Commercial Manager

Cosworth; Northampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cosworth in the United Kingdom seeks a Commercial Manager to own key customer relationships across automotive and defence markets, including OEM accounts. You will collaborate with engineering, finance and legal teams from proposal generation through to programme management.

The role requires an engineering degree, customer-facing experience and strong communication, with the ability to negotiate terms, manage contracts and ensure compliance while growing the business.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or a related technical field.
• Experience in a customer-facing engineering, project or commercial environment is desirable.
• Awareness of defence/aerospace tendering, contracting and export controls is advantageous, with willingness to develop knowledge in these areas.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build strong customer and internal relationships.
• Ability to organize priorities, follow through actions, and drive progress with stakeholders.
• Experience or interest in engineering/manufacturing environments and commercial services/products.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and contribute to technical and commercial proposals with engineering, finance and legal stakeholders.
• Prepare and present proposals and quotations to customer stakeholders.
• Support day-to-day commercial management of existing programmes, including contract compliance and invoicing.
• Respond to customer enquiries with internal subject matter experts.
• Draft, review and negotiate contract terms with senior commercial and legal colleagues.
• Participate in customer negotiations to align capabilities with requirements and secure favourable terms.
• Consider health, safety, environmental and energy impacts of all activities.
• Support compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.

Skills

Customer-facing experience

Contract negotiation

Proposal writing

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Job Description

As a Commercial Manager at Cosworth, you will support and progressively take ownership of key customer relationships across the Automotive and Defence Markets, including OEM and defence prime accounts. Working closely with commercial colleagues and internal specialists, the role will contribute across the commercial lifecycle, from proposal generation and contract negotiation through to ongoing programme management.

Job Description

As a Commercial Manager at Cosworth, you will support and progressively take ownership of key customer relationships across the Automotive and Defence Markets, including OEM and defence prime accounts. Working closely with commercial colleagues and internal specialists, the role will contribute across the commercial lifecycle, from proposal generation and contract negotiation through to ongoing programme management.

The Role

• Coordinating and contributing to technical and commercial proposals, working closely with internal engineering, finance and legal stakeholders.
• Preparing and presenting proposals and quotations to customer stakeholders, with support where appropriate.
• Supporting the day-to-day commercial management of existing programmes, including contract compliance, tracking progress on open orders and invoicing.
• Responding to customer enquiries with the assistance of internal technical specialists.
• Supporting the drafting, review and negotiation of contract terms, working with senior commercial and legal colleagues to protect Cosworth's commercial position.
• Participating in customer negotiations to align Cosworth's capabilities with customer requirements and help secure appropriate commercial terms.
• Consider the health and safety, environmental and energy impact of all activities.
• Support the Company’s compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 by following company policy and best practice.

Candidate Profile

• Degree in Engineering or a relevant technical subject.
• Some experience in a customer-facing engineering, project or commercial environment.
• Direct experience managing major automotive, defence or aerospace accounts would be advantageous but is not essential.
• A genuine passion for automotive and/or aerospace propulsion products and technologies.
• Experience contributing to proposals, quotations, customer communications or commercial discussions, with the potential and ambition to develop contract negotiation skills.
• Awareness of defence and aerospace tendering, contracting and export control requirements (for example ITAR or UK export licensing) would be advantageous, together with a willingness to develop knowledge in these areas.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to build effective customer and internal relationships.
• An ability to organise priorities, follow through actions and help drive progress with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience of, or strong interest in, working in an engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Developing commercial awareness of engineering services and products in the automotive or aerospace industries.
• A strong work ethic, sound judgement and a willingness to learn and take on increasing responsibility.
• The successful candidate should be able to build customer confidence and work with growing independence.