Defence Commercial Manager
Job Description
Job title: Defence Commercial Manager
Company: Smiths Detection
Job description: SMITHS DETECTION MAKING THE WORLD A SAFER PLACE
Every minute of every day, in nearly every country across the globe, Smiths Detection people and technology make the world a safer place. We safeguard people, business and infrastructure with the latest innovations and screening technology for aviation, ports, borders, defense, and security across 55 countries around the globe
Life At Smiths –
- Global leader: We impact critical systems every day with sites in 17 countries and six centers of research excellence. From pioneering to powering life-changing innovation, we’re delivering threat detection and screening solutions to safeguard the world from threat
- Digital growth: A key part of our capability is the integration of digital technology across our business and our operations in more than 55 countries, will be critical to our continued success
- Exciting opportunities: Our growth is creating exciting opportunities to work with experts in physics, chemistry, electronics, mechanics, production, computer science, and AIML
- International environment: With some projects, work requires global collaboration and the potential to travel and grow with the business
Job Description
We have an amazing opportunity for a Commercial Manager to join our team here at Smiths Detection
Reporting directly to the Commercial & Programmes Director, as Commercial Manager you will be responsible for commercial management of bids, negotiating contracts and the commercial management of large defence contracts.
You will be the lead for managing negotiations with customers and technology partners to maximize the revenue and margin for Smiths Detection while achieving a high-level of customer satisfaction
Due to the sensitive nature of the projects involved, you will undergo UK Security Clearance, and this means we can only accept applications from candidates that have lived and worked in the UK for a minimum period of 5 years.
Duties and Responsibilities
Your duties will include, but not limited to the following
Negotiate contracts with customers, principally government defence organisations * Takes responsibility and accountability for commercial performance of contracts, driving revenue, margin and cash.
- Takes the lead role in identifying and managing risk through effective contract management, ensuring appropriate pricing and protection is in place
- Ensure effective commercial change management control, including pricing and negotiation of terms and preparation of contract amendments.
- Understand the company’s contractual obligations and work with the project teams and support functions to assure their understanding and compliance;
- Draft and issue requests for proposal and contracts with sub-contractors;
- Assist with preparation of winning proposals and tender responses, including the management and engagement with applicable internal and external stakeholders;
- Monitor and control commercial and contract documentation and correspondence;
- Mentor other members of the Commercial team to increase the knowledge and skill base;
- Ensure compliance with Smiths Detection and Customer processes and policies, including opportunity approvals as dictated by DOA;
- Monitor customer and sub-contractor activity to avoid and where necessary resolve commercial issues;
- Be the day-to-day point of interface on commercial and contractual matters, internally and externally.
The Individual
Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Essential
- Good working knowledge of Ministry of Defence contracting conditions and pricing structures
- Experience and competence of commercial management of partnerships, channels, and subcontracts (at least 3 years)
- Good understanding of Defence procurement processes across the European region, principally in the UK
- Excellent communication skills; ability to communicate effectively cross-functionally and at all levels of organisation
- Proactive, dynamic individual with strong attention to detail
- Capable of gaining Government SC security clearance
- Able to identify areas of risk and mitigations (e.g., contract terms that if accepted would represent a risk to the Company and how they could be mitigated)
- The ability to work effectively under pressure, managing conflicting priorities and to meet challenging deadlines
- Tenacious and driven with strong negotiating and influencing skills, but with the ability to be flexible and adapt to a given situation and stakeholders
Highly Desirable
- A degree or equivalent qualification in a related subject matter e.g., business, law, engineering
- Active network of contacts within the target customers and partners at all levels.
- Able to demonstrate previous experience of strong relationships within UK MOD and procurement
- Accreditation in Commercial & Contract/ Supply Management (e.g. IAACM or CIPS)
- Working knowledge of export control regulations
To find out more about life at Smiths Detection check out our LinkedIn page and follow our story
Join us for a great career and competitive compensation & benefits whilst keeping the world a safer place.
Diversity & Inclusion
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity. We have several employee-led Employee Resources Groups (women@work, Black Employees Network, Veterans, Pride Network) providing support, enhancing career development, and contributing to personal development in the work environment and beyond.
At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website ( )or LinkedIn.
#Smiths
Expected salary:
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
