Principal Commercial Officer

Role: Principal Commercial Officer

Location: Hertfordshire, Hybrid

Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Benefits

This is a great opportunity to join a proactive commercial team supporting early product development, research and technology within the UK defence sector. As a Principal Commercial Officer, you’ll contribute to both winning new business and ensuring the smooth delivery of existing contracts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead or support bid activity, including proposal development and internal coordination

• Manage live contracts across their full lifecycle—changes, compliance, issues and documentation

• Support negotiations with customers, suppliers and industry partners

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external customers

• Represent the commercial function in reviews, progress meetings and customer engagements

• Provide clear reporting on your portfolio to senior management

• Maintain commercial systems, records and best practice processes

• Work effectively under pressure and to deadlines

Principal Commercial Officer Requirements:

• Strong negotiation capability and confident communication skills

• Experience handling complex or high-value contracts

• Good understanding of contract law, liabilities and risk management

• Ability to draft and amend terms and conditions

• Knowledge of IP protection and awareness of export/import controls

• Familiarity with pricing and costing models

• Strong process management and ability to drive change

• Effective team player with the ability to influence stakeholders

• Good IT skills, including SAP and standard business tools

What’s on offer:

• Competitive salary and performance based bonus.
• Competitive pension and comprehensive benefits package.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Overtime +££
• Enhanced parental and family leave options.
• Excellent site facilities including subsidised meals and free parking.
• Support for professional development