Commercial & Contracts Manager

Job Description

SECURITY CLEARANCE: Must have or be able to obtain security clearance eligibility to access UK Ministry of Defence establishments, working within ITAR and Export Control restrictions.

LOCATION: Newcastle upon Tyne or Guildford or Newport South Wales (with some hybrid working available subject to our Hybrid Working Policy).

TYPE: Full time.

• Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options, car leasing scheme, free onsite parking, season ticket loan, tax‑free technology scheme, discounted shopping and much more.
• Work / Life Balance: 37 hour week, flexible working around core hours and Friday afternoons off, hybrid working, up to 2 additional days per month as TOIL, option to buy/sell holiday.
• Personal Development: Personalised development plan, Airbus Leadership University and unlimited access to 10,000+ E‑learning courses, internal mobility including international opportunities.
• Health & Wellbeing: Wellbeing benefits (including 24/7 online GP and mental health support), Employee Assistance Programme, discounted family health / dental insurance / eye tests, cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• Family and Caregiving: Life assurance, enhanced pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave and caregiving.
• Inclusive Environment: Wellbeing room, Multi‑faith room, Employee Representative Groups (Gender, LGBTQ+, International, Generational, Disability, Social & Cultural Diversity, Neurodiversity).

Airbus Defence and Space is the leading provider of optical and radar imagery, geographic information products, software and services delivering geographic information solutions into both private and public sector organisations worldwide. We provide high value‑added solutions including satellite data and imagery acquisition and processing, operational emergency planning systems, geo‑information, risk analysis, consultancy, data management and hosting. Around the globe, commercial and government customers alike rely on Airbus' leading technology and solutions.

A permanent position has arisen for a Commercial & Contracts Manager within the Space Digital organisation at Airbus Defence and Space. You will, as the Commercial & Contracts Manager, lead on all of the contractual and commercial topics across a wide range of opportunities and contracts with our key customers which includes the European Space Agency (ESA), UK Ministry of Defence, UK Civil Government, and a variety of commercial customers.

In doing so you will work as part of the bid and programme leadership teams to ensure that best in class profitable commercial and contractual solutions are developed for and negotiated effectively with, our customers on all prime bids and campaigns. In addition, you will be responsible for effective management of contracts post‑signature to secure committed Airbus profitability on opportunities and contracts.

• Oversee the commercial and contractual aspects of assigned projects, with a focus on Intelligence campaigns and contracts.
• Manage the commercial aspects of the bidding process, from preparing bids and presenting key considerations to approvers, to negotiating contract terms.
• Lead negotiations for a diverse range of agreements and contract changes, including teaming, agency, and other industrial arrangements.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop profitable commercial solutions, ensuring risks are identified and managed while adhering to governance processes.
• Oversee existing contracts to ensure compliance and efficiency, managing commercial activities, contract changes, and timely invoicing.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships to ensure successful contract performance.

• Experience in a commercial role managing complex proposals and contracts (e.g., Sales, Bidding, Procurement).
• Experience in commercial environments involving governmental, international, or non‑governmental clients is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated negotiation and contract management skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to build relationships and influence at…