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- Tasks: Manage contracts and negotiate deals in the defence and space industry.
- Company: Join Airbus, a leader in advanced communications solutions.
- Benefits: Excellent personal growth opportunities and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Work in a collaborative team with a focus on creativity and integrity.
- Why this job: Contribute to national security while developing your career in a dynamic field.
- 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
Reporting directly to the UK Head of Department within the Commercial and Contracts function, you will be responsible for managing a range of Contractual and Commercial topics including:
- 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: Lorien
Contact Detail:
Lorien Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the defence and space industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy to reach out to current employees at Airbus. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Airbus and its projects. Understand their values and how they align with your own. Be ready to discuss how your experience in contract management and negotiation can contribute to their mission of delivering 'Information Superiority'.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in contract management or negotiations. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the complexities of the role and highlight your creativity.
✨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 team at Airbus and contributing to their exciting projects.
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 to highlight your experience in contract management and negotiation. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Commercial Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for the defence and security sector shine through in your application. We’re looking for candidates who are genuinely excited about contributing to our mission, so share why you’re passionate about this field and how you can make a difference.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your key points stand out. This will help us quickly see why you’re a great fit for the team!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and allows us to process it efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lorien
✨Know Your Contracts Inside Out
Before the interview, brush up on your contract management and negotiation skills. Be ready to discuss specific examples of contracts you've managed, highlighting your approach to risk management and stakeholder engagement.
✨Showcase Your Customer Relationship Skills
Prepare to talk about how you've built and maintained relationships with customers in previous roles. Think of instances where your communication and problem-solving abilities led to successful outcomes, especially in a competitive environment.
✨Demonstrate Your Understanding of the Defence Industry
Familiarise yourself with current trends and challenges in the defence sector, particularly related to communications solutions. This will show your passion for the industry and your ability to contribute to the company's goals.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Integrity
Airbus values teamwork and integrity highly. Prepare examples that illustrate how you've worked collaboratively in teams and upheld ethical standards in your previous roles. This will resonate well with their company culture.