Strategic Commercial Manager - Automotive & Defence

Cosworth; Northampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cosworth in the United Kingdom seeks a Commercial Manager to own key customer relationships across automotive and defence markets, including OEM accounts. You will collaborate with engineering, finance and legal teams from proposal generation through to programme management.

The role requires an engineering degree, customer-facing experience and strong communication, with the ability to negotiate terms, manage contracts and ensure compliance while growing the business.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or a related technical field.
• Experience in a customer-facing engineering, project or commercial environment is desirable.
• Awareness of defence/aerospace tendering, contracting and export controls is advantageous, with willingness to develop knowledge in these areas.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build strong customer and internal relationships.
• Ability to organize priorities, follow through actions, and drive progress with stakeholders.
• Experience or interest in engineering/manufacturing environments and commercial services/products.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and contribute to technical and commercial proposals with engineering, finance and legal stakeholders.
• Prepare and present proposals and quotations to customer stakeholders.
• Support day-to-day commercial management of existing programmes, including contract compliance and invoicing.
• Respond to customer enquiries with internal subject matter experts.
• Draft, review and negotiate contract terms with senior commercial and legal colleagues.
• Participate in customer negotiations to align capabilities with requirements and secure favourable terms.
• Consider health, safety, environmental and energy impacts of all activities.
• Support compliance with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.

Skills

Customer-facing experience

Contract negotiation

Proposal writing

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Cosworth in the United Kingdom seeks a Commercial Manager to own key customer relationships across automotive and defence markets, including OEM accounts. You will collaborate with engineering, finance and legal teams from proposal generation through to programme management.

The role requires an engineering degree, customer-facing experience and strong communication, with the ability to negotiate terms, manage contracts and ensure compliance while growing the business.