Principle Commercial Manager

Mane Energy; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence contracting firm in the UK is seeking a professional to manage contracts and support business development initiatives. The ideal candidate will have strong commercial awareness, excellent negotiation skills, and experience with complex contracts. This hybrid role allows for flexibility in working arrangements. The position offers a competitive bonus and a supportive environment focused on contract delivery.

Benefits

Company bonus: Up to £2,500

Pension: Up to 14% combined contribution

Overtime: Paid opportunities

Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days

Flexible working arrangements

Enhanced parental leave

Subsidised meals and free parking

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing complex, high-value contracts.
• Understanding of contract law and practical application.
• Ability to draft or amend terms and conditions.

Responsibilities

• Supporting end-to-end route to contract including bid preparation.
• Managing contract obligations and changes.
• Ensuring contractual compliance and risk mitigation.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Negotiation skills

Communication abilities

Contract management

IT proficiency

Teamworking skills

Process discipline

Tools

SAP

Job description

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join an active, collaborative and motivated team within a sector dedicated to delivering key Defence capability to the UK Armed Forces and international customers. This role will involve working across early product lifecycle stages, research and technology activities, and supporting both business-winning and contract-delivery initiatives.

What We Can Offer

• Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (subject to annual performance)
• Pension: Up to 14% combined contribution (employer + employee)
• Overtime: Paid overtime opportunities
• Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days' flexi leave
• Flexible working: Flexible arrangements welcomed
• Enhanced parental leave: Up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, with enhancements also available for paternity, neonatal leave and fertility-related support
• Facilities: Excellent site amenities including subsidised meals, free parking, and more

The Role

Location: Hybrid (2-3 days on-site per week, depending on project requirements)

You will be joining a team responsible for contributing to new business opportunities, managing customer contracts and helping ensure successful delivery of key programmes. Responsibilities include:

Business Winning

• Supporting the end-to-end route to contract, including bid preparation, cross-functional coordination and proposal generation.
• Helping secure new agreements while maximising business interests.

Contract Delivery

• Managing contract obligations, changes, issues and associated administrative duties.
• Supporting problem-solving activities to ensure high standards of delivery.

Negotiation and Compliance

• Assisting in negotiations and reaching agreement on contractual amendments within agreed boundaries.
• Ensuring contractual compliance and risk mitigation.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with customers, partners and internal stakeholders.
• Preparing and delivering updates to senior management.
• Representing the commercial function in reviews and customer meetings.

General Responsibilities

• Working to deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Maintaining commercial information systems.
• Promoting best practice within the commercial team.

About You

• We're looking for candidates with strong commercial awareness and excellent interpersonal skills. Ideal attributes include:
• Advanced negotiation skills and strong communication abilities
• Proven experience managing complex, high-value contracts
• Understanding of contract law and practical application
• Ability to draft or amend terms and conditions
• Knowledge of IP protection and lifecycle contract management
• Awareness of import/export restrictions and licensing requirements
• Ability to understand pricing and costing models
• Proficiency with IT and business systems (such as SAP)
• Strong teamworking skills with the ability to influence effectively
• Good process discipline and change management capabilities

Please note: Restrictions relating to nationality and/or right to work may apply. All successful candidates will be required to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks after offer stage.

Security Clearance: British Citizen or Dual UK National with British citizenship