Introduction
Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 500 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.
As part of the global entity Saab AB, Saab UK combines the innovative spirit of a start-up with the resources and expertise of a larger corporation. Globally, Saab employs over 22,000 people, with operations on every continent. Our partnerships with UK customers and industry mean we are able to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges, anticipating the threats of tomorrow. We invest 23% of our annual revenue into research and development, collaborating with a range of partners including industry and academia.
Saab is a company that offers our employees plenty of opportunities for growth and advancement. We embrace diversity and are committed to providing a workplace where individuals can thrive professionally, paving the way for future progression. We also recognise the need for a healthy work-life balance to ensure our staff have the chance to live a fulfilling life beyond the workplace.
The Role:
In support of Saab UK Land Systems’ ambitious objectives to deliver profitable growth and delight our customers by achieving perfect delivery fulfilment, the Commercial function for this Operating Division is being established. During this formative period, the need has been established for a highly flexible and suitably qualified commercial practitioner to support the business both strategically and tactically.
As Commercial Manager (Land), you will provide vital support to winning business (pre-signature) and contract management (post signature/delivery) and other business activities. You will provide sound commercial and contractual advice and support at any point in the contract life-cycle and help spread commercial awareness throughout the organisation.
You will be embedded with the OD management team and work in close cooperation with senior management, Marketing & Sales, Procurement and delivery teams providing commercial/contractual expertise and hands-on support to specific major pursuits and commercial challenges in delivery. You will be a part of the Saab UK Commercial community of practice and contribute to the development of the Commercial function by sharing best practice and building the body of knowledge and toolkit.
This position will require a high degree of personal flexibility to match the business needs with hybrid working - the expectation being of at least 3 days per week on average attendance at appropriate Saab offices. You will work in close contact and collaboration with other Saab sites and attend frequent meetings which means that UK travelling will be required. Working with international customers, business partners and suppliers means that international travel may also be needed, particularly to relevant Saab operations in Sweden.
Pre-signature:
- Responsible for commercial governance of proposals including assessing commercial provisions and risk, financial provisions and risk, business set-up analysis and recommendations
- Participation in tender workshops, including proposing deal shapes
- Preparing commercial data packs, including assessment of contract profitability, with recommendations for management approval
- Producing commercial elements of proposals and draft contracts
- Reviewing and negotiating different types of commercial contracts and terms and conditions
- Liaising with Saab group functions and departments to seek guidance and ensure full governance and processes are adhered to.
Post-signature:
- Advising Project/Programme Managers and others regarding contractual issues during programme execution, in particular the management of change.
- Owning, contributing to and/or reviewing Commercial Risk Registers (ensuring wide organisational understanding of potential impact), managing contract variations, avoiding/solving disputes.
- Assisting the Procurement function to ensure appropriate flowdown of terms and conditions from prime contracts.
- Building and maintaining the Commercial body of knowledge and toolkit including the template/boilerplate library and contributing to wider best practice for Saab UK.
General:
- Collaborating with Saab UK Commercial and wider Commercial teams to create and embed best practice approaches, tools, templates, techniques in commercial management
- Working as part of bid and proposal teams as writer/reviewer, especially
- Becoming part of a network/community of practice in Commercial/Legal
- Being aware of and actively advocating for the ethics and compliance regime
Skills and Experience:
You are likely to have legal or business qualifications, a strong business acumen, with a drive to improve and challenge our business with a commercial/contractual and analytical approach.
You may well have a background as a buyer in a highly regulated domain.
Familiarity with the UK MOD Commercial Toolkit and the SSRO/QDC/QDC methodology will be highly advantageous.
You will be a true team player and excellent communicator.
You will have a passion for best practice and delivering excellent outputs.
Desirable: You may be qualified to World Commerce and Contracting (WCC) Practitioner or MCIPS Level 4/5 or the willingness to pursue suitable professional accreditation
You must have excellent self-management skills and be able to handle multiple parallel tasks.
Highly developed inter-personal skills
Willing to travel at short notice to any of our UK sites and customers and to Saab Business Units in Sweden and elsewhere.
Seeking a challenging role with scope for promotion.
Able to achieve SC clearance.