Job Title: Commercial Manager
Reporting to: Managing Director
Location: Blackburn
Type: Full-time / Permanent
1. Role Purpose
The Commercial Manager is responsible for driving profitable growth by managing customer relationships, developing commercial strategies, overseeing contracts and pricing, and coordinating with production, finance, and supply chain to ensure commercial success. The role ensures the company maximises revenue, maintains healthy margins, and delivers strong customer satisfaction.
2. Key Responsibilities
Commercial Strategy & Growth
Develop and implement commercial strategies aligned with company objectives.
Identify new market opportunities and support business development efforts.
Analyse market trends, competitor activity, and pricing movements.
Lead the commercial input into business planning and budgeting.
Customer & Account Management
Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and distributors.
Lead negotiations on contracts, pricing, terms, and service agreements.
Oversee customer onboarding, ensuring clear communication of requirements.
Resolve escalated customer issues with a focus on profitability and service excellence.
Pricing & Contracts
Manage pricing structures, quotations, tenders, and contract renewals.
Ensure accurate and competitive costing models working with finance and operations.
Monitor contract performance, profitability analysis, and compliance.
Financial & Performance Management
Track commercial KPIs including revenue, margin, and forecast accuracy.
Support financial planning through demand forecasting and sales analysis.
Lead initiatives to reduce commercial risk and improve margin.
Internal Collaboration
Work closely with production, supply chain, engineering, and finance to align commercial commitments with operational capability.
Provide commercial oversight on product development, costings, and change management.
Represent the commercial function in cross-functional meetings.
Leadership
Manage and develop a small commercial and sales administration team.
Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
3. Skills & Experience Required
Essential
Proven experience in a commercial, sales, or business management role within manufacturing or industrial sectors.
Strong financial acumen with experience in pricing, costings, and contract negotiation.
Excellent negotiation, influencing, and communication skills.
Ability to interpret technical information and work alongside production teams.
Strong analytical skills and experience with forecasting and budgeting.
Ability to balance customer needs with company profitability requirements.
Desirable
Experience in Manufacturing
Knowledge of MRP systems.
Project management experience.
Experience managing a team.
4. Qualifications
Degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
Commercial or leadership qualifications beneficial but not essential.
5. Personal Attributes
Commercially driven with a problem-solving mindset.
Confident, credible, and able to engage at all levels internally and externally.
Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
Resilient, proactive, and comfortable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Revenue growth vs budget.
Gross margin performance.
Contract success rate (quotes won vs submitted).
Customer satisfaction/retention.
Forecast accuracy.
On-time response to tenders/quotations