Commercial Director

GKN; Bagstone; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive remuneration package

Pension Scheme – Industry Leading

Life Insurance 8 x salary

Car allowance

Fuel Allowance

EV salary sacrifice scheme

STIP maximum bonus 36%

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Flexible working hours

Income protection

Shopping discounts

Cycle To Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Virtual GP Clinic

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a Commercial Director to be based at the Global Technology Centre, Bristol. You will provide commercial leadership across multiple locations, drive strategy, and ensure governance and compliance while delivering cost-competitive outcomes.

The role requires proven leadership, strategic advisory capabilities, and the ability to mentor a professional team. A competitive package and flexible working hours are offered on site in Bristol.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in multi-site manufacturing.
• Strong business acumen and ability to advise senior leaders on strategy.
• Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders at senior levels.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build and lead a team of professionals.
• Understanding and compliance with export control requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead as the negotiation and escalation point for commercial claims with customers.
• Manage contracting risk in terms and conditions for new business.
• Oversee resources that manage commercial bids, proposals and contract gate reviews; drive cost competitiveness and cash.
• Provide data-driven analysis, guidance and planning; contribute to commercial strategy.
• Develop and mentor the commercial function within programs.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial management

Negotiation

Contracting

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

People management

Communication

Job description

Commercial Director

Gloucestershire

GB

BS37 7NE

Any

GKN Aerospace

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities. GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we're inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We're proud to play a part in protecting the world's democracies. And we're committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of 3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Commercial Director to be based at our Global Technology Centre, Bristol. As a Commercial Director you will provide the following:

• Commercial leadership for a customer-centred business across multiple locations for core integrated programme teams.
• Data-driven business analysis, guidance and planning and actively contribute to commercial strategy across the business.
• Ensure business compliance with statutory and GKN Aerospace governance.

How You’ll Contribute

The Commercial Director will be responsible for the following:

• Act as leader, expert and internal escalation point for negotiation and resolution of commercial claims to/from customers.
• Ensure that compliancy and contracting risk (technical, financial, contractual) is properly understood and managed in the negotiation of terms and conditions for new business and ensure that all contracting obligations are fully understood.
• Accountable for the deployed resources that manage the commercial bids, proposals and contract Gate reviews such that risks are understood, minimized and managed key management information and analysis to make informed business decisions and to help drive business performance improvement, particularly cost competitiveness and cash.
• Motivate, develop and serve the commercial function within programs.
• Responsible for the commercial team’s functional skills and professional development.
• Ensure that the Commercial personnel within the Business Line have a good understanding and comply with Export Control requirement.

What You’ll Bring

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and expertise/ talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Must be a true business person with strong business acumen.
• Proven leadership experience in a multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Evidence of an ability to instil sound Commercial management practices.
• Ability to influence both internally and externally at senior levels.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build and lead a team of professionals.
• Must be a strategic advisor to the Vice President and is accustomed to working through and managing the details of issues and opportunities.

What We’ll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Attractive remuneration package dependent on experience
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• Car allowance (Annual) 6300
• Fuel Allowance (Annual) 1411
• Access to a salary sacrifice EV scheme giving tax and national insurance savings
• STIP maximum bonus 36%
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at 12noon on a Friday
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family

A collaborative, dynamic working environment. We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to Work Needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us 'The Best Workplace Culture Award'. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.