Head of Commercial - Fleet Time Clyde

Babcock International; Helensburgh; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence contractor seeks a Head of Commercial for their Fleet Time operations in Helensburgh. In this pivotal role, you will lead the commercial strategy, manage high-value contracts, and enhance customer relationships with the Royal Navy. Ideal candidates possess strong negotiation skills and experience in managing complex contracts in regulated environments. This position offers a competitive salary, hybrid working, and an employee benefits package, ensuring significant professional growth opportunities.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP and health consultations

Employee share scheme

Holiday Trading benefits

‘Be Kind Day’ for volunteering

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing large, complex contracts and bids in regulated or government environments.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to build effective customer relationships.
• Leadership experience managing and developing commercial teams.
• Expertise in commercial governance and oversight for complex projects.
• Knowledge of Single Source Contracting Regulations within a defence context.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery of a high-value single-source contract to the UK Ministry of Defence.
• Provide governance and guidance on complex commercial issues.
• Act as an escalation point for high-risk matters, coordinating responses with legal teams.
• Negotiate price, terms, and scope with customers to achieve positive outcomes.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop commercial solutions.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation skills

Customer relationship management

Leadership experience

Commercial governance knowledge

Knowledge of Single Source Contracting Regulations

Education

Degree-level education in Business, Law, or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Title: Head of Commercial – Fleet Time

Location: Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute

Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF69821

Shape the Future of Defence and Engineering

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Head of Commercial at our Clyde site, near Helensburgh, Argyll & Bute.

The role

As Head of Commercial, you’ll lead the commercial strategy for our Fleet Time operations, supporting the Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence. This is a pivotal role where your expertise will ensure the successful delivery of high-value contracts, strengthen customer relationships, and influence decisions that safeguard national security. It’s an opportunity to make a tangible impact while advancing your career in a dynamic, mission-critical environment.

Day‑to‑day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:

• Overseeing delivery of a high-value single‑source contract to the UK Ministry of Defence
• Providing governance and guidance on complex commercial issues
• Acting as an escalation point for high‑risk matters and coordinating responses with legal teams
• Negotiating price, terms, and scope with customers to achieve positive outcomes
• Collaborating with internal teams (finance, supply chain, technical) to develop commercial solutions.

You’ll be working full‑time, 37 hours per week. This role is a hybrid role with 2‑3 days per week based onsite at Clyde. Occasional travel to other sites may also be required.

Essential experience of the Head of Commercial – Fleet Time

• Proven experience managing large, complex contracts and bids in regulated or government environments
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to build effective customer relationships
• Leadership experience managing and developing commercial teams
• Expertise in commercial governance and oversight for complex projects
• Knowledge of Single Source Contracting Regulations within a defence context.

Qualifications for the Head of Commercial – Fleet Time

• Degree‑level education in Business, Law, or equivalent experience.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day’s paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 09/01/2026