Assistant Commercial Manager

1st Executive; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence company based in Portsmouth is seeking an Assistant Commercial Manager to join their dynamic team. The role encompasses developing commercial strategies, managing customer contracts, and leading negotiations for proposals. Ideal applicants will possess a strong customer focus and solid grounding in commercial principles, particularly in defence or engineering sectors. Excellent benefits include private health offerings, employee share options, and a competitive pension.

Benefits

Competitive pension

Flexible wellbeing benefits

Employee share options

Private health offerings

Discounted schemes

Qualifications

• Strong customer focus and ability to meet deadlines in fast-paced environments.
• Solid grounding in commercial principles within the defence or advanced engineering sector.
• Understanding of contract law and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Support the Commercial team across customer contracts and strategic campaigns.
• Own commercial strategies for pricing, contract development and margin growth.
• Lead negotiations for proposals of varying scale and complexity.

Skills

Customer focus

Negotiation skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial principles understanding

Risk management

Job description

Assistant Commercial Manager (Defence)

Salary: Up to £60K + Excellent Corporate Package

Location: Portsmouth (1-2 days per week on-site)

Step into a role where your commercial instincts, negotiation skills and strategic thinking directly shape the success of high-profile radar products and services delivered to customers in the UK and around the world. As a Commercial Manager, you'll join a dynamic commercial function at the heart of a fast-evolving maritime technology business – supporting a growing portfolio of innovative products and contributing to major transformation across the organisation.

What you'll be doing:

• Supporting a busy Commercial team across a broad mix of customer contracts, bids and strategic campaigns
• Owning commercial strategies covering pricing, contract development, risk, governance compliance and margin growth
• Reviewing and securing approval for contract terms - collaborating with specialist functions such as Legal, IP and Tax where needed
• Leading customer negotiations for proposals of varying scale and complexity - ensuring outcomes align with commercial and business objectives
• Playing an active role within Bid Teams - preparing bid materials, leading commercial reviews and steering proposals through corporate governance
• Working closely with project teams, business development, and customers to keep existing contracts running smoothly while helping to shape new opportunities

What you'll bring:

• Strong customer focus and the discipline to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Solid grounding in commercial principles, ideally within the defence or advanced engineering sector
• Understanding of contract law, contractual frameworks and the ability to identify and manage key risks
• Good awareness of how functions work together as part of integrated bidвиж. teams
• Experience guiding or managing people and fostering effective team relationships

What's in it for you:

You’ll join an organisation that's investing in its people, its product portfolio and its future. Expect a competitive pension, flexible wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, employee share options, private health offerings and discounted schemes-including green car plans and shopping perks. Many roles also offer eligibility for annual performance incentives.

A workplace that supports you:

If you need adjustments during the recruitment process - whether due to a disability, neurodiversity or health condition - support is available.

Security requirements:

Due to the nature of the programmes you’ll work on, security and export control restrictions apply. Applicants must meet baseline security standards, and some positions may require higher‑level national security vetting. This requires 5 years of continuous UK residency.

For next steps on this role as Commercial Manager, click apply!