Aviation Commercial Lead for Contracts & Bids in Ducklington

Are you a commercially astute professional with a passion for aviation, engineering, or high‑value technical industries? We are seeking a proactive Commercial Officer to join our dynamic Commercial Business team on a maternity cover contract. This is a unique opportunity to gain extensive exposure to commercial operations within a leading organisation specialising in helicopter sales, completions, maintenance, training, and support services. The Oxford site serves as a major hub for civil and military aviation activities, offering integrated capabilities including design, customisation, installation, flight‑testing, certification, and technical support.

About the Role

The Commercial Officer will play a pivotal role in the successful execution of contracts across multiple areas, including:

• Sale and customisation
• Retrofit
• Training
• Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO)
• Support & Services

You will also work closely with the Offers Manager and Sales teams, supporting the development and refinement of commercial proposals, contractual structures, and Terms & Conditions during complex bidding processes. This role requires strong cross‑functional collaboration with teams such as Sales, Material Management, Production, Maintenance, and Finance, as well as external suppliers and customers.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Execution & Management

• Manage the end‑to‑end execution of "By the Hour" service contracts from initiation to close‑out.
• Lead the drafting and development of service offers and associated contract documentation.
• Act as the primary commercial contact for Customer Support Managers or Sales Managers.
• Lead negotiations for contract amendments and changes.

Performance & Financial Oversight

• Monitor contractual performance and support pricing renewal processes to ensure continued profitability.
• Track aircraft flying hours to ensure accurate and timely invoicing.
• Update and validate business cases in response to contractual changes.
• Produce clear, concise performance reports for senior leadership, covering schedule, profit, risk, and other key metrics.

Continuous Improvement & Cross‑Functional Support

• Develop and maintain contract registers to support renewal processes.
• Support other Commercial and Offers Managers based on business priorities and workload.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of commercial and contract management methodologies.

About You

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, technical environment and enjoys solving complex commercial challenges. You will need to balance independent working with strong collaborative skills across multiple stakeholder groups—from shop floor teams to senior leaders.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Engineering, Aerospace Management, or related field.
• Proven experience in a commercial or contract management role, with strong financial and analytical capability.
• Demonstrable experience supporting contract negotiations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build strong relationships.
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing multiple contracts simultaneously.
• Strong MS Office and Google Workspace skills.
• A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with a talent for identifying and mitigating commercial risks.
• Willingness to travel occasionally within the UK and Europe.

Desirable Skills

• Broad understanding of the global aviation or aerospace sector, or other complex engineering industries.
• Experience managing full contract lifecycles.
• Strong understanding of contract law and its practical application.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities based on business needs.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to obtain DBS and Security Clearance.
• Compliance with Export Control requirements.
• Proof of right to work in the UK.