Senior Commercial Manager - Defence and Aerospace in Bournemouth

We are currently supporting a leading organisation within the defence and aerospace sector in the appointment of a Senior Commercial Manager. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced commercial professional to take a senior role within a highly technical, complex and mission-critical environment. You’ll have the opportunity to influence major contracts, shape commercial strategy and provide trusted commercial guidance across the full contract lifecycle.

If you have a strong background in complex contract management, commercial risk, negotiation and contract performance, and are looking for a role where your expertise genuinely makes a difference, this could be an excellent next step.

About the Role

As Senior Commercial Manager, you will take ownership of key commercial activities across multiple contracts, ensuring they are delivered effectively, compliantly and in line with wider business objectives. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders, customers, suppliers and internal teams, providing commercial leadership from contract preparation and negotiation through to in-life management, change, claims and contract close-out. This is a hands-on senior commercial position where you’ll be expected to challenge, influence and provide commercially sound recommendations in a complex and highly regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day commercial management of key contracts, ensuring contractual obligations, milestones and performance requirements are met.
• Manage contracts throughout the full lifecycle, including preparation, negotiation, implementation, change control and in-life management.
• Identify, assess and mitigate commercial and contractual risks while maximising opportunities.
• Lead contractual change, claims and commercial negotiations to achieve robust and value-driven outcomes.
• Develop and improve contract KPIs, using data and analysis to identify root causes, assess impact and drive performance improvement.
• Provide clear commercial advice and guidance to senior stakeholders and wider business teams.
• Negotiate and manage agreements with customers, suppliers and government entities.
• Support customer and stakeholder engagement, including commercial negotiations and decision-making.
• Ensure appropriate commercial governance, contract controls, compliance and documentation are maintained.
• Provide commercial and financial insight across areas including pricing, cash flow, margin and value drivers.
• Drive continuous improvement and help strengthen commercial capability across the wider organisation.

What We're Looking For

We’re looking for an experienced commercial professional who is confident operating within complex contracting environments and can combine commercial judgement with strong analytical and negotiation skills. You’ll ideally bring:

• 5+ years’ experience in contract development, review, drafting and negotiation.
• Significant experience in senior commercial management and/or complex contracting.
• Strong understanding of contractual structures, obligations, risk and commercial governance.
• Experience managing contracts through the full lifecycle.
• Proven experience with contractual change, claims, risk and opportunity management.
• Strong financial and commercial understanding, including pricing, margin, cash flow and value drivers.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• The confidence and communication skills to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience working on complex, high-value or technically challenging projects.
• Experience within defence, aerospace or another highly regulated and technically complex sector would be highly advantageous.

Additional experience with any of the following would be beneficial:

• UK MOD contracts and frameworks.
• Foreign government departments and export customers.
• CIPS, WorldCC/IACCM or equivalent professional qualification.
• Company and corporate insurance.
• Security-cleared environments or the ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.

Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline such as:

• Commercial or Business Management
• Finance
• Accounting
• Economics
• Law

A relevant professional commercial qualification or membership would be advantageous.

Why Consider This Role?

This is an opportunity to join an organisation operating at the forefront of defence readiness, aerospace and advanced training solutions, supporting customers across the UK, US and NATO countries. You’ll be joining an organisation that recognises the importance of its people and offers a strong benefits package, including:

• Salary of £80,000
• Up to 12% matching pension contributions
• Discounted private medical insurance
• Electric car scheme
• A range of additional employee benefits