Commercial Manager – International Relationship Management

Please only apply to this position if you can answer yes to all of the following questions:

• Are you comfortable with regular international travel, including nights away from home?
• Because this role covers international time zones, are you happy taking calls outside of standard UK office hours when needed?
• Are you used to long lead times, some deals here take up to two years to close, and building trust with senior stakeholders rather than chasing quick wins?
• Are you happy working in a small, hands on team rather than a large corporate structure with layers of support around you?

Our client is a specialist design and manufacturing business at the forefront of bespoke vehicle transportation solutions, working with major automotive and logistics organisations around the world. Following recent investment, they're now looking for a commercially astute Commercial Manager to join their small, specialist team in Warwick and help take the company to the next level internationally. This is a relationship and credibility led role, working alongside senior decision makers at some of the world's largest manufacturers and shipping lines, so it needs someone with genuine gravitas rather than a fast paced, high volume sales style. They're genuinely open on industry background, what matters far more is the ability to build long term relationships and stay the course on a long lead time.

What's On Offer

• £60,000–£65,000 base salary, with realistic on target earnings of £70,000–£80,000
• A bonus structure designed with longer lead times in mind, so you're supported while you build your pipeline
• Genuine autonomy, working directly alongside the Managing Director and Engineering Director
• The chance to work with globally recognised automotive manufacturers and major shipping lines
• A small, close-knit team where your input genuinely shapes the direction of the business
• Flexible working hours to accommodate international clients
• Regular international travel and exposure to high-profile global projects

The Role

As Commercial Manager, you'll take the lead on building and stewarding long term relationships across the automotive and logistics sectors, working cradle to grave from first contact through to successful implementation. This isn't a fast-paced, high-volume sales environment, relationships are built on trust and patience over months and sometimes years. You'll be representing a genuinely bespoke, engineered product, so you'll need the credibility to hold your own with senior buyers, engineers and procurement leads, coordinating internally and with manufacturing partners to bring opportunities to life.

Key responsibilities include:

• Identifying and developing commercial opportunities with OEMs, logistics providers and shipping lines
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with international clients and manufacturing partners
• Working with senior management to shape commercial strategy and account plans
• Mapping customer requirements and market trends globally
• Coordinating trials, demonstrations and technical processes through to sign-off
• Negotiating and agreeing commercial terms within agreed parameters
• Maintaining accurate records via CRM software
• Achieving agreed commercial and profit targets

What We're Looking For

• A patient, relationship-first approach, comfortable managing long and complex lead times rather than chasing quick wins
• Genuine credibility and gravitas engaging at a senior level with large organisations, whichever industry that's come from
• A relationship-builder who thrives in a small, entrepreneurial team rather than a large corporate structure
• Comfortable holding a technical conversation, though no formal engineering background is required, full product training is given
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Willingness to travel internationally and work flexibly, including outside standard hours, to support global clients

We're genuinely open on industry background, what matters most is the credibility and relationships you bring rather than a specific sector.

Desirable:

• Experience within automotive, logistics, freight forwarding or another long lead time, relationship led commercial environment
• A degree-level qualification, though equivalent experience is equally valued
• Understanding of Incoterms
• Additional language skills

Key Words: Commercial Manager, Business Development, International Sales, Relationship Management, Account Management

INDH