Job Description
The Commercial function provides advice on and analysis of commercial risks in the business, commercial sales, and procurement guidance. The team commercially assess all bids and contracts, providing drafting and leading negotiations as required. We also create bespoke agreements for presales and sales activity, including all supply chain agreements.
They require an experienced and enthusiastic Commercial Manager with good contract and commercial law knowledge that enjoys the challenge of managing a small team of commercial managers and officers. The individual will have a several years commercial experience likely to have been gained in a defence and/or central government focused business supporting engineering consulting, management consultancy and software/technology development projects.
Joining the current Commercial Function, the successful applicant will work closely with the Technical Commercial Director to develop the skills and experience of the wider commercial team as well as supporting the team with a wide range of commercial tasks. Alongside this you will be responsible for reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a range of agreements including prime and subcontracts, NDAs, MOUs, teaming agreements and back-to-back subcontracts. You will also be responsible for leading the commercial governance process for bids that fall within your remit and hold the wider division to account aligned to the clients approvals framework.
The role will involve hybrid working with up to 2 days per week in the Bristol office (of another office depending on business need) and the remainder of home/remote working, but able to travel to our Cheltenham, Manchester and/or London offices as an alternative location on a occasional basis, as well as client and other sites as required. Candidates can be based out of any of our core offices.
Your purpose:
- Day to day management of a small team of commercial managers and officers, working with the Technical Commercial Director to develop their skills and experience for the growing needs of the business.
- Drafting and agreement of sales and procurement agreements.
- Analysis and negotiation of contract terms and conditions.
- Analysis and negotiation of NDAs, MOUs, teaming agreements, JVs.
- Reviewing and approving proposals, prime and sub-contracts, ensuring adherence to company governance requirements and procedures.
- Providing commercial support to bid teams, including supporting the development of the commercial elements of tender responses and influencing early bid strategy.
- Commercial risk identification, mitigation, and management.
- Reviewing and approving call-off contracts under a wide variety of framework types.
- Providing commercial support throughout contract delivery.
- Input to approvals processes, attendance and input at bid and governance meetings.
- Training non-commercial staff in commercial and procurement issues.
- Drafting commercial guide documents.
What can you bring?
Essential criteria-
- A degree in law/business studies/engineering/science/technology or similar at an equivalent qualification level.
- Demonstrable experience of people management.
- Eligible for SC.
- Good grasp of contract law and demonstrable ability to draft and negotiate contract terms.
- Experience in sales and/or procurement commercial management, willing to work in both fields.
- Ability to analyse, interpret and draft contractual wording with a strong attention to detail.
- Experience of negotiating contract terms with suppliers and/or clients.
- Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- The ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines under pressure.
- Knowledge of contractual documents including NDAs, MOUs, teaming agreements, sub- and prime contracts used in a consulting environment.
Desirable criteria-
- Knowledge of intellectual property rights and protection and exploitation, including exploitation agreements, software licensing, re seller agreements.
- Knowledge of industry and government contracts including but not limited to CCS, aerospace, defence, and MOD.
- Knowledge of UK Export Controls and ITAR.
You will be well organised, commercially minded, enthusiastic, and keen to learn, with excellent written and verbal communication skills. You will have a creative and pragmatic approach to problem solving.