Commercial Manager

Thales Group; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration + Super + Bon

ThalesFlex – Hybrid work environment.

Fitness Passport Discount – Access to…

Employee discounts with affiliates

Modernised Paid Parental Leave.

Veterans Leave.

Novated Lease options.

Family support through our partnership

Job summary

Thales Group is seeking a Commercial Manager to provide strategic commercial guidance across sustainment contracts, working closely with Project and Bid teams to land negotiation outcomes that protect delivery and margin.

You will own contract governance, manage IP and technology risk, and serve as the commercial voice in project reviews, shaping solutions and pricing strategy from opportunity through to delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Commerce, Engineering, Law, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated track record managing complex defence contracts with sustainment or through-life support experience.
• Strong knowledge of ASDEFCON contract framework and bid negotiation.
• Advanced negotiation, analytical and financial acumen; comfortable handling high-value, high-risk agreements.
• Sound commercial judgement across project delivery, contract law and pricing strategy.
• Eligible for Defence Security Clearance (Baseline or above).

Responsibilities

• Drive commercial strategy across major sustainment contracts, shaping negotiation positions that protect delivery, margin, and long-term client relationships.
• Lead resolution of complex contractual and commercial disputes, including claims management, to minimise risk exposure and keep programs on track.
• Partner with Bid and Project Managers as the senior commercial authority, shaping solutions, pricing strategy, and risk positioning from opportunity through to delivery.
• Act as the trusted commercial advisor to business stakeholders, translating contractual complexity into clear, decisive guidance for program leadership.
• Own end-to-end contract governance, ensuring compliance and audit-readiness across a portfolio of high-value, long-running agreements.
• Hold Project Managers accountable to milestone and contractual commitments, intervening early where delivery risk threatens contract performance.
• Maintain commercial data integrity and reporting rigour, giving leadership accurate visibility into contract health and KPI performance.

Skills

Negotiation

Financial analysis

Strategic thinking

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Engineering, Law or related discipline

Job description

At Thales, we know technology has the ability to make our world more secure, sustainable, and inclusive – and that it’s all driven by human intelligence.

Because it takes human intelligence to build and power the systems and solutions that people depend on every day. So we stay curious and make space for diverse points of view. We share what we know and we challenge what’s possible.

From manufacturing and engineering to cybersecurity and space, we’re driving progress in some of the world’s most important industries – and working together to build a future we can all trust.

YOUR BENEFITS

• Competitive remuneration + Super + Bonus + Free Medical Insurance.

• ThalesFlex – Hybrid work environment.

• Fitness Passport Discount – Access to a network of Gyms across AUS

• Employee discounts with a number of affiliates (Travel, Car hire, Tech, Medical Insurance).

• Modernised Paid Parental Leave.

• Veterans Leave.

• Novated Lease options.

• Family support through our partnership with Parents at Work.

YOUR ROLE

As Commercial Manager, you’ll provide strategic commercial guidance across our key sustainment contracts, working hand-in-glove with Project and Bid teams to land negotiation outcomes that protect both delivery and margin.

You’ll own contract compliance, manage IP and technology risk, and be the commercial voice in project status reviews, trusted to make the calls that keep complex, long-running programs on track.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive commercial strategy across major sustainment contracts, shaping negotiation positions that protect delivery, margin, and long-term client relationships.

• Lead resolution of complex contractual and commercial disputes, including claims management, to minimise risk exposure and keep programs on track.

• Partner with Bid and Project Managers as the senior commercial authority, shaping solutions, pricing strategy, and risk positioning from opportunity through to delivery.

• Act as the trusted commercial advisor to business stakeholders, translating contractual complexity into clear, decisive guidance for program leadership.

• Own end-to-end contract governance, ensuring compliance and audit-readiness across a portfolio of high-value, long-running agreements.

• Hold Project Managers accountable to milestone and contractual commitments, intervening early where delivery risk threatens contract performance.

• Maintain commercial data integrity and reporting rigour, giving leadership accurate visibility into contract health and KPI performance.

On day one in this role, we'll expect you to bring the following skills, experience and behaviours:

• Bachelor's degree or similar in Commerce, Engineering, Law, or related discipline.

• Demonstrated track record managing complex defence contracts, backed by deep sustainment or through-life support industry experience

• Must have strong working knowledge of ASDEFCON contract framework and bid negotiation

• Advanced negotiation, analytical and financial acumen, comfortable in operating at pace on high-value, high risk agreements

• Sound commercial judgement across project delivery, contract law and pricing strategy

• Eligible for Defence Security Clearance (Baseline or above).

Good to Know

A Defence security clearance is required for this role; applicants must be Australian citizens and eligible to obtain and maintain an appropriate clearance.

Additional information with regards to clearances is available from the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency website http://www.defence.gov.au/AGSVA/. In some cases, individuals who hold a current clearance from a foreign government may be eligible to have this clearance recognised by the Australian Government and be eligible for this role.The Australian Defence Trade Controls Act (DTCA) is applicable and as such, your nationality may be a factor in determining your suitability for this role.

The U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) are applicable and as such, your nationality may be a factor in determining your suitability for this role.

Prior to being offered employment, you will need to complete pre-employment police and (role dependent) medical checks.

We’re proud to be endorsed by WORK180 as an Employer for All Women, but we know there’s always more we can do. We’ll continue to foster industry partnerships, employee resource groups (ERGs) and development opportunities to make Thales a genuinely equitable employer, for everyone.

Read more about our WORK180 endorsement.