Commercial Manager

Job Title: Commercial Manager (Pre-Award)

Locations: any UK office (Aberdeen, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Stockton-on-Tees)

Contract: Initially 12 Months PAYE Contract

Rate: Negotiable dependent on experience

Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days from home

Overview

The Pre-Award Commercial Manager is responsible for leading the commercial aspects of the bid process across the EMEA region, from early opportunity development through to tender submission and contract award. Working closely with Sales Leads, Capture Managers, Estimators, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders, the role ensures commercial strategies align with customer requirements, execution plans, and profitability objectives. The position can be based in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Manchester, Stockton, or London and reports to the Head of Commercial.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy & Bid Development

• Develop commercial strategies, pricing models, and contractual approaches for opportunities and tenders.
• Lead commercial workshops with internal stakeholders and customers.
• Identify commercial risks, opportunities, and alternative contracting models.
• Support Executive Strategy Reviews (ESRs) through presentation of commercial recommendations.
• Validate commercial and contractual approaches with customers.

Tender & Proposal Management

• Review ITB commercial and contractual requirements, identifying key risks and obligations.
• Develop cost estimates, contingency provisions, profitability targets, and pricing strategies.
• Coordinate input from Legal, Finance, Tax, Insurance, Global Mobility, IT, HSE, and other functions.
• Support Joint Venture, Alliance, and Partnering arrangements where required.
• Conduct margin sensitivity and cash flow analysis.
• Prepare commercial deviations and support governance reviews.
• Lead commercial input into bid submissions, customer presentations, and contract negotiations.
• Support project handover activities following contract award.

Team & Continuous Improvement

• Coach and mentor junior commercial team members.
• Contribute to team meetings, workshops, and process improvement initiatives.
• Promote commercial best practices, operational efficiency, and margin improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience in Commercial Management, Proposal Management, Contract Management, Project Controls, Supply Chain, or Project Management.
• Strong commercial acumen, contract negotiation, financial analysis, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience within engineering, energy, infrastructure, or major project environments is advantageous.

Company information

At First Recruitment Group we understand just how important it is to secure the right people. That is why our Recruitment Consultants always take the time to understand requirements in detail and offer sound advice to both clients and candidates.  We actively recruit at all levels and this is a superb opportunity for a Commercial Manager looking for new employment.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.