Head of Commercial Sales

Overview Role: Head of Commercial Sales Location: Knutsford, Parkgate Industrial Estate (Office Based) Working Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am till 5pm. 40 hours per week We're looking for a senior commercial leader to take ownership of bid governance and commercial decision-making at Oliver Valves, a £100m global engineering business. This role sits at the centre of how we win work. You will lead the internal sales and bid function, ensuring all opportunities are commercially sound, contractually robust, and operationally deliverable. You will act as the gatekeeper for major bids - reviewing scope, challenging assumptions, and approving or rejecting opportunities based on margin, risk, and delivery capability. Working closely with engineering, supply chain, and operations, you will ensure alignment before orders are accepted, reducing downstream issues and improving overall contract performance. Responsibilities

• Lead the internal sales and bid function to ensure opportunities are commercially sound, contractually robust, and operationally deliverable.
• Act as the gatekeeper for major bids-review scope, challenge assumptions, and approve or reject opportunities based on margin, risk, and delivery capability.
• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, and operations to ensure alignment before orders are accepted.
• Reduce downstream issues and improve overall contract performance through disciplined governance.
• Drive a more disciplined, commercially focused culture across the business with a clear path toward director-level impact.
Qualifications / Requirements
• Has led bid and/or commercial functions within engineering or manufacturing.
• Experience in contract review and negotiation (LDs, warranties, liabilities).
• Operates formal bid governance and approval processes.
• Confident in challenging senior stakeholders and making difficult commercial decisions.
• Focuses on margin, risk, and quality of order intake-not just revenue.
  
  Has led bid and/or commercial functions within engineering or manufacturing.
• Experience in contract review and negotiation (LDs, warranties, liabilities).
• Operates formal bid governance and approval processes.
• Confident in challenging senior stakeholders and making difficult commercial decisions.
• Focuses on margin, risk, and quality of order intake-not just revenue.