Job Summary

"Together We Rise"

It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace in Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. Offering a full range of capabilities; design, analysis, testing, certification and manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection, military fast jet canopies and flight deck windows to over 20 programmes including: Boeing 787, Dreamliner, Airbus A320, AgustaWestland, AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed, Martin F-22 Raptor. Our customers include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Leonardo. Our Luton site is home to 400+ employees and onsite facilities including onsite parking, canteen, vending machines and showers.

The Commercial Manager will be based at our Luton site supporting our Defence business line whilst reporting to the Commercial Director and managing a team of up to 2, the incumbent must be flexible to travel to customers as required (international travel may be required occasionally). There is flexibility for working from home for up to 2 day per week dependent on the needs of the business. The Commercial Manager will provide commercial leadership and direction for programme specific customer accounts interfacing with the customer on all relevant contractual matters including pre and post contract, the incumbent will work in tandem with the Programme Director to drive new business opportunities taking accountability for the commercial viability of each opportunity and play a key role in strategy negotiation and execution whilst taking the lead on claims, contractual change management and escalation of customer issues from a commercial perspective.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide a focused point of contact for all formal communications with customers
• Manage the daily commercial operations for the allocated site
• Lead any new bidding activity including the compilation of a register of commercial risks and opportunities, a business model and a detailed commercial proposal
• Negotiate contracts ensuring that approved negotiation parameters are adhered to
• Identify contract changes and negotiate subsequent change proposals
• Ensure that the GKN Bidding process, including Gate approvals and delegated authorities, are correctly adhered to and recorded
• Work with Procurement to identify and flow down key risks and terms to vendors
• Work closely with other functions including Finance, Legal, Procurement and Programme Management ensuring company processes for bidding and contract management are followed and adapted to meet the requirements of the business
• Manage and maintain the company order book to reflect the customers purchase order requirements
• Ensure that debt is kept to a minimum and customers pay in accordance with agreed payment terms

How You'll Contribute

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

Essential:

• Strong knowledge of contracts drafting and interpretation
• Experience of identifying contractual risk and proposing effective mitigation strategies
• Experience of managing high value and complex proposals and contracts in the UK and for export
• Experience of negotiating high value contracts and amendments
• Experience of drafting and negotiating NDAs, Licensing and Heads of Agreement
• Experience of delivering presentations both internally to senior management and externally to customers and third parties

Desirable:
• Educated to Degree level
• Defence or Aerospace experience
• CIPS Membership
• World Commerce & Contracting Certification
• Experience in MoD (UK) and DoD contracting
• Commercial line management experience

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do. The Commercial Manager will be an effective and confident communicator from both a written and verbal perspective with excellent analytical skills. This would suit an experienced Commercial Officer looking for their first management role or an experienced Commercial Manager.

The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out. In order for us to obtain an SC you usually need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to current date (but we do assess each case individually).

What We'll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• £60,000 to £70,000 per annum dependent on experience
• £5,500 car allowance per annum
• Opportunity to earn up to 22.5% bonus
• Hybrid working – giving you the opportunity to balance home and office working
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• 50% off local travel card
• Free airport Dart
• Free airport parking
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply

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