Commercial Manager

• Job Title: Commercial Manager
• Location: Portsmouth Broad Oak – Hybrid working
• Referral Scheme: £2000
• Grade: GG12
• You’re expected to have completed 12 months in role prior to applying for an advertised vacancy and you should also discuss the internal opportunity with your line manager to ensure sustained business continuity and to further support your career development.
• We know there may be exceptionalindividual circumstances that impact this, in the first instance please discuss this with your line manager.
• If you don’t feel you can talk to your Line Manager, you can contact your HRBP.
• PLEASE NOTE Should you be invited for interview, you will be giving consent for the Recruitment Team to contact you and your line manager regarding your application for this opportunity.

Role description

As a Commercial Manager within our Underwater Battlespace sector, you will support UK and international customers across live contracts and bids, applying commercial expertise to deliver successful outcomes. Working closely with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams, you will help shape commercial strategy, manage contractual activities, and contribute to the growth and success of an established and collaborative commercial team.

Core duties

• Leading commercial management activities across complex bids and projects, resolving contractual challenges and driving successful outcomes
• Developing commercial, pricing and business-winning strategies, leading negotiations and securing internal approvals
• Supporting competitive and single-source bids, ensuring robust, compliant and commercially sound proposals
• Collaborating with project, engineering, finance, strategy and business development teams to align solutions
• Shaping commercial strategy for Underwater Battlespace, supporting growth, campaigns and export opportunities
• Acting as a trusted commercial leader, influencing decisions, engaging senior stakeholders and developing commercial capability

Essential skills

• Established Commercial background within the military/defence sector for both UK MOD and/or export customers
• Strong commercial experience with bidding (inc contract amendments) and deal shaping, whilst demonstrating ability and experience to manage live contracts
• Experience in identifying and managing risks and opportunities, providing commercial guidance and leadership to wider project and bid teams
• Good awareness of various functions and the role they play as a part of an integrated project/bid team
• Ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders
• Strong communication and presentational skills with the ability to tailor appropriately to the audience

The Commercial Function and Underwater Battlespace team

Join a highly visible and influential Underwater Battlespace team at the forefront of underwater defence, delivering advanced naval and weapon systems that support UK and international customers. Working with industry-leading experts, partners and senior decisionmakers, you will help shape how innovative programmes are won and delivered, bringing creativity, curiosity and commercial insight to technologies that address evolving underwater threats worldwide. Working as part of a wider company network of Commercial professionals within the Commercial Function, you will have opportunity to expand your skills and experience in a likeminded community.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best.

You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and have been in their current role for 12 months or longer.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicantsmust as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicantsmust typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 26th November 2026

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