Join BAE Systems as a Commercial Manager in Portsmouth Broad Oak to shape commercial solutions and lead high-value bids and contracts. This hybrid role supports UK and international export opportunities, offering a competitive salary with a bonus scheme and opportunities for professional growth within a collaborative team.
Requirements
Significant commercial experience leading activities within complex bids and contracts, particularly in international and export-focused markets.
Demonstrated ability to negotiate and manage high-value contracts involving overseas customers and multi-party arrangements.
Strong understanding of commercial risk allocation, contract management, and deal shaping.
Experience developing customer, partner, and stakeholder relationships and influencing outcomes at senior levels.
No specific degree or minimum years of experience are explicitly stated.
Skills & Responsibilities
Commercial leadership: Provide hands-on leadership across complex bids, developing pricing strategies and obtaining necessary approvals.
Contract negotiation: Negotiate and manage high-value contracts involving international customers and partners to secure successful outcomes.
Risk management: Analyse and allocate commercial risks effectively while aligning solutions with business objectives.
Stakeholder engagement: Work closely with Project, Engineering, Finance, and Business Development teams to build robust, executable solutions.
Team development: Support the growth of the commercial team through coaching, knowledge sharing, and promoting best practice.
Potential transition routes: People from senior contract management or business development roles may bring strong negotiation and risk management skills, alongside meeting the important requirement for international commercial experience.
Job description
Job Title: Commercial Manager
Location: Portsmouth Broad Oak. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role
Salary: Competitive + bonus scheme
Who we are:
Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.
From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.
Job Description:
We are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to join our Radar sector. You will play a key role in shaping commercial solutions, managing contractual risk, leading negotiations and securing successful outcomes across high-value bids and contracts. Working closely with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams, you will contribute to the growth and success of an established and collaborative commercial team.
This role supports a mixture of UK and international business, with a particular focus on strategically important export opportunities from campaign development and bidding through to contract negotiation, execution and delivery.
Core Duties:
Providing hands-on commercial leadership across complex bids and projects, including developing commercial and pricing strategies, leading negotiations and obtaining approvals
Influencing commercial and contractual approaches to maximise value whilst ensuring solutions remain deliverable, compliant and aligned to business objectives
Supporting business-winning activities, particularly export campaigns involving international customers, offset requirements, partnering arrangements and other market-specific considerations
Building effective relationships with customers, partners and stakeholders to support successful commercial outcomes
Working closely with Project, Engineering, Finance and Business Development teams to develop commercially robust and executable solutions
Providing clear commercial advice to senior stakeholders and supporting effective decision-making
Supporting the development of the commercial team through coaching, knowledge sharing and promotion of best practice
Essential Skills:
You will have significant commercial experience leading activities within complex bids and contracts, particularly within international and export
You will have the ability to negotiate and manage high-value contracts involving overseas customers, international partners and multi-party contractual arrangements
You will have a strong understanding of commercial risk allocation, contract management and deal shaping within complex business environments
You will have demonstrable commercial acumen, with the ability to identify opportunities, challenge established thinking and develop commercially advantageous solutions
You will have experience developing strong customer, partner and stakeholder relationships and influencing outcomes at senior levels
The Commercial Function and Radar team:
Our Radar business is built on more than 70 years of innovation, delivering advanced military radar systems that help armed forces operate effectively in increasingly complex and contested environments. As we continue to push the boundaries of defence technology, our Commercial team plays a vital role in ensuring these capabilities reach customers through strong commercial leadership, successful programme delivery and international partnerships.
Joining a dynamic and collaborative team, you will work closely with customers, partners and internal stakeholders to support major programmes from bid through to contract delivery. You will contribute to contract negotiations, manage commercial risks and opportunities, and support the growth of strategically important export opportunities. As part of the wider BAE Systems Commercial Function, you will also benefit from access to a broad network of Commercial professionals, enabling you to develop your skills and build your career within a supportive and highly professional 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.
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 applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must 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
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
