Commercial Manager in Bedford)

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

Job summary

A global electronics manufacturer based in the UK is seeking a Commercial Manager to lead and inspire a sales team while overseeing major accounts worth approximately £15 million. The ideal candidate should have experience in highly regulated sectors such as aerospace or defence, and possess strong leadership and commercial skills. This hybrid role offers significant autonomy, with substantial board-level visibility and the opportunity to impact strategic growth within the organization.

Benefits

Annual bonus up to 20%

Car allowance of £6,500

25 days holiday

Quarterly incentive payments

Life assurance

5% pension contribution

Qualifications

• Experience leading technical or engineered product portfolios.
• Knowledge of aerospace, defence, medical devices, or pharmaceutical sectors.
• Ability to manage high-value clients with significant budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a sales team within regulated markets.
• Oversee major accounts alignment with strategic objectives.
• Shape cross-functional commercial strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Operational awareness

Relationship building

Job description

Job Overview

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 £6,500pa
• 25 Days Holiday
• Company quarterly incentive plan c£2,600 per annum
• 3 x Life Assurance
• 5% Pension Contribution

Location

Hybrid - with an 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!

Required Experience

• 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+)

About the 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.

Interested?

Please click apply. You will receive an acknowledgement of your application.

Equal Opportunity

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

Recruitment Partner Information

Please Note: Wallace Hind Selection have been chosen as the retained recruitment partner of our client and therefore any direct applications to our client from candidates or agencies will be forwarded on to us direct.

Reference

REF: MH18288, Wallace Hind Selection