At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead high-stakes deals and ensure profitable outcomes in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a people-first organisation recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, performance bonuses, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Flexible work options available to promote work/life balance.
- Why this job: Shape major bids and influence profitability while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in commercial management and strong client-facing skills.
The predicted salary is between 95000 - 95000 £ per year.
Shape high-stakes deals, safeguard delivery and grow profitable outcomes. As our Senior Commercial Manager, you’ll sit at the heart of complex bids and live delivery, balancing risk, margin and pace. You’ll bring sharp commercial judgement to scenario planning and resource modelling, translate policy into pragmatic choices, and ensure contractual compliance from bid through to service. Whether advising leaders or coaching the team, your decisions will directly influence profitability and strengthen the commercial integrity of everything we deliver.
This role is hybrid, with the ideal candidate being based in the South East, with some travel to Portsmouth and London.
What you'll be doing:
- Lead all commercial, contractual and supplier management activities across a complex portfolio, ensuring full compliance with Sopra Steria’s commercial frameworks and driving commercially sound decision-making.
- Shape, assure and influence major bids and proposals, working with sales, delivery and finance to qualify opportunities, design commercial models, negotiate terms and protect margin.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships, representing the commercial function in governance forums, resolving issues swiftly and identifying opportunities to improve profitability and mitigate contractual or commercial risk.
- Oversee contract performance and service delivery alignment, ensuring obligations, service levels and commercial controls are met while driving continuous improvement and maintaining high client satisfaction.
- Proactively identify, assess and manage commercial and operational risks across bids and live contracts, implementing practical mitigation plans to minimise exposure to disputes, claims or financial loss.
- Lead and coach teams to deliver high-quality commercial outcomes, providing expert guidance on financial modelling, forecasting, billing, cost control and scenario planning to ensure robust commercial health.
What you’ll bring:
- Significant experience leading commercial, contract and supplier management across complex client environments, with strong knowledge of commercial frameworks and contractual compliance.
- Proven background supporting major bids and business development activity, including opportunity qualification, commercial modelling, negotiation and shaping large, high-risk proposals.
- Strong client-facing experience, with the ability to build relationships at senior levels, resolve disputes, and identify opportunities to improve margin and reduce commercial or contractual risk.
- Demonstrable experience assuring delivery performance against commercial plans, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring service levels, invoicing and compliance are met.
- Strong risk management capability, with a track record of identifying, assessing and mitigating commercial risks across both bids and live contracts.
- High level of financial literacy, including experience of forecasting, billing, cost control and interpreting complex financial models to support commercial decision-making.
It would be great if you had:
- Experience within BPO, pensions payroll or defence environments would be highly advantageous.
If you are interested in this role but not sure if your skills and experience are exactly what we’re looking for, please do apply, we’d love to hear from you!
Employment Type: Full-time
Location: London/South East
Security Clearance Level: SC
Internal Recruiter: Amy
Salary: Up to £95k depending on experience
Benefits: Performance related bonus, £6,600 car allowance, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy additional days, private medical, life assurance, pension, and generous flexible benefits fund.
Although this role is advertised as full-time, we believe that flexibility at work can promote work/life balance, increase your motivation, reduce stress and improves performance and productivity. We support different ways of working and can offer a range of flexible working arrangements. So, if you’re interested and need to work flexibly, we encourage you to apply and talk to us about what might be possible.
Loved reading about this job and want to know more about us? Our business is, first and foremost, about people. And it always has been. The solutions we develop are driven by the connections they make and the problems they solve. Our services only matter if they work for people and if they serve a greater purpose. Known for our collaborative approach, we provide consulting and digital services, creating innovative solutions, at scale, to deliver sustainable growth and services that make life better.
Our work touches many lives in the UK. From helping the Government provide essential public and health services that offer more convenience and choice, to improving financial services to deliver fairer, customer-centric solutions. Together we are building a better future by delivering real and lasting value. We are just at the start of what we can achieve together. Come and join us!
Senior Commercial Manager in Newport employer: Sopra Steria
Sopra Steria is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for a Data Security Technical Lead to influence enterprise-wide data security strategy while working remotely. With a strong focus on professional development, competitive benefits including a generous car allowance and private medical insurance, and a collaborative work culture that values innovation, employees are empowered to grow their careers in a supportive environment dedicated to making a real difference in national security.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Commercial Manager in Newport
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Senior Commercial Manager at Sopra Steria!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Sopra Steria or be willing to refer you for that Senior Commercial Manager position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Sopra Steria who’s on the lookout for their next Senior Commercial Manager star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Senior Commercial Manager role at Sopra Steria!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Commercial Manager in Newport
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Sopra Steria. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sopra Steria
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Sopra Steria. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
