About the role
As Manager Commercial Processes, you will be the driving force behind documenting, optimising, and enforcing all commercial processes across Destinus. Sitting within the Commercial Strategy team, you will work cross-functionally with Business Development, Commercial Operations, Product and Marketing to ensure that every stage of the commercial lifecycle —from lead qualification through contract execution processes are well defined, clear and governance structures adhered to and in line with defense-industry standards. This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives on bringing structure to fast-moving environments and who understands the rigour required when selling into government and defense customers.
At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.
What You´ll Do
- Process Documentation & Governance
- Map, document, and maintain all end-to-end commercial processes, including opportunity qualification, bid/no-bid decisions, proposal development, pricing approvals and more
- Establish and own a centralised Commercial Process Handbook that serves as the single source of truth for all commercial workflows
- Define and enforce stage-gate criteria, approval authorities, and escalation paths in line with corporate governance and defense-sector compliance requirements
- Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement
- Analyze existing commercial processes to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and risk areas; design and implement improvements that reduce cycle times and increase win rates
- Introduce and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for commercial process health, such as bid turnaround time, approval cycle duration, and proposal quality scores
- Benchmark against defense-industry best practices
- Compliance & Enforcement
- Conduct periodic process audits and compliance reviews; report findings to the Head of Commercial Strategy and recommend corrective actions
- Provide tracking and progress reporting on defined commercial Enterprise risks
- Act as the gatekeeper during critical processes ensuring mandatory steps are completed before progression
- Tools, Systems & Enablement
- Own the configuration and continuous improvement of CRM and commercial management tools to reflect approved processes
- Develop templates, checklists, and own decision-support tools development that accelerate day-to-day commercial operations
- Design and deliver training programmes and onboarding materials to ensure all commercial team members understand and follow established processes
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with a.o. Manufacturing, Legal, Finance to align commercial processes with contractual, financial, and delivery workflows
- Support commercial teams during major pursuits by ensuring process discipline is maintained under time pressure
- Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external audits related to commercial operations
Requirements
What You’ll Need
- Master Degree degree in Business Administration, Process Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline;
- 8-10 years of professional experience in commercial operations, business process management, project management. Experience in the defense or aerospace industry is an advantage
- Proven track record of designing, implementing, and enforcing structured commercial or operational processes in a fastmoving, complex, multi-stakeholder environment
- Hands-on experience with CRM platforms and process mapping/BPM tools
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to process improvement
- Fluent in English
Who You Are
You are a structured, detail-oriented professional who takes pride in creating order where there is ambiguity. You combine a deep understanding of defense-industry commercial practices with a hands-on, pragmatic approach to getting things done. You are comfortable pushing back on senior stakeholders when process integrity is at risk, yet diplomatic enough to bring people along on the journey. You thrive in fast-paced, scale-up environments and see incomplete processes not as frustrations but as opportunities to build something lasting. Above all, you are motivated by the mission, ensuring Destinus can compete and win in the global defense market through commercial excellence.
Skills Required
- Master degree in Business Administration, Process Management, Supply Chain Management, or related discipline
- 8-10 years professional experience in commercial operations, business process management, or project management
- Proven track record designing, implementing, and enforcing structured commercial or operational processes in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
- Hands-on experience with CRM platforms and process mapping/BPM tools
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to process improvement
- Fluent in English
- Experience in the defense or aerospace industry
What We Do
Destinus is a European aerospace and defense company that designs and manufactures autonomous flight systems, including drones, strike-effectors, and counter-drone systems. They utilize a vertically integrated model, handling design, airframe engineering, propulsion, and AI software in-house. Their mission focuses on advancing aerospace technology across the speed spectrum to enhance defense capabilities and global connectivity, with a particular emphasis on scalable strike and air defense systems for European and allied forces.
