Commercial Manager

Colchester, Essex
Elev8 Recruitment Ltd
Tired of playing middleman for deals that never go anywhere?Still stuck chasing quotes, pushing proposals, and getting ghosted by procurement? If youre ready to own the commercial relationship from start to signature and work with a team that gets engineering, this ones worth a look.What makes this differentYou wont be buried under layers of red tape or reduced to a KPI-puppet. This is a hands-on commercial role in a business that still builds stuff that matters – and builds it well. Think specialist engineering solutions into defence, with short lead times, big specs, and even bigger expectations. Youll be the link between technical teams and the customer – helping shape deals, win new work, and build relationships that actually last.What theyre aboutThis isnt a startup. But its not a bloated corporation either. The companys part of a wider group, but this site runs lean – focused on design, build, and delivery of engineered-to-order products into high-integrity environments. Youll be sitting in the defence side of the business, the serious end – where trust, quality and delivery matter.Their gear ends up in military platforms, critical infrastructure, and other places where failure simply isnt an option.Whats in it for you

• Real ownership not just account management, but strategy and growth
• Hybrid working after probation a couple days a week in Colchester, rest is yours to manage
• 25 days holiday, Christmas shutdown, and early Friday finishes
• 4% pension, life cover, and company sick pay
• Cycle to work, mental health support, and learning & development budget
• A flat structure and a grown-up culture zero micro-managing, zero fluff

Who would thrive hereYouve spent time in manufacturing, ideally in defence or a similarly regulated industry. You understand how long sales cycles work, how to keep deals moving, and how to write proposals that dont sound like every other bid in the inbox.Youre a natural relationship builder – not in a cheesy networker way, but because you get the value of trust, clarity and follow-through. You can hold your own in a commercial negotiation, push back when needed, and still leave people keen to work with you again.Ideally, youve got:

• 5+ years in a commercial or customer-facing role
• BPSS clearance, or at least the willingness to get it sorted
• Proven track record in defence or related sectors
• A brain for contracts, pricing and market intelligence
• The ability to influence without relying on title or hierarchy

Fancy a proper commercial role, without the corporate fog?Drop your CV, or just reach out for a quick, no-pressure chat. If its a fit, well tell you everything you want to know.

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