Assistant Commercial Manager

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

Job summary

A maritime technology firm in Portsmouth is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead commercial strategies and manage customer negotiations. This role requires a strong customer focus and a solid grounding in commercial principles, ideally within the defence or advanced engineering sector. You'll support a busy Commercial team while ensuring contract compliance and driving margin growth. The company offers a competitive salary, a great corporate package, and excellent career growth prospects.

Benefits

Competitive pension

Flexible wellbeing benefits

Employee share options

Private health offerings

Qualifications

• Strong customer focus and 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 and the ability to manage key risks.
• Experience guiding or managing people and fostering effective team relationships.

Responsibilities

• Support a busy Commercial team across customer contracts and strategic campaigns.
• Own commercial strategies covering pricing, contract development, and risk management.
• Lead customer negotiations for various proposals, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Work closely with project teams and customers to smooth contract operations.

Skills

Customer focus

Negotiation skills

Understanding of contract law

Commercial principles

Job description

Contact:

Contact email:

Job ref:

J692262D_1768299809

Published:

1 day ago

Expiry date:

2026-02-12

Startdate:

ASAP

Salary: Up to £60K + Excellent Corporate Package

Location: Portsmouth (1-2 days p/w 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 bid and project teams

Experience guiding or managing people and fostering effective team relationships

What's in it for you:

You'll join an organisation that is 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:

You'll be part of an inclusive culture where integrity, performance and diverse perspectives are genuinely valued. 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!