Commercial Manager

Navantia UK; Bristol; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

249 holiday hours (pro-rata)

Pension

Life assurance

Competitive base pay

Opportunity to work on exciting projects

Job summary

A new technology company in Bristol seeks a Commercial Manager to support complex tenders and account management within the defence and maritime sectors. Responsibilities include managing supply chain relationships, ensuring compliance with contracts, and providing strategic support for commercial initiatives. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in commercial management within related fields, strong contract law knowledge, and the ability to work collaboratively across teams. Competitive compensation and benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in commercial management within Defence or Shipbuilding sectors.
• Strong knowledge of contract law and industry regulations.
• Experience dealing with Defence Contracts and Single Source Pricing Regulations.
• Preferably knowledge of Defence contracting, Defence Contracts (DefCons) and experience dealing with Single Source Pricing Regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex tenders and bids for key client accounts.
• Support commercial negotiations with customers and suppliers.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks associated with contracts.
• Provide financial oversight to ensure profitability of bids.
• Contract & commercial management – main contracts: support commercial negotiations with the customer, ensuring favourable terms and compliance with company policies and legal requirements.
• Contract & commercial management – subcontracts: support supply chain in commercial negotiations with suppliers, ensuring favourable terms and compliance with policies, flow-down of main contract and legal requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, and production teams to resolve contract management issues.
• Support the Supply Chain management function in all commercial aspects such as NDA and terms & conditions management.
• Strategic support: assist the Commercial and Strategic Bids Director in developing and executing commercial strategies aligned with organisational goals.
• Financial oversight: support budgets, ensuring profitability of defence bids.
• Risk management: identify, assess, and mitigate commercial risks, including disputes, claims, and variations in support of the Risk Manager.
• Stakeholder engagement: support Business Development Leadership in building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Support contract management of ongoing programmes/contracts in relevant contract changes.

Skills

Commercial management experience

Financial acumen

Analytical capabilities

Contract law knowledge

Ability to work in teams

Job description

Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, energy and maritime ambitions. We’re creating state‑of‑the‑art sovereign defence capabilities, investing to modernise industrial facilities, and bolstering the nation's energy security. Established in 2022 as a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state‑owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history, Navantia UK recently completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil and Arnish. This positions us to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime, and energy industrial capabilities and support jobs and economic growth across the UK.

Job Description

The Commercial Management role is an important position supporting the management of complex tenders and bids, and overseeing key client accounts within the defence and maritime sectors.

It also supports the Supply Chain management function in commercial and contract management, strategic planning and finance, ensuring compliance with contractual, financial, and legal obligations.

Role

As part of the bid management team, you will provide commercial support across the bid lifecycle and manage contractual relationships.

Bid Phase

• Serve as the prime commercial interface with the supply chain during the bid phase (Post Gate 2).
• Support the Business Development function in the pre‑bid phase (Pre Gate 2).
• Collaborate in setting the commercial plan and organisation required to support the bid phase, clearly identifying tasks and personnel needed.
• Provide effective bid commercial support to the Bid team, aligning Bid Managers/Procurement Managers with solutions and ensuring active support.
• Contract & commercial management – main contracts: support commercial negotiations with the customer, ensuring favourable terms and compliance with company policies and legal requirements.
• Contract & commercial management – subcontracts: support supply chain in commercial negotiations with suppliers, ensuring favourable terms and compliance with policies, flow‑down of main contract and legal requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, and production teams to resolve contract management issues.
• Support the Supply Chain management function in all commercial aspects such as NDA and terms & conditions management.
• Strategic support: assist the Commercial and Strategic Bids Director in developing and executing commercial strategies aligned with organisational goals.
• Financial oversight: support budgets, ensuring profitability of defence bids.
• Risk management: identify, assess, and mitigate commercial risks, including disputes, claims, and variations in support of the Risk Manager.
• Stakeholder engagement: support Business Development Leadership in building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Support contract management of ongoing programmes/contracts in relevant contract changes.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in commercial management within Defence, Shipbuilding, or related sectors.
• Excellent financial acumen and analytical capabilities.
• Strong knowledge of contract law, commercial principles, and industry regulations.
• Preferably knowledge of Defence contracting, Defence Contracts (DefCons) and experience dealing with Single Source Pricing Regulations.
• Managing experience with the ability to work in teams.

Additional Information

• 249 holiday hours (pro‑rata).
• Pension.
• Life assurance.
• Competitive base pay.
• Opportunity to work on exciting projects.

Equal Opportunity

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, focuses on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance to succeed.

Contact

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role online, please contact us at people.skills@harland‑wolff.com and one of the team will be in contact to help you.