Commercial Manager

Electus Recruitment Solutions; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical cover (family)

Dental cover (family)

Career development pathways

Bonus up to 10%

Job summary

Electus Recruitment Solutions is seeking a senior commercial leader to shape strategy across defence programmes from opportunity through to contract close-out. Hybrid role based in Portsmouth with travel to other sites as required.

You will provide commercial leadership across multiple programmes, ensure governance, compliance and risk management, and support bids with pricing strategy and contract input. Strong stakeholder management is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in defence contracting and familiar with industry standards/frameworks.
• Experience supporting bids and live programme delivery in a commercial capacity.
• Sound financial awareness including reporting, forecasting and risk evaluation.
• Ability to influence across complex organisations and build relationships.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive mindset to identify commercial risks and opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end commercial activity from opportunity to contract close-out.
• Provide commercial leadership across a portfolio of programmes with governance and risk management.
• Support bid activity with pricing strategy, contract review, and commercial input.
• Deliver financial oversight across projects including cost control and margin protection.
• Manage and enhance supply chain performance, building resilience with suppliers.
• Partner with leadership to ensure timely commercial decisions aligned to business strategy.
• Develop and embed best-practice commercial processes for sustainable growth.

Skills

Defence contracting

Bid support

Financial awareness

Stakeholder management

Commercial leadership

Risk management

Job description

Shape commercial strategy across complex defence programmes while building structured, scalable commercial frameworks. You will influence key decisions, strengthen governance and develop into broader commercial leadership.

Location and setup

Hybrid working (1-2 days a week) in Portsmouth, with travel to other sites as required. This is a permanent, full-time role.

What you will be doing

• Lead end to end commercial and contractual activity from early opportunity through to contract completion and close out
• Provide commercial leadership across a portfolio of programmes, ensuring governance, compliance and risk management are applied consistently
• Support bid activity with pricing strategy, contract review and commercial input to secure new work
• Deliver financial oversight across projects including cost control, margin protection and performance tracking
• Manage and enhance supply chain performance, building resilience and improving supplier outcomes
• Partner with leadership and delivery teams to ensure commercial decisions are timely, informed and aligned to business strategy
• Develop and embed best practice commercial processes that enable sustainable growth

Your experience

• Strong background in defence contracting, including familiarity with industry standards and frameworks
• Experience supporting both bids and live programme delivery in a commercial capacity
• Sound financial awareness including reporting, forecasting and risk evaluation
• Ability to influence at all levels and build effective working relationships across complex organisations
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced and evolving environment
• Proactive mindset with the ability to identify commercial risks and opportunities and act decisively

What you will need

• SC clearance eligibility with willingness to undertake vetting
• Proven commercial experience within defence or highly regulated sectors
• Strong knowledge of contracts, terms and conditions and regulatory compliance
• Ability to negotiate effectively and make sound commercial decisions under pressure
• Experience managing stakeholders across delivery teams, suppliers and customers

Benefits and balance

Rewards extend beyond pay with

• Private family medical cover supporting you and your household
• Private family dental cover providing additional health security
• Structured career development pathways that support long term progression
• Annual performance related bonus of up to 10 percent

These vacancies require security clearance. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain relevant clearance.