Commercial Manager at Adam Smith International

About the role

Adam Smith International seeks a Commercial Manager to join our Business Development team. The Commercial Manager will play a pivotal role in compiling cost and pricing deliverables, capacity building, ensuring quality and compliance of cost proposals and contributing to ASI’s commercial strategy. This role requires a keen understanding and experience of the international development sector, working in challenging settings and the requirements of international clients such as FCDO, EU, DFAT and USAID.

Responsibilities

Strategic Commercial Support

• Liaises with staff across the company to understand clients’ needs, cost proposal development challenges, and opportunities to improve pricing approaches.
• Liaises with pricing and operational teams from across the company to compile effective pricing guidance and resolve issues.
• Conducts analysis of commercial performance and pricing data to identify recurring challenges and potential actions needed to enhance performance.
• Conducts pricing research and analysis related to new clients, new geographies and/or new contractual mechanisms.
• Undertakes assignments on projects or special initiatives, as required.

Business Development Support

• Provides advisory services to bid teams to review Invitations To Tender, compile payment schedules, conduct competitive range negotiations and support subcontractor pricing negotiations.
• Oversees the scheduling and quality of corporate cost reviews.
• Conducts corporate cost reviews for select proposals, focusing on complex and high priority proposals.
• Manages a system for capturing and sharing best practices, proposal trends, frequent policy deviations, industry developments, and market trends.
• Ensures that all cost proposal material is current, useful, relevant, and compliant with applicable regulations and Adam Smith International’s policies.

Capacity Development

• Supervises, trains, and mentors staff in pricing, new business, and contracts.
• Identifies the need for and develops new pricing guidance documents, processes, templates, and tools, including tools to help staff develop proposals for new clients.
• Actively supports or participates in new business activities and proposal teams, when appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS

Key Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in the international development sector.
• Demonstrated Experience developing cost proposals for international development clients, including one or more of FCDO, USAID, EU, DFAT.
• Knowledge of industry trends and best practices.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong financial and data analytics skills (including proficiency in Excel).
• Highly motivated to deliver discernible impact to the business.
• Demonstrated understanding of project and contract management.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively both orally and in writing, and deliver presentations, training, and facilitate meetings effectively.
• Strong organizational and work prioritisation skills, and ability to focus and pay attention to detail.
• Collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Experience living or working in developing countries is a plus.
• Fluent English required; proficiency in another language preferred.
• Willingness to travel and work abroad a minimum of four to eight weeks per year.