Commercial Manager in Portsmouth

Salary: £80,000 – with an annual bonus of up to 10%, subject to individual and company performance

Location: Portsmouth/Hybrid (ability to travel to other sites as required)

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Security Clearance Requirements: Successful candidate must be able to obtain SC (Security Check) clearance and be willing to undergo DV (Developed Vetting) clearance. In line with Metaverse VR Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity and eligibility to work in the UK.

About Metaverse VR: Metaverse VR Ltd (MVR) is a forward-looking technology company specialising in immersive training solutions and simulation. Located at Portsdown Technology Park in Portsmouth, MVR leverages current and emerging technologies to help clients accelerate development and adopt modern, digital training solutions. The company is committed to exceeding customer expectations through high quality delivery, innovation, and excellence. MVR places strong emphasis on employee development, fostering a supportive, creative, and collaborative working environment.

Role Purpose: The Commercial Manager provides end-to-end commercial and contractual leadership across a growing and diverse portfolio of projects. From initial opportunity identification through to contract completion and close-out. Operating within a fast-paced SME environment, the role balances hands-on operational delivery with strategic foresight, ensuring commercial activities align with MVR’s wider business objectives. The role exists to lead and embed robust commercial, contractual and supply chain operations across the organisation, ensuring disciplined governance, regulatory compliance, and effective risk management while enabling the business to deliver programmes, secure new work, and scale sustainably.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Essential:

• Degree level qualification (or equivalent professional experience).
• Minimum of 5 years’ practical experience in a commercial role within the defence industry.
• In depth knowledge of defence contracting, terms and conditions, regulatory requirements, and industry trends.
• Strong negotiation and commercial decision making skills.
• Solid understanding of financial principles, reporting, and risk management.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience designing and implementing creative commercial solutions.
• Experience working in a matrix organisation.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies.

Personal Attributes:

• Flexible, positive, and solutions focused approach to meeting business needs.
• Accountable self starter with high attention to detail.
• Confident leader capable of motivating and guiding colleagues.
• Effective relationship builder with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Able to manage complex workloads and competing priorities.
• Independent yet highly collaborative, with a strong team ethos.
• Strong critical thinking skills, able to analyse internal and external factors to support customer focused decisions.
• Proactive in identifying opportunities and risks and managing them to enhance organisational value.
• Motivated learner who actively identifies training needs and promotes individual and team development.
• Thought leader who embraces change, challenges established ways of working and inspires continuous improvement.

Why Apply to MVR? Joining MVR, you will be given the chance to be a part of a successful and growing team, that is going from strength to strength. We’ll also give you the opportunity to:

• Work in a state-of-the-art office, with access to all this offers
• Enjoy a relaxed friendly and supportive working environment
• 25 days Annual Leave, Birthday Day off + Bank Holidays and annual increments (option to buy additional 5 days AL after 1yr employment)
• Be involved in growing and defining MVR’s working processes and working practices

In addition, we will offer you:

• Competitive Salary negotiable dependant on experience
• Family Medical cover
• Family Dental cover
• 5 additional Reservist Volunteering days on full pay
• 2 Volunteering days on full pay
• Pension NEST 7%
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• EV Scheme
• Career Development opportunities and career progression pathways
• Employee Assistance Package
• Flexible Working
• Company Annual Socials and Wellbeing Initiatives

Here at MVR, we take great pride in promoting an inclusive environment where individuals from all backgrounds are empowered to perform to their best and contribute to our organisations rapid growth and achievements. We believe in building a diverse team that reflects our core values and commitment to excellence. Our recruitment and selection process is fair and merit-based, focusing on an individual’s skills, experience, and alignment with MVR’s values and standards. This ensures that every team member is valued and can make a meaningful impact, drive innovation and be a part of the success of our forward-thinking organisation.