Commercial Manager

Elev8 Recruitment Ltd; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company in defense engineering and take ownership of commercial relationships in an environment that prioritizes trust and quality. This role offers hybrid working, a supportive culture free from micro-management, and a focus on genuine product delivery. Ideal for someone with significant experience in manufacturing and a knack for building strong client connections.

Benefits

25 days holiday

Christmas shutdown

Early Friday finishes

4% pension

Life cover

Company sick pay

Cycle to work

Mental health support

Learning & development budget

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a commercial or customer-facing role.
• Experience in defense or regulated industries.
• Ability to influence without relying solely on hierarchy.

Responsibilities

• Manage commercial relationships from start to signature.
• Shape deals and win new work.
• Negotiate contracts and pricing effectively.

Skills

Relationship Building

Negotiation

Market Intelligence

Job description

Opportunity for a Commercial Role in Defence Engineering

Are you tired of playing middleman for deals that never go anywhere? Still chasing quotes, pushing proposals, and facing silence from procurement? If you're ready to own the commercial relationship from start to signature and work with a team that understands engineering, this opportunity is worth considering.

What makes this different

You won't be buried under layers of red tape or reduced to a KPI-puppet. This is a hands-on commercial role in a business that still builds meaningful products — specializing in engineering solutions for defence, with short lead times, high specifications, and big expectations. You will be the link between technical teams and customers, helping shape deals, win new work, and build lasting relationships.

What they are about

This isn't a startup, nor a bloated corporation. The company is part of a larger group but operates leanly, focusing on design, build, and delivery of engineered-to-order products for high-integrity environments. You will be working on the defence side of the business, where trust, quality, and delivery are paramount. Their products are used in military platforms, critical infrastructure, and other areas where failure isn't an option.

What’s in it for you

• Real ownership — beyond account management, including strategy and growth
• Hybrid working after probation — a couple of days a week in Colchester, with flexibility the rest of the time
• 25 days holiday, Christmas shutdown, and early Friday finishes
• 4% pension, life cover, and company sick pay
• Cycle to work, mental health support, and learning & development budget
• A flat structure and a mature culture — zero micro-managing, zero fluff

Who would thrive here

You have experience in manufacturing, ideally within defence or a similarly regulated industry. You understand long sales cycles, how to keep deals moving, and how to craft proposals that stand out. You're a natural relationship builder—valuing trust, clarity, and follow-through. You can negotiate confidently, push back when needed, and leave clients eager to work with you again.

Ideally, you have:

• 5+ years in a commercial or customer-facing role
• BPSS clearance or willingness to obtain it
• Proven track record in defence or related sectors
• A knack for contracts, pricing, and market intelligence
• The ability to influence without relying solely on hierarchy

Interested?

If you're seeking a genuine commercial role without the corporate fluff, submit your CV or reach out for a quick, no-pressure chat. If it’s a good fit, we’ll share all the details you want to know.