Commercial Manager

Wallace Hind Selection LTD; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global manufacturing company is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead and inspire a dynamic sales team. This role involves overseeing accounts worth £15m while shaping commercial strategies in the aerospace and defence sectors. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, operational awareness, and experience in managing high-value corporate clients. Offering a basic salary of £65,000 - £75,000 with additional bonuses and benefits, this opportunity provides a path for impactful leadership in a critical industry.

Benefits

Up to 20% Annual Bonus

Car Allowance £6,500 per annum

25 Days Holiday

Company quarterly incentive plan £2,600 per annum

3 x Life Assurance

5% Pension Contribution

Qualifications

• Experience managing technical or engineered product portfolios.
• Ability to operate within compliance-critical frameworks.
• Experience managing high value complex corporate clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a sales team in regulated markets.
• Oversee major accounts worth around £15m.
• Shape commercial strategy across different functions.
• Champion best practices in leadership and client engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Operational awareness

Relationship building

Compliance knowledge

Job description

As a leader, a Commercial Manager, your skill is motivating, mentoring and coaching others, delivering key commercial outcomes for the business and the client alike. We truly value integrated partnerships, being the 'go to' experts for our clients. You'll be working with major names in the defence sector, managing a portfolio of c £15million.

Basic Salary

£65,000 - £75,000

Benefits

• Up to 20% Annual Bonus
• Car Allowance £6,500 per annum
• 25 Days Holiday
• Company quarterly incentive plan c£2,600 per annum
• 3 x Life Assurance
• 5% Pension Contribution

Location

Hybrid - with on average 50% office based (Bedford)

Commutable Locations

• Northampton
• Milton Keynes
• Cambridge
• Luton
• Peterborough
• Leicester
• Birmingham
• Oxford
• Stevenage
• Harlow
• Huntingdon
• Coventry
• Banbury

Why Read On

• A leadership role with genuine autonomy and board-level visibility.
• A culture built on integrity, excellence, and delivery.
• The opportunity to shape commercial growth in a sector that's critical to national capability.

Job Description

This Commercial Manager role is a strategic leadership role where you will be the driving force behind key relationships with some of the most respected names in UK aerospace and defence sector—organisations where precision, process, and performance matter.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and inspire a sales team (3 direct Account Managers and 5-10 indirect cross‑functional professionals) operating within complex, highly regulated markets. Precision and accuracy are paramount.
• Oversee and develop major accounts worth (currently c£15m), ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Shape commercial strategy, working cross‑functionally with engineering, operations, and quality to deliver world‑class outcomes.
• Champion best practice in leadership, forecasting, and client engagement.
• Work closely with the VP of Sales accurately reporting forecasts, budgets and performance.
• 50% of your time (or two long days) will be based on site at the manufacturing facility.

Person Specification

You've managed technical or engineered product portfolios and understand what it means to balance innovation with regulation. You're not just commercially astute — you're operationally aware, capable of reading a P&L as easily as a customer brief. Most importantly you'll be someone who values creating human connections, being present with both your team and the wider business functions in creating solid relationships.

The ideal candidate would have experience of the defence sector, electronics and sub‑contracting, that said, we are interested in the right person with the right values, although it is likely you'll have at least one of the three!

You will be able to demonstrate proven experience with:

• Leading teams before, small enough to know each individual’s strengths, but large enough to need real leadership. You get results through people, process, and purpose.
• Operating within compliance‑critical frameworks, highly regulated, governed sectors—aerospace, defence, medical devices, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Managing high value complex, demanding corporate clients with multi‑million pound spends (£5m+)

Company

We are a Global business specialising in advanced electronics manufacturing. Operating at the heart of the aerospace, defence, and high‑technology sectors. With a culture built around continuous improvement and engineering integrity, we combine cutting‑edge manufacturing capability with a highly skilled workforce. Operating to the strictest industry standards, maintaining long‑term partnerships with major primes and Tier 1 suppliers. Known for our agility, technical collaboration, and commitment to on‑time, right‑first‑time delivery, we play a key role in advancing the UK's high‑value manufacturing capability.

EEO Statement

Wallace Hind Selection, alongside our client, embrace diversity, champion equality, and foster inclusion to create a work environment where everyone belongs and thrives.

Reference

REF: MH18288, Wallace Hind Selection