Commercial Manager

Job Description:

Salary:  £70,000 - £78,000

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Your impact

We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Commercial Manager to join the CS3 Commercial Team. This is a senior leadership role with accountability for commercial delivery across a portfolio of programmes and business activities. You will provide commercial leadership throughout the business lifecycle, ensuring delivery of business objectives whilst protecting Leonardo's interests through sound commercial judgement, effective governance, robust risk management and strong customer relationships.

The successful candidate will combine deep commercial expertise with proven leadership capability, demonstrating the ability to influence business decisions, develop high-performing teams, and deliver measurable commercial outcomes in complex environments.

What you’ll bring

As a Commercial Manager you will:

• Lead commercial strategy and governance across a portfolio of programmes and opportunities.
• Provide commercial leadership throughout business winning, contract mobilisation and programme delivery activities.
• Develop commercial solutions that balance opportunity, risk and customer requirements.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations with customers, suppliers and partners.
• Ensure compliance with Leonardo governance, approvals and lifecycle management processes.
• Drive delivery of key business measures including order intake, revenue, cash generation and EBIT.
• Lead commercial risk and opportunity management activities across your portfolio.
• Develop trusted relationships with customers and key stakeholders internally and externally.
• Coach, mentor and develop commercial professionals, supporting succession planning and capability growth.
• Act as the commercial focal point within Integrated Project Teams and sector leadership forums.
• Drive continuous improvement and embed best practice across the commercial community.

Complex Commercial Responsibilities

We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrable experience leading complex commercial issues, including:

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) strategy, negotiation and exploitation.
• TUPE implications arising from outsourcing, insourcing and transition activities.
• Complex contract change and variation management.
• Liability negotiation and allocation of risk.
• Contract claims and dispute resolution.
• Strategic supplier and partner agreements.
• Long-term support and service contracting arrangements.
• Cross-border commercial arrangements.
• Risk and reward mechanism development.
• Commercial governance of high-value and high-risk programmes.
• Business case development and commercial modelling.
• Commercial support to competitive business winning activities.

Essential Experience

• Significant commercial leadership experience within a complex project, programme or business environment.
• Experience leading commercial activities across the full contract lifecycle.
• Proven ability to manage complex commercial negotiations and contractual arrangements.
• Strong understanding of commercial risk identification, assessment and mitigation.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and business leaders.
• Experience developing and leading commercial teams.
• Experience operating within robust governance and approval frameworks.
• Evidence of delivering measurable business outcomes through commercial interventions.
• Strong understanding of financial drivers, including revenue, profitability, cash and working capital.

Desirable Experience

• Defence, aerospace or government contracting experience.
• Knowledge of UK MOD contracting frameworks.
• Experience of partnering, joint ventures or strategic alliances.
• Experience of TUPE-related commercial activities.

Leadership Expectations

• Creates clarity and direction.
• Builds capability and develops future talent.
• Promotes collaboration and cross-functional working.
• Challenges constructively and makes difficult decisions when required.

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Primary Location:

GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane

Additional Locations:

GB - Edinburgh, GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Contract Type:

Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid