Commercial Manager
// Role Summary
Rheinmetall Electronics UK Ltd. is seeking a Commercial Manager in Bristol to oversee all commercial activities, ensuring optimal financial, contractual, and operational outcomes across the contract lifecycle. This role is crucial for strategic commercial guidance, risk mitigation, and stakeholder management.
// Key Responsibilities
- Lead contract negotiation, drafting, review, and management for customers and suppliers.
- Develop and implement commercial strategies to support business objectives and programme delivery.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial, contractual, and financial risks.
- Serve as the primary commercial interface with key internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with Finance for accurate forecasting, budgeting, and cost control.
- Requires proven experience in commercial management within Defence and Professional Services.
// Role Specification
About the Role
As a key team member at Rheinmetall Electronics UK (REUK), this Commercial Manager role is responsible for all commercial activities supporting the Sales and Operations departments. You will deliver commercial activities throughout the contract lifecycle to achieve optimal financial, contractual, and operational results. This strategic position involves providing commercial guidance, managing vital supplier and customer relationships, mitigating commercial risks, and ensuring strict adherence to contractual obligations, governance, and internal policies.
Responsibilities & Tasks
- Contract Management & Governance: Lead the negotiation, drafting, review, and management of customer and supplier contracts. Ensure all commercial agreements align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk positions. Manage contract baselines, variations, claims, amendments, and renewals in line with commercial policies. Maintain full compliance with governance processes, approvals, and audit requirements.
- Commercial Strategy & Performance: Develop commercial strategies that support business objectives and programme delivery. Monitor performance against KPIs, profit targets, service levels, and contractual commitments. Drive Value For Money (VFM) through cost optimisation, revenue enhancement, and service improvement initiatives. Provide crucial commercial input into business cases, investment appraisals, and pricing strategies.
- Risk & Opportunity Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial, contractual, and financial risks throughout the lifecycle. Maintain commercial risk registers and ensure the execution of mitigation plans.
- Stakeholder & Relationship Management: Act as the primary commercial interface with customers, suppliers, legal teams, finance, and operations. Build strong relationships with external stakeholders to support successful contract delivery. Support procurement activities, including RFPs, supplier selection, negotiation, and contract award.
- Financial & Reporting: Work closely with the Finance department to ensure accurate forecasting, budgeting, and cost control. Provide regular commercial reports detailing contract status, risks, claims, opportunities, and financial outcomes. Ensure alignment between commercial models, pricing assumptions, and delivery requirements.
Required Qualifications
- Proven experience in a commercial management role within Defence and Professional Services.
- Strong understanding of contract law, commercial principles, and risk management.
- Demonstrated experience in contract negotiation and large-scale contract management.
- Excellent analytical, financial modelling, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience in regulated or government-funded environments (e.g., defence, public sector).
- Understanding of MOD or complex supply chain contracts.
- Professional qualification (e.g., CIPS, IACCM/WorldCC, MBA).
- Experience working on multi-year transformation or implementation programmes.
What We Offer
REUK aims to be your chosen employer for career building, offering growth opportunities as our business expands. We are dedicated to finding the right people and ensuring you are proud to work with us. Our vision is to be a recognised and respected solution provider delivering high-technology, high-reliability, and high-quality products and systems.
As an REUK employee, you will benefit from:
- 25 Days holiday plus Bank holidays (increasing with service)
- Flexible Working
- 4-times Death-in-Service Scheme (after 3 months of service)
- BUPA Healthcare & Dental-Care Insurance (after successful probation completion)
- Long Service Rewards with additional holidays
- Enhanced Employer Pension contributions of 6.8%
- Salary sacrifice schemes for Cycle to Work
- Discounted Ferry Bookings
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Bi-Monthly on-site massages
- Excellent Training Opportunities
- Recommend a friend scheme
- Buying & Selling of Annual Leave
- Excellent canteen facilities with a state-of-the-art kitchen, pool table, and tuck shop
- Staff social events throughout the year
- Recognition for your work
Contact Information
Due to our pre-employment checks, applicants must have resided in the UK for at least 5 years. To apply, please send your CV to joel.fletcher@rheinmetall.com.