilst improving processes within an organisation and team.
These are exciting times at Airbus as the scope of work in Secure Communications continues to develop. We are looking for people to join us who share our values which are:
- Team work - We feel, act and behave as one large family - We are One - and create an engaging and inclusive workplace that favours wellbeing, fun and trust to drive team work
- Customer - We partner with our customers to deliver valuable and sustainable solutions together
- Reliability - Our reliability drives our competences and mind-set to deliver on time, on cost and on quality
- Respect - We treat each other and all stakeholders as we wish to be treated, with respect, embracing diversity
- Creativity - We are curious, courageous, passionate, open-minded and recognise creativity at all levels
- Integrity - We act with integrity and take appropriate consequences to eradicate un-ethical and non-compliant behaviours
The position on offer is for Commercial Manager within the SD Business Unit. You will be joining a Commercial team of approximately 10 people and a wider multi-disciplined Programme Line of 100+. This position can be based at our Airbus Defence and Space sites in Stevenage or Portsmouth.
Responsibilities
- Providing Commercial support to complex bids which require innovation and creativity
- Ongoing management of contracts ranging in values and up to hundreds of millions
- Providing Commercial support to manage change on existing contracts
- Reviewing and Leading the negotiation of a variety of contractual agreements
- Working closely with and managing key stakeholders to deliver profitable solutions ensuring that Commercial risks are highlighted, mitigated and governance is followed
- Working with the procurement organisation to advise on key contractual obligations and risks, ensuring flow down of key terms
- Managing in accordance with company procedures and contractual requirements, to ensure efficient and accurate performance
- Developing relationship with customers to ensure smooth running of existing contracts
- Working flexibly to provide support to the wider business in order to provide commercial guidance and management
- Employing commercial best practice, efficiency and responsiveness within an ethical environment
Skill Set
Essential skills & experience
- Demonstrated experience within the commercial field
- Experience in a customer facing role
- Experience in a competitive bid situation
- Proven negotiation and contract management skills
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to interact and influence across a range of stakeholders
- Knowledge of the defence industry
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving ability
- Understands the principles of project management, risk management and finance
- Security cleared or ability to pass clearance at SC level
Desirable skills & experience
- Cross-functional interaction with projects, finance, engineering and sales
- Experience working with the UK MOD on a range of proposals and contracts
- Knowledge of Single Source Regulations and contracting in accordance with the Defence Reform Act
- Experience in preparing and executing winning proposals
- A self-starter, capable of delivering a high quality complex workload with minimum supervision
- Experience in the subject of continuous improvement
- Relevant qualification, ideally to degree level
Please note: Current SC clearance is required for this role.
Commercial Manager employer: Carbon60
Contact Detail:
Carbon60 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the defence and space industry, especially those at Airbus. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching common questions for Commercial Managers. Think about your past experiences and how they relate to contract management and negotiation.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your soft skills! Highlight your ability to build relationships and manage stakeholders during interviews. It's not just about numbers; it's about people too!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll find all the latest roles tailored to your skills.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Commercial Manager role. Highlight your experience in contract management and negotiation, and show how your skills align with our values at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of your successes in previous roles. Whether it’s closing a significant contract or improving processes, we want to see how you’ve made an impact!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value creativity and integrity, so don’t hesitate to express your passion for the defence industry and your commitment to delivering reliable solutions.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it reaches the right people in our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Carbon60
✨Know Your Contracts
Make sure you brush up on your contract management and negotiation skills. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed contracts or negotiated terms. This will show that you understand the complexities of the role and can handle the responsibilities.
✨Understand the Defence Industry
Familiarise yourself with the current trends and challenges in the defence and space industry, especially regarding UK Space Digital projects. Being able to speak knowledgeably about the sector will demonstrate your genuine interest and commitment to the role.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves managing key stakeholders, think about how you can showcase your relationship-building skills. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with customers or internal teams to deliver profitable solutions in the past.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Integrity
Airbus values teamwork and integrity highly. Be ready to share instances where you've worked effectively within a team and upheld ethical standards in your work. This will align your values with those of the company and highlight your fit for their culture.