Job Description:

Commercial Manager

Permanent

Oxford

About our team...

Airbus Helicopters is the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer and the company’s site at Oxford Airport is Britain’s civil helicopter hub.

AHUK offers considerable experience in helicopter sales, bespoke completions, maintenance and spares support.  Its in-house engineering capabilities include design, customisation, installation, flight-testing and certification, as well as technical support, maintenance, training and the supply of spares for civil and military applications.

AHUK is the MoD’s chosen provider of helicopters and maintenance for its No. 1 Helicopter Flying School (referred to as MFTS) located in RAF Shawbury (Shropshire) and RAF Valley (Anglesey).

Description/Overall purpose of the Job

AHUK is seeking a results-driven and commercially astute Commercial Manager to join our dynamic Commercial Business team. This is a unique opportunity to gain unparalleled exposure to the commercial business of a leading aerospace company.

The Commercial Team is responsible for driving the successful execution of contracts associated with the Sale & customisation, retrofit, training, MRO and Support & Services for our civilian and military customers. In addition, you will be a key partner to the Offers Manager, providing critical support on contractual setups, including the negotiation and refinement of Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) during complex bidding processes.

This pivotal role necessitates seamless collaboration across various departments such as, but not limited to, Sales, Design, Production, Maintenance, Material Management and Finance, as well as other Airbus Helicopters entities.

Main responsibilities 

• Lead the commercial and contractual management of key governmental and military contracts, ensuring full compliance with National and UK MoD regulations, including the Procurement Act 2023, the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR), and the Single Source Regulations (SSRO).

• Prepare and manage all contractual report, such as SSRO-mandated reports, Contract Pricing Statements (CPS), Contract Reporting Plans (CRP), and Final Price Adjustments (FPA), for submission to theGovernmental bodies.

• Proactively manage the entire contract lifecycle, overseeing all key deliverables, milestones, and payment schedules with a particular focus on managing allowable costs, contract profit rate (CPR), and cash flow for SSRO contracts.

• Serve as the primary commercial point of contact for the UK MoD customer, expertly leading the negotiation and execution of all contract amendments, change orders, and managing all contractual customer reporting requirements.

• Confidently represent AHUK's commercial interests in all internal and external stakeholder meetings, effectively communicating and defending the company's position within a regulated procurement environment.

• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the Contract Management methodology, including these  in relation to SSRO best practices and compliance procedures.

This role is a superb fit for an individual with a demonstrable passion for commercial excellence and rigorous contract execution in the Government or UK defence sector. You will need to be a meticulous and proactive problem-solver with an exceptional eye for detail and a talent for identifying and mitigating commercial risks within a highly regulated framework. A balance of autonomy and strong collaborative skills is essential for success, enabling you to engage effectively with stakeholders from the shop floor to senior leadership.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Law, or a related field

• Proven experience in a commercial, contract management, or a related business role, demonstrating strong commercial acumen within the defence or aerospace industry.

• Proven track record in UK Government or Defence contract management. (Note: Training on SSRO and Procurement Act 2023 regulations will be provided to candidates with limited prior exposure.) 

• Demonstrable experience in leading complex contract negotiations. You must be adept at financial analysis, business case development, and managing contract profitability.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to influence and build robust relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Exceptional organisational and time-management skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and prioritise effectively to meet business deadlines.

• Excellent MS Office capabilities (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and GSuite (GSheet, GDocs, and related applications).

• A proactive, "can-do" attitude and a flexible approach, with a talent for identifying commercial risks and developing effective mitigation strategies.

• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to other sites in the UK, and abroad as required

Desirable

• A broad understanding of the global aviation/aerospace/military industry or another high-value, complex engineering sector.

• A track record of successfully managing the full lifecycle of contracts with values exceeding £5 million.

• A strong understanding of contract law and its practical application in a commercial setting.

• Ability to work on several contracts at any one time and prioritise according to business needs

• Knowledge of UK civilian and/or military procurement processes would be a significant advantage.

Additional requirements

• Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate must be able to obtain DBS and undergo Security Clearance.

• Applicants must meet any/all requirements of Export Compliance Regulations.

• Applicants must be able to provide proof they have the right to work in the UK. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The Reward

In joining the Airbus family, you will play a critical part in delivering the most efficient helicopters for its customers, who serve, protect, save lives and carry passengers in demanding environments.  On top of your competitive base salary, you will have access to the following benefits below via our Airbus salary sacrifice schemes:

• Private Medical Insurance (Bupa) – single cover for employees paid by the company

• Pension: Employees are auto-enrolled into the Airbus Group UK Retirement Fund. Initially, AH contributes 6%, employee 4% basic (Maximum contribution AH 8%, Employee 6%) 

• Den-Plan (employee purchase scheme)

• Health-care Cash Scheme

• Personal Accident Insurance (employee purchase scheme) 

• Health Assessments

• Travel Insurance

• Financial/Legal Advice (eg, Will-writing; Lasting Power of Attorney)

Data Protection

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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